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Innovative products from Syngenta and Everris (formerly named Scotts) are helping Wimbledon Head Groundsman, Eddie Seaward, and his Head Groundsman Designate Neil Stubley, prepare their courts in readiness for an intensive summer of sport in 2012, which will see the world's tennis stars battle for supremacy on the prestigious Wimbledon courts twice in a matter of weeks.     

The double showdown will begin in June with the eagerly anticipated Championship fortnight. Then, at the end of July, the courts will be brought back into action for what will undoubtedly be a thrilling week of Olympic tennis.

"We always aim to produce pristine surfaces during the summer months," says Eddie (below), who has put off retirement until after next year's Games. "Even during the winter months we have to keep the courts looking good because of the many visitors we get," he explains.  "I've used Scotts (now Everris) products all my working life. I've always been impressed by the technology and the company's attention to the needs of groundsmen. They've done the research and know what works and what doesn't."


Eddie Seward has delayed retirement until after the 2012 Olympics, when the Wimbledon turf will be subject to the World's top two tennis events in a matter of weeks.

Eddie has regular meetings with his Everris Technical Area Sales Manager, John Noyce, to discuss product use and programmes. "We often need to know whether different products can be applied at the same time or not, and when it's the best time to apply them. It is easy to talk things through on the phone and find a solution with Everris' technical team," he says.

Fertilizer programmes
For example, he uses Greenmaster Liquid NK 10-0-10, Effect Iron and Greenmaster Blade in the weeks prior to the tournament. This tank mix combination creates exactly the right amount of growth and colour, whilst maintaining sward quality and performance. He is using an integrated programme approach to turf management with Everris fertilizers at its core to prepare the courts for such intensive use.

The quality of the Centre Court turf was highly praised at the 2011 Championships. Primo Maxx has been used for the first time on Centre Court this year, after successful Wimbledon trials.

After autumn renovations, Eddie uses Greenmaster 6-5-10 granular fertilizer during the winter months up until April, when he switches to a Greenmaster Liquid fertilizer with high nitrogen content. This is tank mixed with Primo Maxx plant growth regulator, which is used through to the tournament fortnight. The courts also receive an application of Greenmaster Spring & Summer granular fertilizer at least six weeks prior to the Championships.

Primo Maxx quality playing surface
Eddie began trials of Primo Maxx three years ago, starting with a small turf area, moving to the croquet lawns and then to practice courts 20 and 22 during 'Wimbledon Fortnight'. He was so impressed by the results that he applied it in tank mix with Greenmaster Liquid fertilizers to six main courts used during the 2010 Championships. This year, he has used Primo Maxx on Centre and Number 1 Courts for the first time.

"Using Primo Maxx during the growing season has reduced the clippings yield produced during mowing and helps thicken up the sward," he explained. "The tank mix gives us numerous advantages; it reduces wear and tear and makes the surfaces less slippery because the leaf growth is not so lush. The enhanced colour it produces is also a major advantage because of the importance of aesthetics at a televised venue. We also carry out less overseeding at the end of the season."

Under the shadow of the immense new Centre Court, the courts at Wimbledon are kept in prestine condition year-round for the All England Lawn Tennis Club members. 

Primo Maxx works by inhibiting vertical growth, diverting plant growth downwards to the root system to produce increased food reserves and lateral stem development. This produces a thicker, healthier sward that better equips turf to withstand temperature extremes, moisture loss, traffic wear and tear and helps control Poa annua. One application at label rates can reduce grass clippings by up to 50 per cent, depending on the height of cut.

"As in all aspects of groundsmanship, it's a question of judgement of localised conditions as to when we apply products and treatments," Eddie continued. "Over the past few years we've had particularly dry summers, resulting in some of the driest Wimbledon fortnights on record, so we've used H₂Pro wetting agent to ensure water and nutrients reach the roots."

Clean turf
Eddie and Neil also opted to include the new fludionxonil contact+ fungicide Medallion TL, along with the well renowned Heritage Maxx, in their pre-tournament fungicide programme. This followed successful trials at the club earlier in the year

Neil explained why: "Being a high profile venue we can't leave things to chance. Even after the snow we had in London we still had a completely clean sward. A fast-acting fungicide like Medallion means we are always in control."