Tag Archive for: Seed

DLF’s strongest ever seed line-up showcased

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DLF’s strongest ever seed line-up showcased: With the turn of a new year, comes the delivery of the new Johnsons Sports Seed brochure and two updated wildflower guides from DLF, packed with new formulations for the season ahead. The updated ranges showcase the latest advancements in seed breeding and mixture development, including ten new fine turf formulations from the industry-leading Johnsons range and a brand-new wildflower mixture designed for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS) in Pro Flora 17.  

The Johnsons Sports Seed range continues to set the standard for turf quality, sustainable management and reliable results 365 days of the year.

DLF’s strongest ever seed line-up showcased

DLF’s strongest ever seed line-up showcased

Highlights from the updated golf range include the new formulation of J Green which includes 20% Sybille. In the pursuit for ever-improved sustainability, Sybille is a highly ranked slender creeping red fescue which demonstrates exceptional shoot density and disease resistance – helping to supress unwanted weeds and diseases and reducing the need for chemicals. Sybille is also incorporated in the 2026 formulations of J Ultrafine Rye Green, J Fescue, J Links, J Premier Fairway, J Sustain Fairway, J Ultrafine Rye 25 and J Ultrafine Rye 50.

The 2026 Johnsons fine turf range also incorporates browntop bent into the popular J Fairway and J Premier Fairway mixtures. Recognising the risks to pure fescue swards under hot, dry conditions, the inclusion of browntop bent contributes to fairways with improved sward density, tolerance of close mowing and the ability to tolerate longer spells of drought and/or higher temperatures.

Not content with refining mixtures for fine turf, the 2026 Johnsons range continues to deliver class-leading formulations for winter sports. The 2026 J Premier Pitch mixture blends six top-rated perennial ryegrass cultivars, ideal for natural and hybrid pitches and providing significantly improved Brown Patch resistance thanks to the addition of Monroe and Gildara.

While new formulations of J Premier Pitch and J 4Turf 50 promise enhanced performance for winter sports pitches, J Premier Wicket continues to lead the way as a class-leading mixture for cricket – with four top-rated cultivars promising rapid establishment, high disease resistance and camera appeal as standard.

Turf managers, contractors and conservationists looking to enhance biodiversity and increase visual merit can find all of the answers to wildflower seed selection in the new Colour Boost and Pro Flora brochures. Those after high-impact, amenity flower mixtures have nine mixtures to choose from in DLF’s popular Colour Boost range, with Pro Flora complementing the line-up with 18 native origin wildflower mixtures.

New to the range is Pro Flora 17, blending moisture tolerant grasses and native wildflowers to create a resilient, diverse sward able to withstand fluctuating water levels, extended dry spells and nutrient-poor soils. With mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain now shaping planning decisions, Pro Flora 17 offers a practical way to deliver ecological uplift in situations like swales, infiltration basins and multifunctional wetland landscapes while keeping specification simple and implementation effective.

To view the new 2026 brochures, visit dlf.co.uk or speak to your local DLF Technical Manager to receive a copy. 

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MM Seed: New and Improved for 2026

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MM Seed: New and Improved for 2026: MM Seed enters 2026 with a refined and strengthened range, building on its reputation for quality, performance and reliability across golf, winter sports, cricket and tennis.

With carefully selected cultivar updates and the continued inclusion of HEADSTART® GOLD as standard, the latest MM mixtures are designed to deliver stronger establishment, improved durability and consistent presentation in increasingly challenging conditions.

MM Seed: New and Improved for 2026

MM Seed: New and Improved for 2026

Golf: Fairway and Greens Performance You Can Rely On

For fairways and high-wear areas, MM22, MM50 and MM13 remain core options, each offering distinct benefits depending on site requirements.

MM22 continues to be a trusted choice for divotting, repairs and renovation work on tees and fairways subject to heavy traffic. For 2026, MM22 is enhanced with the inclusion of Mumbai perennial ryegrass, a dense, fine-leaved and hard-wearing cultivar. This is complemented by Hastings and Sybille creeping red fescues, further improving density and visual quality.

