Whether you're a commercial gardener, contractor or tradesperson, our Masterline & Designer ranges have high quality mixtures suitable for projects of all sizes and budgets
For over 175 years Johnsons Sports Seed mixtures have been equivalent to quality sports turf with an unequalled reputation for technical excellence, reflecting the standards set by the people who use them - those who lead the way in sports turf management.
The MM Brand is one of the oldest most respected professional brands in the UK Industry with over 40 years knowledge in grass and wildflower seed. Our product portfolio is second to none with performance proven mixtures, that are used at elite professional stadiums, golf courses and international tennis centres.
Managing turf is becoming increasingly demanding with changing environmental and climatic conditions. To meet these changing needs, we have screened grass varieties to see which can grow better under difficult conditions like spring and early summer drought, and use nutrients more efficiently to improve the strength and health of the plant. Our research on grass root architecture shows that strong roots are essential and can help you future-proof your business.
With ClearSky, sustainably revegetate and secure airports while limiting maintenance costs and preventing animal hazards.
With Microclover® you can grow a green turf year round - with minimum effort. As one of the few plant species, clover is producing its own nitrogen fertilizer.
Choosing varieties with high brown-patch resistance reduces your reliance on fungicides, and gives you a better pitch quality, more playing hours and increased peace of mind.
Time is money - try out Pronitro® for faster, stronger and more powerful establishment.
DLF select is a quality program to bring professional turf managers reliable access to the highest purity seed stocks they demand.
4turf® is developed to help turf professionals grow a greener, stronger and more sustainable turf – even in the most stressful conditions.
Biostimulants assist the seedlings ability to take advantage of the soil's own inherent reserves of nutrient by stimulating the soil's microflora. resulting im improved root growth and establishment.
4salt is developed for areas with salinity problems and limitations on irrigation water, helping turf professionals grow a persistent turf under harsh conditions.
Maintaining one of Essex’s most picturesque courses is no small task. As Head Greenkeeper, David Byron leads a skilled team that balances science, timing, and intuition to deliver exceptional playing surfaces in every season. From managing turf health to planning maintenance schedules, his role ensures that members and visitors alike experience Thorndon Park at its absolute best.
When the Women’s Rugby World Cup came to town, the pitches at Towcestrians Sports Club needed to perform at the highest level. Head Groundsman Tommy Waldock turned to a product he knew he could trust - MM Tetrasport - and the results spoke for themselves.
Despite a year of challenging weather, Bristol Golf Club has seen a remarkable improvement in its playing surfaces and overall visitor experience thanks to innovative seed solutions from DLF. The team, led by Course Manager Dave Taylor, introduced Johnsons J 4Turf 50 across all 27 tees in early 2025 which has gone on to demonstrate outstanding resilience and strong performance, coping with the pressures of a busy championship course.
As pesticide regulations tighten and climates shift, the need for disease-tolerant turf varieties has never been greater. Consequently, we rigorously test and select varieties with strong natural resilience. By continuously developing new tolerant grasses and tracking long-term disease trends through our annual surveys, we’re helping our customers stay one step ahead. We build strong turf for the future.
.jpeg&width=640&quality=85&format=webp)
More than 80 bowling greenkeepers packed into Groundsfest’s inaugural Champion Greens: The Bowls Greenkeeper’s Masterclass — an information-packed day designed to support clubs from flat to crown green.
The spring of 2025 was the hottest and driest on record. Four heatwaves, rainfall 40% below the average and soaring evapotranspiration have left reservoirs low and much of England officially in drought. For turf managers, this isn’t a one-off challenge — it’s the new pattern. Fairways, in particular, have taken a hit with heavy traffic and hydrophobic ‘dry patch’ soils slowing recovery and reducing the overseeding window. Beneath the surface, next season’s outcomes are already being decided so what can you do create surfaces than not only survive, but thrive? Stuart Yarwood, Regional Technical Manager at DLF Seeds explores.
