Q. What are the recommended sowing depths for mixtures, especially those containing new species?
A. Sowing depths play a very important part in helping to achieve optimum germination. Sometimes sowing mixtures containing different species can compromise the germination of one or other, particularly when overseeding; therefore sowing them separately is an excellent option if you have the time on equipment. Recommended sowing depths for all mixtures can be found in the BAR range 2004 catalogue.

Q. Does mowing height affect cultivar characteristics?
A. Yes. It can have a great affect not only on the physical characteristics of the cultivars but also on the stress levels of the plant. Cultivars of the same species perform very differently under different mowing regimes. Nutrition and irrigation inputs and rootzone/soil type also have a great influence. Cultivar selection and synergy of mixtures is extremely important. The Turfgrass Seed booklet is an excellent independent guide for certain characteristics however, as grass seed breeders we have much more information on individual cultivar characteristics that may fulfil your requirements .If you would like more information regarding specific cultivars or if you have a specific characteristic requirement.

Q. Following extremes of weather say for example, severe drought followed by waterlogging, is there a species that can cope with both these extremes?
A.Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) can tolerate both these extremes through its extraordinary deep rooting capability (roots can go down to 1.5 metres deep)! Furthermore, it is both shade and salt tolerant, thrives in sandy soils and has similar wear tolerance to perennial ryegrass once established. New cultivars have been bred specifically for amenity use. Cultivars such as Barbizon have been bred to tolerate closer mowing (down to 12mm) and are finer leafed whilst retaining the desirable natural characteristics of the species. Tall fescue can be used for sports pitches, racecourses, polo pitches, golf fairways and semi-roughs. It is excellent for general landscaping and is particularly useful for inclusion in bird-strike mixtures for airfields. On the subject of drought, don’t forget plants can also suffer from drought in frozen conditions and a plant that is drought tolerant may not necessarily be heat tolerant.

Q. Is there a species which is both shade and wear tolerant that can be used for shaded golf tees?
A. Tufted hairgrass. Barenbrug’s breeding programme has produced a cultivar called Barcampsia, which is both shade and wear tolerant, has very fine leaves and can be regularly mown down to 8mm making it ideally suited to shaded golf tees and fairways in addition to its successful application in shaded football stadia.

Q. Is there a grass species which is truly low maintenance?
A. Crested hairgrass (Barkoel) is a truly unique low maintenance species, having very low water and fertiliser requirements. It has excellent fine turf characteristics, can be regularly mown down to 5mm and is tolerant of drought, salt and limestone. It is available in a new mixture (BAR 40) with Barcrown slender creeping red fescue for 2004.