MM50 also benefits from the addition of Mumbai, strengthening its ability to produce a dense, resilient sward capable of withstanding close mowing and sustained wear. Alongside proven cultivars such as Singapore, MM50 continues to deliver consistency and performance where presentation and durability are equally important.

For lower-input environments, MM13 offers a traditional yet highly effective solution for overseeding and renovation of tees, fairways and roughs. With excellent drought tolerance, good disease resistance and strong recovery, MM13 is particularly suited to sites where ease of management and reliability are key. Its ability to hold colour and performance through winter further enhances its appeal.

On greens, MM8 and MM9 provide specialist solutions for different playing environments. MM8 is a 100% fine fescue blend, ideally suited to links and heathland-style courses. Featuring top-rated cultivars such as Sybille, it delivers a fine, dense sward with low nutrient requirements, good drought tolerance and improved disease resistance, making it ideal for sustainable maintenance programmes and seasonal overseeding.

MM9 remains a premium browntop bent mixture for summer overseeding, autumn renovation and new green construction. Renowned for producing smooth, dense putting surfaces, MM9 offers excellent colour retention, strong disease resistance and tolerance to close mowing, making it a dependable choice for high-performance greens.

Winter Sports: Proven Mixtures and Smart Innovation

MM60, a market-leading winter sports mixture for over 30 years, remains a go-to option thanks to its fast germination, excellent wear tolerance and strong winter recovery. The inclusion of the Lionel cultivar provides enhanced resistance to Fusarium, supporting turf health during high-risk periods.

MM Tetrasport blends 75% tetraploid and 25% diploid perennial ryegrass, delivering the combined benefits of both species. The result is a hard-wearing, disease-resistant sward with excellent colour, deep rooting and improved drought tolerance, making it particularly well suited to stadiums, training grounds and pitches with limited irrigation.

New for 2026, MM Active Shield has been developed to address growing concerns around Grey Leaf Spot. The mix includes Fiesta 4 and Fabian, the most tolerant cultivars identified in DLF GLS trials, alongside other independently trialled varieties. Fast to establish even in cooler temperatures, MM Active Shield delivers greater root mass, improved plant strength, excellent wear tolerance and outstanding year-round colour.

Cricket and Tennis: Trusted at the Highest Level

MM50 continues its long-standing position as the market-leading cricket and tennis mixture, used by numerous county and international venues. The inclusion of Mumbai raises performance further, while Singapore supports rapid recovery from match play and wear. Tolerant of low cutting heights and quick to establish, MM50 remains a proven choice for cricket squares and tennis courts alike.

HEADSTART® GOLD: Performance Built In

All MM seed mixtures come with HEADSTART® GOLD as standard. This second-generation biological seed treatment accelerates germination and supports early root development through a carefully balanced blend of macro and micronutrients, including phosphorus, sulphur, copper and molybdenum. By promoting stronger roots during establishment, HEADSTART® GOLD helps improve stress tolerance, reduce inputs and deliver healthier turf faster.

Combined with MM’s high standards for seed purity and germination, the 2026 range offers professional turf managers dependable solutions designed to perform from day one – and well beyond.

The 2026 MM Seed product catalogue is now available through your local MM Seed distributor.

Visit the new and improved MM Seed website at www.mm-seeds.co.uk

You can also follow the company on X: @MM_Seed.

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DSV Seed Helping Crowborough Beacon Reach New Heights

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DSV Seed Helping Crowborough Beacon Reach New Heights: The quality of the playing surfaces at Crowborough Beacon Golf Club is the result of passion, precision – and the right seed. Course Manager Luke Jenkins has been achieving outstanding results using DSV’s PRO Summer Sport and PRO Rye Fairway mixtures from the EUROGRASS range, both of which have played a key role in improving the course’s playability and presentation.

Developed specifically for professional turf use, the EUROGRASS Pro mixtures are composed of carefully selected grass species and varieties to meet the highest standards of performance. Each blend is designed with the end user in mind – considering soil type, climate, intended use, and maintenance practices – to ensure exceptional establishment, density, and durability.