The world’s largest grass seed breeder, DLF, return to GroundsFest this September, with a renewed focus on resilient, sustainable and high performance seed solutions for the evolving demands of turf and landscaping professionals. The technical team will be on hand on stand 30 to showcase all of the developments across the Masterline, MM and Johnsons Sports Seed ranges, together with discussing the biodiversity benefits of their Pro Flora and Colour Boost wildflower collections.
The DLF stand at GroundsFest 2025 will showcase a wide range of sustainable solutions from the world's largest grass seed breeder, featuring products from MM, Johnsons Sports, Masterline and Designer Seed brands. Alongside leading cultivars for sports and amenity turf, stand 30 will also display an array of colour with demonstration planters from the popular Pro Flora and Colour Boost wildflower ranges.
It’s every greenkeeper’s worst nightmare – to receive a call informing them of vandalism on the course. That nightmare was the unfortunate reality for David Byron of Thorndon Park who returned from BTME 2025 to discover the ‘destruction’ of six greens, three tees and numerous fairways. With sheer determination, a concerted team effort and the outstanding recovery demonstrated by mixtures from across the Johnsons Sports Seed range, the surfaces were fit and ready for club championships just a few short months later.
For Adam Rowlands, owner of Turf Doctor Specialists Ltd, maintaining high-quality cricket surfaces is about using the right tools for the job - and when it comes to seed, MM50 from MM Seed is his go-to solution.
Staff and members of the amenity trade press were recently invited for an exclusive look at the next phase of the £4.5 million facilities upgrade at DLF’s UK headquarters at Inkberrow. Officially opened by John Larsen, VP Sales and Marketing Greater Europe and DLF UK Managing Director Tim Kerridge, the events in June marked the completion of several major developments including the fully automated Titan mixing plant, robotic packing lines, expanded UK native wildflower production and brand-new trials and showcase area deemed ‘A Living Catalogue’.
DLF Inkberrow was delighted to offer the UK Lawncare Association exclusive use of our new Living Catalogue Showcase area for their Summer Festival on 2nd July.
As the old saying goes ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ – exactly the motto of Durham County Cricket Club’s Head Groundsman Vic Demain when it comes to his usage of Johnsons J Premier Wicket. Now into his seventh season with the 100% perennial ryegrass mixture, he cites the early season establishment, wear tolerance and visual merit as the reasons he’s never considered changing as the club gets set for one of the longest and most intense seasons of cricket to date!
DLF has just launched a new corporate purpose and a new group strategy. Both initiatives mark an important step in DLF's development as a global seed company and emphasize increased interaction with the outside world, customer focus, corporate culture, operational optimization, and the development of employees and the organization.
At Southerndown Golf Club in the Vale of Glamorgan, MM50 grass seed has become an essential product. With tees that endure relentless wear from players and exposure to some of the UK’s harshest growing conditions, Course Manager Andrew Mannion has come to rely on the hard-wearing ryegrass mix to keep surfaces strong, consistent, and fit for year-round play.
The benefits of DLF’s 4turf® tetraploid perennial ryegrass have been well documented - the additional strength, winter performance and tolerance of a range of environmental stresses making them a popular choice for sports turf surfaces. One such sport reaping the rewards is equestrian, where the need for density, quick establishment, persistence and recovery makes 4turf® mixtures a firm favourite!
A message from the Technical Team at DLF Seeds UK. It’s dry. It’s cold. The sun’s shining — but the grass isn’t growing. For turf professionals across the UK, this spring has brought one of the toughest starts in recent memory. From golf greens and stadium pitches to community fields and racecourses, the story is the same: high expectation, slow starts, patchy recovery, high pressure from above — and not enough help from below.
As one extensive improvement project comes to an end, another unexpectedly begins at Stockport’s Reddish Vale Golf Club – and once again, Johnsons Sports Seed is playing a key role in recovery and renovation. For the past few seasons, J Premier Tee has been transforming tees and aprons, bringing big benefits to play and praise for Head Greenkeeper Aaron Watkinson and his team. However, widespread flooding over the New Year period means a major recovery programme is now underway on the fairways – with the tried and tested Johnsons J Fairway ready to come to the rescue!
