Here’s how the speed and accuracy of overseeding at Kelso Golf Club was improved

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A BLEC Multi-Seeder has improved both the speed and accuracy of overseeding at Scotland’s Kelso Golf Club.

With just head greenkeeper James Balmbro and an apprentice to maintain the 18-hole parkland course, the Multi-Seeder has improved the efficiency of their greens seeding programme, with a noticeable improvement in results.

Situated within the confines of Kelso racecourse in the Scottish Borders, overseeding is traditionally carried out twice a year across all of the club’s 18 greens. “Our manpower and available budget mean we focus on overseeding following both the spring and autumn renovation season” explains James, who has been at Kelso GC for five years. “Previously, we would simply broadcast seed by hand, or with a spreader, so it was important for us to find a way of making the process and end result more effective, to deliver the results we wanted to achieve.”

The BLEC Multi-Seeder features two, spiked ring rollers to saturate fine turf and amenity type areas with up to 1500 holes per square metre, ready to accept the seed. Re-engineered under the guidance of Redexim, it features a new seed ratio and seed feed system that offers the user incredibly accurate distribution for all seed types. “We’ve used some ultra-fine dwarf ryegrass in the latest operation, but have also had bent and fescue seed running through the Multi-Seeder without a problem. Within just 7-10 days, you can see the seed germinating from the dimple holes – the difference in the uptake we’ve achieved has been massive.”

“It’s a fantastic piece of kit that’s super easy to set up and adjust; so user-friendly in fact I’ve had our apprentice out there using it and he loves it! For us as a small greens team, operations all come down to time so the fact we can attach the unit straight to the tractor’s 3-point linkage and go, is great. We can get all of the greens done in one day with the Multi-Seeder and all without causing any disruption to the surface.”