Sharing our grass seed expertise

Understanding people – customers, colleagues, and partners – what matters to them, and then trying to make those things better, by changing and innovating is at the heart of Barenbrug.

 

We build mixtures that are suitable for you, your target market and your conditions.
 

There are a number of key species identified, each bringing something different.  Discover our Factsheets for more in-depth information.

Add value to you and your business

Throughout Barenbrug’s rich history, our aim has always been to deliver value for our customers. It is this continuous improvement that sees some of these technologies developed, that could make a difference to turf growers.


Glyphosate tolerance
A Barenbrug-bred perennial ryegrass (Barlicum) has displayed unparalleled tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate in research trials to date. Combined with slender creeping red fescue, it delivers a seed mixture suitable for turf production whilst being exposed to regular small dose rates of glyphosate.
This technology should allow the production of a crop free from Poa annua far more easily.


RPR
Barenbrug-bred technology Regenerating Perennial Ryegrass (RPR) means perennial ryegrass with stoloniferous growth.
A good all-round ryegrass that aggressively produces stolons as it develops is potentially of great interest to turf producers. RPR technology works very well in sports environments and a dedicated turf production grass seed mixture can be developed.


Mow Saver
Slow growing grass, ideal for landscaping turf. Barenbrug-bred cultivars grow at a different rate and produce 40% less biomass (in the form of clippings).

 

Specialist mixtures
Many other grades of turf or turf products are grown successfully in the UK and Ireland and we have provided a range of mixtures for the following:

 

  • Pure red fescue turf (golf market; fine lawns; low maintenance landscape)
  • Fescue/bent turf (golf greens; fine lawns)
  • Tall fescue or RTF turf (various landscape and sports applications)
  • Rootzone turf (professional sport)
  • 100% ryegrass “Hybrid” turf
  • Revetting turf
  • Low maintenance turf (reduced growth and fertiliser requirements)

 

 

Perennial Ryegrass

Should be considered the “driver” of the seed mixture – the greatest influence on the performance and aesthetics of the finished turf product. Even though it is unlikely to be the largest component of the seed mixture by weight (typically only 20-25%), its fast germination, competitive growth and broader leaf will almost always make it the most obvious grass in the resulting roll of turf.

 

Perennial ryegrass is by far the most used and bred turfgrass species in the UK market. With over 100 cultivars listed in the BSPB/STRI Turfgrass Seed booklet, this is also the species with the most variation between varieties across a wide spectrum of traits.

 

 

Red fescue

Red fescue (Festuca rubra) consists of three distinct sub-species of turfgrasses; strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra rubra), Chewings fescue (Festuca rubra commutata) and slender creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra litoralis).

 

The sub-species generally favoured for turf production are the strong and slender creepers, because their rhizomatous growth habit helps to “knit” the turf together – crucial in enabling turf to be cut, lifted and rolled without breaking apart.

 

 

Smooth-Stalked Meadowgras

An interesting turfgrass species that has potential benefits for commercial turf production.

 

Once established, it is very tolerant of wear and has a rhizomatous growth habit, which can be very beneficial in harvesting turf. Its two major downfalls are its slow speed of establishment (particularly in cooler soil temperatures during spring) and its relative high cost in comparison with perennial ryegrass.

 

 

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