Kim Blake, Course Manager at Fulford Heath Golf Club in Birmingham, has been at the forefront of maintaining and enhancing the club’s renowned parkland course for the past 36 years. Kim’s dedication to innovation has helped the club thrive and stay competitive. A key component of his maintenance programme? The consistent success of MM seed products.
We had the opportunity to sit down with Gary Connell, the Environment and Ecology Stewardship Manager at The Celtic Manor Resort, to gain insight into his unique role. Gary shared with us what a typical day looks like in his position, the various tasks he manages, and the challenges he faces while maintaining the resort’s beautiful grounds. From overseeing the ecological health of the course to addressing environmental concerns, Gary gave us a deeper understanding of the vital work that goes into preserving the natural landscape at The Celtic Manor.
One of the UK’s most prominent sports pitch contractors has praised J 4Turf 50 from the Johnsons Sports Seed range for the pivotal role it plays in the renovations of a range of turf surfaces. White Horse Contractors note the versatility of the 50/50 tetraploid and perennial ryegrass blend, which has delivered reliable results and season-long performance at facilities across the country.
Andy Richards, Grounds Manager at Haileybury, one of England’s leading independent schools, has hailed MM Tetra Sport for setting a new standard in maintaining the school’s extensive sports pitches.
DLF are pleased to announce the appointment of Ben Morgan as their new Regional Amenity Technical Manager for the North East. With more than two decades of hands-on experience in the turf industry, Ben is well placed to support customers across the DLF portfolio of brands on grass seed selection and sustainable surface management.
It’s been a great start to 2025 for the team at Celtic Manor who, following the introduction of numerous new sustainability initiatives, have received GEO certification on The Twenty Ten Course. Part of the overall project saw the establishment of new wildflower areas to bring much-needed food and habitat for pollinators and other insects, along with high visual impact for players and staff alike - all achieved using mixtures from the DLF ColourBoost collection.
In their pursuit of high performance, sustainable seed solutions, DLF have introduced a number of new mixtures and formulations across the Johnsons Sports Seed range – all outlined in the brand-new 2025 catalogue. In a particularly exciting expansion of their fine turf range, 2025 brings two new mixtures and seven new formulations, while research across DLF’s global breeding centres has contributed to their strongest ever line-up for sports turf.
Managing the expansive grounds of Warwick Schools Foundation requires precision and dedication, and Grounds Manager Duncan Toon relies on trusted solutions to meet these demands.
Following extensive member engagement and feedback, the Turfgrass Growers Association (TGA), the leading body representing the UK turfgrass industry, has announced a bold and progressive step towards environmental sustainability by banning the use of plastic netting in turf production by its members. This decision, supported overwhelmingly by members in a recent vote, will take effect from 31st October 2026.
As the pressure grows on greenkeepers to deliver exceptional playing surfaces, MM Seed provides the tools to meet modern expectations while championing sustainable turf management. Visit Stand 126 at BTME to explore the innovative MM Golf range, designed to enhance every area of your golf course with high-quality, high-performing grass seed mixtures that support environmental goals.
2025 sees an exciting shake up in the sustainable seed solutions available from DLF and visitors to stand 126 at BTME 2025 can be some of the first the find out what’s new. Among the changes is the exciting introduction of Sybille – a new slender creeping red fescue cultivar, bringing its No.1 ranking for close mown turf to a number of mixtures across the updated Johnsons Sports Seed lineup. Also new is an expanded Ultrafine Rye range which promises fast establishment, high wear tolerance and aesthetic quality for the golf and bowls market.
While the cricket season at Hertfordshire’s Aldenham School may not be long in duration, it is intense. With students and community clubs using the facilities for training and fixtures between Easter and early July. The concentrated play demands fast recovery and outstanding wear tolerance from the surfaces and specifically the grass seed – both of which Grounds and Gardens Supervisor Danny Wells says they achieve with Johnsons J Premier Wicket.
While the challenges of managing the multi-sport surfaces at Cranleigh School may be akin to those faced by most in the education sector, here they’re on a mammoth scale!