DSV Seed Helping Crowborough Beacon Reach New Heights

DSV Seed Helping Crowborough Beacon Reach New Heights

At Crowborough Beacon Golf Club, those qualities have helped elevate one of the South East’s most historic and scenic courses. Established in 1885, the club is steeped in tradition – with early members including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – and boasts a classic heathland layout renowned for its sweeping views and distinctive character.

Course Manager Luke Jenkins has been at the helm for four and a half years, leading a programme of continuous improvement that has seen the course break back into the UK’s Top 100 golf courses.

“It’s a sleeping giant of a golf course,” says Luke. “The layout and landscape are stunning, but the course needed some TLC when I arrived. My goal has been to raise standards and get Crowborough Beacon recognised again among the best in the country – which we’re now achieving.”

Luke’s journey in greenkeeping began at just 16 when he joined Shooters Hill Golf Club in south-east London as an apprentice. He quickly rose to deputy, later taking on head roles at Woodlands Manor and deputy at Royal Wimbledon, before moving to Crowborough Beacon.

His experience at clubs of varying size and stature gave him a solid understanding of what makes great course.

A big part of that success, Luke says, comes down to using the right seed mixtures.

“On the tees, we use PRO Summer Sport, which gives us quick germination and excellent wear tolerance,” he explains. “We’re repairing divots every day, and because our tees are small, I need grass to be growing within a week. The DSV mix establishes really fast, gives great colour, and stands up to heavy play.”

For the fairways, Luke relies on PRO Rye Fairway, a 70/30 blend of fescue and ryegrass that balances strength with a natural fescue finish.

“Our fairways are naturally fescue-dominant, but the rye gives us early-season colour and resilience,” he adds. “We don’t have fairway irrigation, so we rely on strong establishment and drought tolerance. After overseeding, we saw germination in just over three weeks and fantastic coverage.”

Luke was first introduced to DSV through Craig Rodwell at Soil Biology, whose nutritional advice and recommendations have helped shaped the club’s agronomic approach. After trialling the seed on tees, Luke was quickly convinced to extend its use.

“The uptake was excellent, pricing was competitive, delivery was quick – all the boxes were ticked,” he says. “Most importantly, it worked. I’m not going to use something that doesn’t perform, and DSV seed has consistently impressed us.”

DSV Seed Helping Crowborough Beacon Reach New Heights

DSV Seed Helping Crowborough Beacon Reach New Heights

Luke has also visited DSV’s breeding and research centre in the Netherlands, where he gained a deeper appreciation of the company’s commitment to innovation.

“It was an absolute eye-opener,” says Luke. “The scale of the operation and the amount of research and development that goes into producing these mixtures is incredible. Some varieties take over ten years to bring to market. Seeing that process made me realise how much science and effort goes into every bag we use.”

With a settled team and a clear vision, Luke’s leadership has not only improved playing conditions but also boosted membership and morale across the club.

“We’re lucky to work in such a beautiful place,” he concludes. “If we keep improving the surfaces and stay focused on the details, the sky’s the limit. Using the right seed is a big part of that, and DSV has certainly helped us get where we are today.”

Please visit www.dsv-uk.co.uk/products/amenity for more information and follow on social media @EuroGrassUKSeed.

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Johnsons Sports Seed breathes new life into Raglan

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Johnsons Sports Seed breathes new life into Raglan: After more than six years of dormancy, Raglan Golf Club had become a shadow of its former self – with overgrown fairways, unplayable greens and failing drainage.

When new owners took over in spring 2024, they swiftly brought in Course Manager Lucy Sellick to embark on a 10-month restoration and recovery project. With a little help from industry friends, and the reliable performance of Johnsons Sports Seed mixtures, the turnaround to opening in April 2025 was nothing short of miraculous!

Johnsons Sports Seed breathes new life into Raglan

Johnsons Sports Seed breathes new life into Raglan

When Lucy arrived in September 2024, the task she faced was monumental. Ten greens had been re-laid, while the remaining eight required extensive renovation to make them playable once again. “We were lifting tree canopies, re-wilding and bailing off the grass it was so long – basically starting from scratch” she explains. Having used mixtures from DLF’s Johnsons Sports Seed range throughout her career, Lucy knew exactly where to turn for support and advice.

