Add some


“the biggest problem has been to persuade the staff and the end users that the cosmetic damage after using the Graden does not harm the surface”


‘autumnal magic’ to your site


Marcus C. Jones, Senior Horticulturist, Trentham


LAURENCE Gale recently descended on the gardens at Trentham in a whirlwind of infectious enthusiasm for this publication. He talked voraciously, dished out cards and magazines, raced out questions at a fairly impressive rate of knots and finished off asking me to write ‘something horticultural’ that would be relevant to the magazine’s readership. After a couple of days thought on the matter I decided to oblige. My first problem was deciding what on earth to write that could be of interest to those mainly looking after sports facilities. I needed an angle of some description. After a couple of days scratching my chin, looking at local golf courses, driving past football and rugby pitches the answer just jumped out at me as being surprisingly simple. What many sites seemed to lack were interesting plants and plantings that could add to the amenity value of the place. So, for this edition I’ve decided to recommend a selection of four excellent trees for autumn interest. These will all add some horticultural ‘spice’ to any location and, of course, enhance the quality of the landscape.


Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica)


• A slow growing, deciduous tree that is fully hardy in the British Isles.


• The foliage of this tree turns yellow, orange and red in the autumn.


• It grows to about 8 metres tall with a spread of about 10 metres.


• A firmer surface. • Increased root biomass.


• Reduced stressed areas (areas of dry patch).


• Improved surface water drainage.


• Provides a better seed bed during autumn renovations.


Also, he has not had to hollow


core his greens, and he has noticed a reduction in crane fly larvae. He used to get large infestations on the greens because the cranefly used to lay their eggs in the holes in the soil profile. With the deeper and increased


root mass the grass plant is more able to tolerate drought conditions which, in turn, has reduced the number of times they have had to water the greens this year.


Operation Scarifying with Graden using 1 mm tines


Scarifying using a thatchaway to a depth of 2mm Solid tine aeration using a JD Aercore 800


One application of slow release fertilizer spead at 50gm2 Preferred ratio 24-5-10


Liquid feed if necessary. Preferred ratio 8-10-10


Cutting height 6mm with groomers set 1mm above ground level


Switching/Drag brushing


The main benefit, however, has been the ability to raise and maintain the height of cut at 6mm throughout the playing season and still produce a fast, true playing surface for the bowlers. Chris’s maintenance regime starts


in March/April before the season begins when he implements his spring renovations - light scarifying, topdressing using 3-5 ton per green and over seeding the bare areas. No topdressing is carried out during the playing season as the dressings could possibly damage the woods. A combination of aeration, scarifying and feeding continues throughout the playing season April - September, and involves the following operations shown in the table below.


Occasions


Once a month Fortnightly Fortnightly


At the start of the season. April


Late August


3 times per week Daily


• It prefers full sun, grows best in a fertile but well drained soil and will tolerate alkaline, neutral or acid soils but ‘colours up’ best in acidic conditions.


Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)


• This tree is slow growing, hardy and originally introduced from the U.S.A.


• The striking foliage turns a beautiful butter yellow in autumn.


• This tree is large growing up to 30 metres with a spread of 15 metres.


• It requires full sun, although it will grow in semi-shade and prefers a deep, well drained soil.


Tupelo (Nyssa sinensis) • A fairly quick growing deciduous tree.


• The foliage turns a brilliant crimson in the autumn, especially after a hot summer.


• It grows to about 10 metres with a spread of about 7 metres.


• It will grow in sun or semi-shade and prefers a moist, neutral to acid soil.


Sweet Gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)


• A medium vigour, deciduous tree with maple like foliage.


• The leaves turn orange, red and yellow in the autumn.


• This tree will grow to be 20 metres tall with a spread of about 10 – 15 metres.


• It will grow in sun or semi-shade but prefers a moisture retentive soil.


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