For golf and bowling greens
Traditional Golf Greens Grass Seed
A traditional fescue-and-bent blend for dense, smooth turf that can be managed down to 5mm.
£60.00
Tax included. Delivery options shown at checkout.
90% fine fescuesFine leaves and a dense, traditional surface.
10% browntop bentA very small seed that adds exceptional plant density.
Built for close mowingThe established surface can be managed down to 5mm.
Allow up to 28 daysBent is the slowest species in the mix.
Germination tested seed. Follow the sowing guide for best results.
Next working day where availableOrder by noon, Mon–Fri; check checkout
Returns within 14 daysUnopened seed; see delivery & returns
Seed adviceSee the sowing guide below
50% slender fescue · 40% Chewings fescue · 10% browntop bent · Backed by Barenbrug
What makes this different
Three fine-turf species, one smooth surface
Fescues supply the fine leaf and seasonal balance. Browntop bent adds the dense, close-mown surface expected from a green.
Fine leaf from fescue
Both fescues suit close-mown turf. Their leaves are needle-fine and they pack close together, which is what makes a surface read as smooth rather than as a collection of blades.
Density from bent
Bent seed is tiny and numerous. Ten per cent of the bag by weight puts far more bent plants into the surface than the percentage suggests.
Seasonal balance
Chewings fescue grows earlier in the year, while slender creeping red fescue grows later. Between them the surface holds its appearance across the season rather than peaking once.
The detail
Specifications & characteristics
Specifications
Sowing rate25 to 35 g/m²
Germination14 to 21 days (fescues)
Germination14 to 28 days (browntop bent)
Mowing heightDown to 5mm after establishment
Mixture50% slender fescue · 40% Chewings fescue · 10% browntop bent
Bag sizes5 / 10 / 20 kg
Best sownMay to late September
Characteristics
Fineness of leaf★★★★★
Surface density★★★★★
Close-mowing tolerance★★★★★
Speed of establishment★★★★★
Wear tolerance★★★★★
Shade tolerance★★★★★
Before you buy
A green is a maintenance system, not only a seed mix
The mixture can produce a fine putting surface. The seed cannot provide that surface without correct mowing, moisture, nutrition, aeration and topdressing.
What the surface needs from you
Four things the seed cannot do on its own.
Prepare an even, well-drained seedbed.
Keep the surface consistently moist during establishment.
Lower the mowing height gradually after establishment.
Use suitable fine-turf equipment for a 5mm finish.
The one to avoid
Do not sow the mix and cut new seedlings to 5mm.
The 5mm figure describes established, managed turf. New seedlings need time and root growth before the height of cut comes down, and taking them straight to 5mm is the quickest way to lose a new surface.
Is this the right surface?
Will it suit your green?
This is a fine-turf mixture for managed surfaces. It rewards the right site and it punishes the wrong one.
Golf-green overseeding
A traditional use
Bowling-green overseeding
Fine and dense
A prepared home putting green
With proper maintenance
Open, sunny fine turf
Deep shade needs a specialist choice
Busy high-wear greens
Fescues need careful management
A lawn that gets played on
Choose Hard Wearing or Ultimate
Plan the surface
Get the right amount before you sow
Enter the area of the green, check this is the right mix, or add the seed, feed and spreader together.
Product details
How it establishes, what it suits and what to expect
The practical detail behind the mix, from establishment timing to reviews and specifications.
What’s really in the bag
Two fescues and a bent
Ninety per cent of the bag by weight, and the last ten per cent that changes the surface.
The science50% slender creeping red fescue
Fine texture with natural lateral repair
Slender fescue has very fine leaves and can spread through short rhizomes. It helps the green stay tight and even.
The science40% Chewings fescue
Dense turf and strong spring growth
Chewings fescue grows as dense tufts. Its spring-to-summer growth balances slender fescue’s later seasonal habit.
The science10% browntop bentgrass
A small percentage adds a very large seed count
Bent seed is extremely small. Its small seed size means 10% by weight contributes many seeds.
When you’ll see green
The slowest species sets the expectation
The fescues want soil at 10°C, but the browntop bent wants 15°C and takes up to 28 days. The bent sets the window and the wait for the whole mixture, which is why it is May to late September.
Day 0
Sow into a fine, prepared surface and keep it moist
Days 14 to 21
The two fescues begin to establish
Days 14 to 28
Browntop bent fills the fine surface
After establishment
Lower the cut gradually toward the target height
Customer reviews
What real gardeners say
Let’s clear this one up
“If the bag says 5mm, I can cut new turf to 5mm.”
The worry
“The product is sold on a 5mm cut, so that is the height I mow at.”
An understandable reading of the specification, and the quickest way we know to lose a new surface in its first month.
The honest answer
Five millimetres is a managed height for established fine turf.
New seedlings need time, root growth and gradual mowing first. Bring the height of cut down in stages once the surface has established, not on the first pass.
Very low mowing increases stress on the plant.
Greenkeepers change mowing height with season and conditions.
No surprises
What to expect, and who it’s not for
We would rather you bought the right bag than the wrong one, even if that means buying a cheaper one from us.
What to expect
- Very fine leaf texture.
- A dense, smooth surface under correct management.
- A traditional blend for golf and bowling greens.
Good to know
- Establishment can take up to 28 days. The browntop bent is the slowest part of the mix.
- The fescues do not tolerate heavy wear. For a surface that gets used, choose Hard Wearing or Ultimate.
- The finished surface needs specialist maintenance and fine-turf equipment.
Questions, answered
Before you buy
Is this suitable for a home putting green?
Yes, on a properly prepared and maintained surface. It needs an even, well-drained seedbed, consistent moisture, and a mower that can hold a fine-turf height. Without that equipment and routine you will not get a putting surface from any seed.
When should I sow it?
May to late September. The two fescues want soil at 10°C, but the browntop bent wants 15°C, and the bent sets the window for the whole mixture.
How long will it take to germinate?
The fescues take 14 to 21 days and the browntop bent takes 14 to 28. Judge the sowing by the slowest species, not the fastest.
Can I overseed an existing golf or bowling green?
Yes, and that is one of its main uses. Prepare the surface so the seed reaches soil, sow inside the window, and keep the surface consistently moist while it establishes.
Can I mow it to 5mm immediately?
No. Five millimetres is a managed height for established turf. Let the new grass root first and lower the height of cut gradually.
Is it suitable for a normal family lawn?
No. The fescues in it do not tolerate heavy wear and the surface needs specialist maintenance. For a lawn that gets used, choose Hard Wearing or Ultimate Lawn Seed.
How much seed do I need?
Pop in the area of the green and we’ll do the maths.
Not sure this is the one?
Answer a few quick questions about your garden and we’ll point you to the perfect mix.
Find your perfect seed