Ten days later the root growth was sufficient to turn down the under-soil heating
the following three days left Lindum for Fredrikstad.
Meanwhile, in Norway, with the
ground temperature at zero, Trandem and Morten Eirik had raised the under- soil heating to the required start-up temperature and applied GrowPower, an organic based, humus fertiliser to the root zone, along with mycorrizal innoculants.
THE first consignment of turf arrived in Norway on the 1st March and laying commenced immediately. Covers were used to protect the new sward from the worst of the night frosts and. on the 9th March, Morten Eirik introduced a foliar feed programme with key products from Floratine’s Management Action Plan ‘Spring Start’, augmented by Astron to promote rooting and Turgor for plant strength. “We spoon fed every week. You have to promote rooting and each roll of turf has to grow together otherwise the corners will lift up.”
Everything worked as planned
Ten days later, the root growth was sufficient for Morten Eirik to turn the under-soil heating down from approximately 15 to 10 degrees. Nursed by Trandem, Morten Eirik and turf layers Sport & Grontanlegg, the new sward continued to establish and, by April 14th, the day of the first match, when Stephen Fell and John Stannard flew to Oslo to inspect the pitch, they found not only a dense sward of good colour, but roots 150 mm long, anchoring the washed turf firmly to the root zone. “Everyone at FC Fredrikstad seemed delighted,” said Stephen “with the chairman of the board, Odd Hasselgaard, saying proudly that he thought it the best pitch in all Scandinavia - if not Europe! We watched the game - the home team won 3-1 against FC Lyn Oslo and, apart from two or three small divots, the pitch never moved.” Trandem admits that they were taking a chance, but knew that if they succeeded
Flying the flags for washed turf?
they could strike an effective blow against the use of artificial surfaces. “We were sticking our necks out a bit in recommending the washed turf route but due to the quality of turf, Lindum’s experience and extensive trials, coupled with Morten Eirik’s intensive nutritional programme, everything has worked as planned.” Perhaps the best recommendation stems from the fact that Trandem and Sport & Grontanlegg laid a second pitch with identical washed turf for FC Helsingborg, in Sweden, a week after they finished Fredrikstad and the results were just as good. “The inference is that we are now able to put grass down in Norway and Sweden off season,” he concludes. “It constitutes a revolution in Scandinavian pitch building.”
Lindum Turf. Tel: 01904 448675 or visit
www.turf.co.uk
Report by CAROL DUTTON
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