Biological powder designed to support all growing grasses.
Note: PlantMate Turf Pro is the new name for Trichoflow Turf.
PlantMate Turf Pro is a biological powder designed to support all growing grasses. Specially formulated with high numbers of root endophyte Trichoderma spores, PlantMate Turf Pro has been extensively tested on all sports surfaces and hydroseeding projects.
Apply when establishing golf greens or for monthly maintenance to all turf grass.
PlantMate Turf Pro should be added to the tank for hydroseeding projects that involve steep slopes or call for the use of ProGanics Biotic Soil Media.
PlantMate Turf Pro is easy to mix and apply vie fertigation or all spray equipment.
The rate is 1.5kg per hectare monthly through the growing season for most turf grasses.
Application rate for re-vegetation projects in areas with low levels of organic matter or nutrients can be as high as 20kg/ha.
This works out at 80g/bale of hydroseeding media.
What is it and how does it work?
PlantMate Turf Pro contains high numbers of a single endophytic trichoderma strain, LU132, formulated in a wettable powder. By applying the product to newly seeded turf or established lawns, you support the establishment of beneficial fungi in and around the rootzone, stimulating both root and foliar growth.
New turf construction often starts with elimination of weeds and the sterile sandy environment creates a microbiological vacuum. Problems in the first few years can often be traced back to poor nutrition and disease pressure, caused by undesirable organisms finding a home in this vacuum. Establishing endophytic trichoderma in and around the rootzone allows these beneficial fungi to occupy this niche for the benefits of improved plant growth and health.
In turf grass, trichoderma can also establish into the thatch layer where there is a ready supply of organic material suitable for a food supply. In some cases, this can lead to degradation of excess cellulose material found in this layer.
PlantMate Turf Pro has a level of tolerance of commonly used chemical fungicides and can be incorporated into turf management programs. In fact, studies have shown that the use of biological additives can complement a conventional management plan.
Key Features
Improved Turf growth and health.
Better establishment, stronger roots.
Compatible with insecticides.
Superior microbial activity.
Increased complexity of fibrous roots.
Trial Results
Golf Courses
PlantMate Turf Pro has been used on many quality golf courses through Australia and New Zealand for the last 20 years. Many photos showing the improvement in root structure have been taken over the years.
Maintaining the condition of high-quality greens is the focus of most superintendents and where PlantMate Turf Pro can add value as part of an ongoing spray program.
PlantMate Turf Pro should be used in partnership with PlantMate Granular when establishing new greens or relaying turf grass. The granule is applied underneath the laying of any turf sod and the PlantMate Turf Pro is a monthly spray programme to speed up and improve establishment whilst maintaining root health.
Untreated on left. Treated with PlantMate Turf Pro on right.
Melbourne Golf Course
At a golf course in Victoria, PlantMate Granular was applied at establishment, using a rate of 2kg/100m², with an equal blend of 3 varieties of Bentgrass sown at 600g/100m².
This was followed up by monthly applications of PlantMate Turf Pro.
There were 4 replicates of 3m x 3m plots for control and trichoderma application set up at planting.
Damping off assessments were made after 3 weeks (and these are presented on the PlantMate Granular page).
By July, symptoms of winter turf grass disease were being observed and so assessments were made on 30th July.
A consultant plant pathologist diagnosed the pathogen as fusarium sp.
Winter Turf Disease (%)
PlantMate Turf Pro
As part of a trial to assess the suitability of PlantMate Turf Pro to help with soil erosion on roadside projects – it was included in a hydroseeding trial.
Initial observations were very positive.
The increased growth in the treated areas (shown in the photo on the right) gave confidence that the trichoderma was having a positive effect on germination, establishment and early growth.
This led to subsequent inclusion on further projects.
Untreated on the left and treated on the right.
ProGanics and Roadside cuttings
PlantMate Turf Pro was included as part of a project, to find methods to reduce sediment runoff and erosion of steep roadside cuttings after infrastructure engineering works.
Taking place at Christchurch Adventure Park, options ranged from physical barriers, such as rolled jute or wool, to mulch options, where in one treatment PlantMate Turf Pro was included with Proganics BSM.
All plots also had a variety of plant species added to their plots.
Pictures below were taken 10 months into a 30 month project.
Success was based around vegetation cover and evidence of erosion. ProGanics BSM with PlantMate Turf Pro was rated as the most successful treatment with little bare soil and no evidence of erosion after 30 months. In fact all plots had over 95% vegetation cover.
Plot 5.
Plot 12.
Plot 15.
