When Europe's 24 qualifier teams will entertain millions of football fans worldwide at this summer's football tournament round Europe, the hopes and dreams of an entire continent rest on the performance of the turf. DLF's top-ranking sports grasses won't let the fans down.

Researchers have provided new knowledge about root architecture in grasses, and DLF is now able to provide customers with verified guidance, when they ask for the most drought tolerant species and varieties.

Doing a fantastic job at retaining the natural links characteristics, Perranporth Golf Club Course Manager Rob Cook has been delighted with his switch to Johnsons J Fescue mix. Having used Johnsons Sports Seed at his previous club, Rob swapped with confidence two years ago, sowing the greens with a combination of Chewings and Slender fescues, with another 100% fescue blend, J Premier Fairway, employed across the fairways.

One of the most well-known names in the seed industry, John Hughes, will be leaving at the end of February to embrace his well-earned retirement. After spending most of his working life at some of the country’s leading seed providers to the golf and sports turf markets, John has made many friends and contacts who will be sure to miss his invaluable support, knowledge and advice.

On Sunday 24th January the AFC Championship Game was played at Arrowhead stadium, Kansas City, Missouri.

It isn’t just Grounds Manager Nigel Harvey who has moved from the Stanley Park Training Ground to the main Stadium pitch of Forest Green Rovers FC – his Johnsons Sports Seed programme has made the switch too! Having used Johnsons mixtures for near-on 15 years, the club’s renowned eco and environmentally friendly approach means the combination of J Premier Pitch and J 4Turf will become Nigel’s main weapon in the fight against weed ingress and disease.

A wildflower meadow at the heart of a brand-new retirement village in Alcester has been praised for its outstanding, long-lasting visual impact. For the contractors, HFN Landscapes, the project was fraught with challenges – difficult ground conditions and high magnesium soil required a bespoke mixture, created by DLF Seeds.

The dual-purpose track at Ffos Las Racecourse in Carmarthenshire stages Flat meetings throughout the summer months and National Hunt meetings for the rest of the year. The challenge of keeping the track fit for the year-round schedule falls to Estate Manager and Clerk of the Course, Dai Jones. For Dai, the combination of Masterline PM79 and Johnson’s J Nitro 4Turf is the odds-on favourite for delivering hard-wearing, quick-recovery surfaces even under the most challenging of conditions.

As a sole Groundsman, Robin Wilcox has his work cut out looking after the 19 courts and 5 croquet lawns that make up East Dorset Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (EDLTCC). On the sites nine grass courts, DLF’s ProMaster 36, and its tolerance of low cutting heights, has given Robin the advantage - freeing up time for the other tasks which keep the courts and lawns competition ready.

In conjunction with DLF Seeds, over 40 Grounds Professionals from schools, colleges and sports clubs across the country were recently invited to a behind-the-scenes tour of Arsenal FC’s Emirates Stadium. Visitors gained an insight into the grounds programme that keeps the surfaces performing at elite levels, and how new technologies are playing an ever-increasing role in monitoring and maintaining these professional standards.

The Johnsons Sports Seed team were joined by members of the press and over 30 distributors and customers to toast their 200th anniversary at BTME 2020. At a special drinks reception that took place on their stand in Harrogate, they celebrated the company’s rich and varied history since it was founded by 17-year old William Wade Johnson in 1820.

Having a healthy and well-established grass field is the most important job for greenkeepers and landscape architects. To achieve the perfect pitch the establishment phase is crucial. To give the seed a head start, wrapping the seed in a coating is an efficient and time saving solution for grass sowing and early plant development. A crucial factor in establishment is speed. Grass plants need to establish fast so that weeds do not stand a chance. This requires two main ingredients: fertiliser and water.

“We are delighted to have been able to support this fantastic event once again! We firmly believe in helping the turf management industry improve training and raising its profile amongst the wider media” Derek Smith Amenity sales and marketing manager - DLF Seeds Ltd

Sports, Lawn and Wildflower seed will all be under the spotlight as DLF Seeds return to SALTEX. The technical team will be on hand to provide mixture advice across the Johnsons Sports Seed and Masterline ranges, but also, visitors to stand J100 will have the chance to win innovative tools for effective on-the-spot overseeding, worth over £600!

The summer of 2018 posed a challenge for turf managers throughout the UK and wider Europe. The prolonged dry and hot conditions, which went down as the joint hottest on record, caused damage and turf loss to surfaces up and down the country. However, the wider effects of this are still being felt as seed crops also fell victim to the unprecedented conditions. Derek Smith, Amenity Sales & Marketing Manager of DLF Seeds explains how climatic conditions are a major headache in the planning of seed supply, as demand spiked and stocks fell.

Cheshire’s Adlington Golf Centre has recently undergone major construction works to create a brand new 9-hole par 3 course. With a new bypass rendering the old site non-viable it was back to the drawing board for Owner & Managing Director David Moss. One thing that hasn’t changed however is the choice of Johnsons Sports Seed mixtures, from DLF, which are delivering strong coverage as they prepare to open the course to the public.

A change in career is a daunting prospect, but it can often be made easier with training and support from new industry peers. For Max Sandford, a joiner by trade, he is swiftly learning ‘all things turf’ after taking over as Head Groundsman at Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club 18 months ago. One of those trusted contacts is Ian Barnett of DLF Seeds who has supported Max with the Johnsons J Premier Pitch, in use across the club’s stadium and training facilities.

If it ain’t broken, then why fix it?! That’s certainly the motto of Ian Lucas, Head of Grounds at AFC Bournemouth, when it comes to the choice of grass seed across both the Vitality Stadium and two pitches at King’s Park training ground. When Ian joined the club 18 months ago, Johnsons J Premier Pitch mixture was the seed of choice across the two first-team facilities, and having delivered reliable coverage, colour and wear tolerance, it looks to be a decision that’s set to stay.