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September 2024 Special Feature Professional Groundscare
Climate change insights sought as RHS adapts its own plant collections The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), University of Sheffield and University of Reading want to hear how climate change is affecting the plants in gardens as they combine forces to help future proof them.
While warmer summers have meant gardens can accommodate a wider variety of flowering plants and some traditional favourites such as ornamental grasses, gladioli and irises are thriving, others, including
hebes and Pittosporum, are being negatively affected by the increasing number of heavy rainfall events, extreme temperatures and unpredictable frosts. Understanding what is growing well or struggling and maintenance habits will help the researchers to make recommendations for how to manage and protect plant diversity across the country. Information will also be used to identify what plants might thrive here in the future. RHS Gardens are already adapting to changes in the weather. Heat loving banana and lotus have flowered at RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Yorkshire – something not thought to have been possible ten years ago – and Lagerstroemia originating from
South East Asia has been trialled successfully at RHS Garden Wisley in Surrey. However, plants from the heather and Hepatica national collections also based at Wisley are being duplicated and grown across other sites because of vulnerability to drought and the potential for loss. Vegetable trials replicated across all five gardens have also shown the difference in performance in the north, south and south west. Tim Upson, Director of Gardens and Horticulture at the Royal Horticultural Society, said: “In a garden, plant diversity is everything and our extensive collections provide some insight into what grows well from year to year and from place to place.”
He said understanding current experiences will increase knowledge of how gardens need to evolve to ensure they continue to provide the environmental and health and wellbeing benefits we currently enjoy in the future. The RHS published Gardening in a Changing Climate in 2017 in collaboration with the University of Reading and University of Sheffield. It highlights the importance of gardens in terms of their interaction with the natural environment and provides recommendations on how gardeners can adapt to climate change through plant choice and garden design.
For the past decade, Christian has called upon Agrovista Amenity for expert advice and products, and in recent years, Attraxor has become a crucial tool in his turf management arsenal. Attraxor is a plant growth regulator exclusively available in the UK from Agrovista Amenity. It contains prohexadione calcium, which
effectively manages the growth of amenity turf. By inhibiting the gibberellic acid pathway, Attraxor reduces turf height and biomass while promoting root growth and maintaining turf colour and quality. Its innovative formulation allows for fast leaf absorption, delivering almost instant results and offering flexibility in application timing, even during cooler weather. Christian’s journey with Attraxor began a few years ago, thanks to a recommendation from Ray Hunt from Agrovista Amenity. “I first used Attraxor a few years ago. Ray suggested I give it a try, and I’ve had good results from it ever since,” Christian recalls. His application strategy is both
all the products you need. Pages 10-12
The survey runs until 15th October here: rhs.org.uk/ climatechangesurvey The RHS Enquiry 1
Brushcutters
Attraxor’s long lasting impact at Cheltenham College Cheltenham College, a prestigious independent school with a rich history, prides itself on immaculate grounds that reflect its high standards. Central to maintaining these exceptional grounds is Christian Brain, Head of Grounds and his knowledgeable team.
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efficient and effective, tailored to fit the busy schedule of an independent school. Christian typically applies Attraxor in mid-May when the weather has improved, and the growing season is in full swing. He mixes Attraxor with fertiliser in three tanks to cover the 3-hectare main college field. “It helps reduce poa seedheads, which is great, and at that time of the year, the grass is growing a lot, so it helps to get a lot of bulk out of it. With the added bit of nitrogen, it gives it a nice colour,” Christian explains. The timing of the application is crucial, coinciding with
Winter Maintenance Cheltenham College’s Speech Day at the end of May, a major event which takes place on the field. “Attraxor helps present the field for all the visitors – it really shines it up and makes
it ready for the day. It holds it nicely through the summertime as well,” says Christian. Agrovista Amenity Enquiry 2
of our extensive machinery range are available at our facility or at your own site, call 01260 223273
King Feeders UK info@kingfeeders.co.uk READER ENQUIRY 3
getting ready for seasonal change. Page 25