ECO-SMART Landscaping “Go outside and play!!”
These four words are the underpinnings of an amazing childhood and a firm foundation upon which great sportsmen and women have honed their skills. As a youngster, having the opportunity to play outdoors in the garden with my siblings or going down to the local soccer club to kick a ball or swing a few golf clubs was absolute freedom and exhilaration to me. Outdoor spaces, such as parks and playgrounds, sports fields and golf courses fulfill an undeniable and crucial role in the development of young, impressionable minds and bodies – our future generations. And not to forget, providing peace and solitude to those of us who have all but forgotten what it feels like to sprint around an open field, emulating your favourite sporting hero or pulling moves only Clark Kent – wearing his underpants and grandmother's red table cloth – could ever achieve! In an age where actions from the past have negatively affected our natural environments,
66
prolandscaper.co.za
the importance of having healthy, toxin-free sports facilities and play spaces has never been more pressing. Over the past 20 years, Talborne Organics has been formulating and producing a reputable range of internationally certified organic fertilisers that have nutrient values comparable to that of synthetic chemical fertilisers. The products are scientifically formulated to achieve the highest levels of balanced organic plant nutrition and contain four to five times the nutritional levels of compost or composted animal waste. The sports and leisure market is an area of Talborne’s business that has seen steady growth over the years. Public spaces such as parks and grounds, rugby and cricket fields (up to national level), golf courses, golf estates and eco estates have benefitted greatly from an organic approach to their maintenance and feeding programmes. Research the world over has shown that the use of synthetic chemical methods of growing
is no longer sustainable over the long term. These methods, together with the use of harsh and highly toxic pesticides, herbicides and fungicides, contribute to the deterioration of our natural environment, and in turn, affect us and generations to come. It goes without saying that practices need to change in the way we install and maintain our sports facilities and outdoor play spaces. So let’s jump right in and start “Talking Talborne”! How does one use our products? And what makes them the smart choice? It all starts with the soil and having the correct balance of major, macro and minor nutrients to ensure healthy growth of all plants. South African soils are naturally deficient, weathered and ancient soils, and therefore benefit from supplemental feeding with organic fertilisers. Soil fertility and structure determines application rates. Our environmental and green credentials are confirmed by our international organic certification.