King George V Crown Green Bowling Club, one of the Midlands' top teams, have found new life at their third home in a decade. After a series of relocations, the club has finally settled at the Selly Park Tavern in Birmingham, transforming an abandoned and overgrown bowling green into a superior playing surface, largely due to the expertise of Mark Allen, Technical Sales Manager at Agrovista Amenity, and the exceptional performance of MM11 grass seed.
Work is underway on a brand new ‘Showcase’ facility at DLF’s UK headquarters in Inkberrow, Worcestershire. Scheduled to be fully operational by Spring 2025, the Showcase sees six hectares dedicated to amenity seed trials, product development, training and education for staff, distributors and customers - making it one of the largest of its kind in the UK.
Sustainable seed solutions for lawns and landscapes are set to be showcased as the world’s largest grass seed breeders, DLF, return to GroundsFest. Stand 30 will be the platform for visitors to find out more about mixtures across the Masterline, MM and Johnsons Sports Seed brands, alongside the very best the industry has to offer in both native and non-native wild flowers.
As the push for sustainable and high-performance golf greens intensifies, the use of browntop bentgrass mixtures like Johnsons All Bent and MM9 has proven to be the ideal solution for autumn renovations.
For contractors Avon Sportsground Maintenance, when it comes to the overseeding of bowling greens it’s the fine fescue and browntop bent blend of J Green that is sown every time! Delivering hardwearing but slow growing surfaces, the mixture from the Johnsons Sports Seed range is used on all 47 greens in the Bristol and Bath area currently under the remit of Owner Matt Phillips and his team.
Yesterday marked a significant milestone for one of DLF's dedicated employees: 25 years of continuous service at Inkberrow. Phil Seedhouse began his journey with the company, known as Perryfield’s Holdings at the time, on July 1st, 1999.
Danny Negus has been spearheading the grounds maintenance efforts at Devonshire Park in Eastbourne since 2016.
After witnessing good results with the Johnsons J All Bent mixture, Woolley Park Golf Club are now enjoying similar success with new eco-friendly areas created with DLF’s Pro Flora range.
DLF Seeds, a global leader in grass seed innovation, is proud to announce the launch of it’s refreshed packaging for its professional turf seed mixtures under the renowned brand, Masterline®. The new packaging design, available for 5kg, 10kg, and 20kg bags, comes after a full redesign of DLF's corporate visual identity in early 2023.
Repton School in Derbyshire is a well-known institution which mixes tradition with new ideas. Behind the scenes, Andrew Butler, the Head of Grounds and Gardens, is the man responsible for ensuring the grounds are not just aesthetically pleasing but also resilient to the rigours of year-round sporting activities. That’s where MM Seed comes in.
It’s fair to say that in many aspects of modern life we are encouraged to be mindful of the impact we have on the environment. That’s certainly the case for most Turf Managers across the sporting spectrum, together with landscapers and those looking after green community spaces, some of whom face increasing pressure to operate more sustainably. Whether it’s for environmental reasons or a result of budget constraints, reducing fertiliser applications could be considered. With Microclover® from DLF, this can be achieved without a compromise on turf quality.
After enduring a long and wettest winter on record, many golf course managers and greenkeepers are faced with the daunting task of revitalising their tees and worn areas on golf courses for the upcoming season later than usually planned.
When previous attempts to get a practice putting green back into play at Vicars Cross Golf Club in Cheshire had failed, in stepped new Golf Course Manager Richie Stephens, armed with the J All Bent mixture from Johnsons Sports Seed. A few short months from seeding, and with some favourable assistance from mother nature, the USGA spec green was in business – with the programme then implemented on the construction of a new chipping green that enjoyed similar success!
Nestled in the picturesque landscape of Droitwich, Worcestershire, Gaudet Luce Golf Club has embarked on an impressive wildflower project under the guidance of Course Manager Andy Laing. The stunning results achieved can be attributed to the use of DLF's Colour Boost range, demonstrating the positive impact it can have on both the golfing experience and the local environment.
Redexim UK are pleased to announce the return of their ‘Free Seed’ promotion for 2024. Following the popularity of the initiative last year, more facilities can now benefit from free seed up to the value of £500 from the world’s largest grass seed breeders, DLF, when they purchase a qualifying disc or dimple seeder from any Redexim Regional Partner.