“The greens had poor coverage and were full of coarse, hard Poa annua. We scarified, aerated and topdressed the eight greens and finished the renovation with an overseed of Johnsons J All Bent mixture to outcompete the Poa.” J All Bent sets the industry standard for density and visual quality, with the inclusion of top-rated Browntop Bent cultivars delivering fast, sustainable golf greens with reduced requirements for chemical inputs.

“This has given us outstanding uniformity, playability and resilience. We oversowed in the autumn of 2024 and again in the spring of 2025 before opening on 1st April. Obviously everyone wanted to come and play the course, and the Johnsons J All Bent has stood up well to both the high levels of footfall and the environmental pressures we’ve experienced this year.”

The challenge didn’t end there, however. With these eight greens performing well, the next objective was to achieve consistency with the other 10 greens laid with a fescue-dominant sward. “The decision to go with fescue pre-dated my start and, unfortunately, it just doesn’t quite work with our traditional parkland course. While we bring thatch levels down enough to be able to start introducing J All Bent, we’ve been oversowing with J Ultrafine Rye 100.”

Blending four of the finest perennial ryegrass cultivars, the fast-establishment of J Ultrafine Rye 100 is ideal for renovations and surfaces that demand strong wear tolerance and high visual merit. Lucy adds, “The germination from this was fantastic and the feedback we’ve had from the players has been overwhelmingly positive.”

Lucy and her team of five continue to refine the course and manage further development projects throughout the winter – her relationship with DLF central to that progress. “The advice from our Regional Technical Manager Ian Barnett has been invaluable. From seed selection to overseeding strategy, the help from Ian has played a major part in our transformation.”

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MM Seed to Showcase Leading Golf Mixtures at BTME

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MM Seed to Showcase Leading Golf Mixtures at BTME: MM Seed will be returning to BTME from 20-22 January, welcoming visitors to Stand 124 to explore some of the industry’s most trusted grass seed mixtures for golf courses. Throughout the event, their knowledgeable team will be available to offer tailored advice on renovation, overseeding and choosing the right mixture for every course environment.

Fairway Focus: MM22, MM50 & MM13

Among the products on show will be MM22, a dependable option for divotting, repairing and renovating tees, fairways and outfield areas that take on significant wear. Its rapid establishment, strong recovery and impressive sward density make it ideal for clubs that need a mixture they can rely on throughout the season.

MM Seed to Showcase Leading Golf Mixtures at BTME

MM Seed to Showcase Leading Golf Mixtures at BTME

Visitors will also be able to learn more about the hugely popular MM50, a fast-establishing ryegrass blend that delivers consistent year-round performance. Known for its resilience and fine leaf characteristics, MM50 produces a dense, clean-cut sward that stands up well to close mowing and heavy traffic, while also offering high levels of disease resistance.

For those managing lower-input sites, MM13 provides a traditional, high-quality option for overseeding and renovating tees, fairways and roughs. With excellent drought tolerance, strong recovery and good disease resistance, MM13 is well suited for areas where reliability and ease of management are essential. Its ability to maintain colour and performance through winter further adds to its appeal.

Greens Mixtures: MM8 & MM9

For greens, MM Seed will be showcasing MM8, a 100% fine fescue blend ideal for links and heathland-style environments. Featuring top-rated cultivars such as Sybille, MM8 delivers a fine, dense sward with exceptional drought tolerance, low nutrient requirements and enhanced disease resistance. It supports sustainable maintenance practices and is particularly effective for spring and summer overseeding.

Also highlighted will be MM9, a premium browntop bent mixture designed for summer overseeding, autumn renovation and new green constructions. Renowned for producing a fine, dense and smooth putting surface, MM9 offers excellent year-round colour, strong disease resistance and impressive tolerance to close mowing, making it a trusted choice for high-performance greens.

Visit MM Seed at Stand 124

Whether you’re planning a renovation programme or seeking guidance on improving turf quality across your course, the MM Seed team will be on hand throughout BTME to discuss the best solutions for your course.

For further information, please contact MM Sports Seed on 01386 791102 or visit the company’s website www.mm-seeds.co.uk.

You can also follow the company on X: @MM_Seed.

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