Leading global seed breeders DLF are pleased to be playing host to the last event in a packed summer season of seminars and events for the UK Lawn Care Association (UKLCA). Open to members, the visit to the trial plots and research facility at Hailes Farm, Didbrook, will take place on Tuesday 11th July with only a limited number of spaces remaining.
When it comes to a cricket pitch, there’s not much that Richie Woodmason, owner of Willow Turf Care, doesn’t know about them - whether it’s playing on them or maintaining them! One thing he is certain of, is that when he needs a grass seed that is going to germinate quickly and deliver hard-wearing results capable of withstanding the demands of the modern season, he turns to Johnsons Sports Seed. Following his own extensive research, it’s Johnsons J Premier Wicket that ticks all the boxes for Richie, seeing it employed on 41 of the 42 renovations he completed last season.
With ClearSky, sustainably revegetate and secure airports while limiting maintenance costs and preventing animal hazards.
We asked James Matthewman from Maesteg Golf Club a series of questions about his life as a Deputy Head Greenkeeper & how he overcomes the challenges that face his throughout the golfing season.
DLF’s continued focus on breeding environmentally responsible varieties has seen the introduction of a number of exceptional cultivars, helping facilities and turf managers achieve their own objectives for more sustainable management. In trials for the Chewings Fescue category, DLF’s Orionette demonstrated a high-quality sward that is more drought tolerant and resistant to disease, reducing the reliance on inputs. It is therefore no surprise to see its inclusion in a number of top-performing DLF golf mixtures and find it ranked as number one in the 2023 BSPB Seed Guide!
Brown Top Bentgrass (Agrostis Capillaris) has been a popular choice for golf greens for many years due to its fine texture and excellent putting qualities. In recent years, Johnsons Seeds has introduced a new mixture called J AllBent, which includes a blend of three high-performing brown top bentgrass cultivars: Arrowtown, Manor, and Cleek.
The green, green grass of Chipping Sodbury Golf Club in Bristol is now complimented with a carnival of colours including reds, pinks and purples thanks to the introduction of wildflower seed from DLF. The project is now into its third year and was the brainchild of Deputy Head Greenkeeper Craig Swindells who, together with support from the membership, has successfully introduced 800sq.M of outstanding visual impact together with all-important food and habitat for pollinators and wildlife.
With drought-like conditions becoming more common, turf managers can begin future-proofing their surfaces now with deep-rooting, drought-tolerant grasses such as 4turf® tetraploid perennial ryegrass from DLF. Research conducted at DLF’s RadiMax root-screening facility has shown 4turf® to deliver deeper rooting and a better visual appearance when starved of water, compared to the performance of traditional diploid perennial ryegrasses.
.JPG&width=640&quality=85&format=webp)
From the very first day that legendary guitarist KK Downing decided to establish a golf course, Astbury Hall Golf Club in Shropshire has only ever used MM grass seed.
Opened in late 2019, Stoneham Lane Football Complex comprises 64sq.Km of artificial and natural sports pitches – supporting grass roots football for players of all ages and abilities. Part of the FA’s Parklife Project, the maintenance of the Complex falls under the remit of Hampshire FA Facility Operations Manager Pete Hussey who, in conjunction with seed from DLF, keeps the five grass pitches fit for more than 425 matches per season.
Rhys Butler, Links Manager at Royal St. Davids Golf Club in Wales has been announced as the winner of the DLF Sustainability Seed competition held at BTME 2023. Regional Technical Manager Stuart Yarwood MG recently visited Rhys to present the prize of a Greenstester – the perfect tool for monitoring speed, trueness and greens performance.
MM and Designer grass seed on a variety of sports pitches at the prestigious Millfield School. Craig Richardson, head of grounds and gardens, is using a range of MM and Designer grass seed on a variety of sports pitches at the prestigious Millfield School in Somerset.
We asked David Jones from Knutsford Golf Club a series of questions about his life as a Course Manager & how he overcomes the challenges that face his throughout the golfing season.
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.