Gardening

Sowing the lawn in summer Is it possible to sow the lawn in summer? Normally, sowing the lawn in high summer temperatures is always ill-advised, however, in many cases sowing may be necessary even during the summer period. The advantages of Viresco All of Virens pre-seeded products are regularly used in public or private works where site requirements do not allow for precise scheduling of the application time. However, it is important to ensure good soil preparation by removing wild grasses as much as possible as they are particularly aggressive in summer, therefore reducing their number in advance is essential. It may then be useful to add draining soil to prevent stagnation and the proliferation of pathogens (e.g. soil mixed with sand, volcanic lapilli, etc.).

Another relevant factor is undoubtedly the choice of seeds, a major plus of Virens' products, which always guarantee customisation. In fact, the strong sunshine and high temperatures prevent a good establishment of the most commonly used turfgrass species such as microtherm grasses, making it advisable to look into seed mixes that also contain macrotherm and leguminous species of grass, which better tolerate warmer climates. In any case, the right amount of irrigation water will be required for maximum product yield.

Microtherm grasses, in fact, are represented by the Gramineae species that sees its strongest growth phase during the spring or autumn period when temperatures vary between 15°C and 25°C. Sowing and irrigation Once the plants have germinated, high temperatures coupled with irregular irrigation can cause microtherm lawns to suffer, whereas macrotherm lawns can establish and resist even at high temperatures. Macrotherm grasses, in fact, grow at temperatures between 27°C and 35°C, and once they have sprouted, they are able to survive hot and dry periods, even if watering is not very frequent. They are able to "capture" moisture at night on the surface of the leaves and in this way lower the temperature on the microclimate of the leaves so that they can survive even in the hottest weather.

In the case of lawns composed of macrotherm grasses, in hot seasons, it is advisable to raise the cutting height by at least 2-3 cm compared to spring, maintaining a height of at least 7-8 cm to allow the plants to better defend themselves against high temperatures. One piece of advice is to avoid watering in the evening, as this increases the risk of attacks from fungal disease. It is certainly better to favour morning watering, even just after sunrise, to reduce the risk of fungi such as Phytium and Rhizoctonia. Virens solutions The use of our Viresco pre-seeded lawn biofabric is ideal for this type of treatment and is preferable to sodded lawns or manual seeding, as it is able to perform a protective function in a season particularly prone to weeds. It requires gentle watering and, thanks to its composition, it adheres perfectly to the soil like a protective film in all weather conditions. In addition, our seed mixtures are always tailored to the customer's needs, environmental conditions, climatic period and possibilities for maintenance.

The role of pre-seeds and geomats in the process of bank protection and water flow management What are hydraulic systems? When we say “hydraulic systems” we are referring to all those preventive works in the field of hydraulic engineering that aim to protect the land from erosion and improve navigation in watercourses by controlling and managing the flow of water in natural or artificial environments. In addition, they play an important role in the renaturalisation of riverbanks and the creation of ecological corridors, which are useful for the biodiversity of nature. The mission of Virens is to restore to nature its primary functions and distinctive characteristics, an element of salvation, not only for nature itself, but also for mankind. The objective is to reconcile the performance of our products with the preservation of the environment and the diversity of the territories, thanks to constant innovation and territorial studies, using analysis, tests and research in collaboration with organisations and professionals in the sector. Avoid erosive phenomena, and allow the greatest amount of water to be absorbed Take, for example, the Po Valley, a large alluvial area subject to intense water flows, characterised by soil that can be easily eroded by heavy rainfall and flooding rivers. In this area, hydraulic systems such as dams, rolling basins and drainage canals play a key role, as they control the flow of water by reducing it during floods and prevent soil erosion. These works also make it possible to store water in times of abundance and release it gradually when needed, facilitating absorption and reducing the risk of flooding in populated areas. In the past, it was quite common to cement the banks to obviate the problem of soil erosion, but nowadays, there is a growing realisation that this technique actually increases the speed of water flows and the danger in times of flood. It is important, therefore, to implement environmental and planning policies aimed at prevention and damage limitation in those areas at risk, given the danger and increased frequency with which we are witnessing major weather and climate events. Renaturalising banks, reducing flow velocities, contributing to ecological corridors and biodiversity The renaturalisation of the banks is an essential phenomenon as it favours the conservation of river ecosystems, providing habitats for plant and animal species, improving water quality and contributing to biodiversity through the creation of ecological corridors. But what are ecological corridors? Also known as ecological networks, they are strips of natural habitat that connect several distinct ecosystems. These areas allow organisms to move from one habitat to another, facilitating the migration and dispersal of species. These green corridors can be rivers, forests, meadows or strips of vegetation along roads. The fundamental role played by these green corridors is the conservation of biodiversity: by allowing species to move between different areas, they give them access to new food resources and breeding grounds. In addition, they can provide an escape route for species that, as a result of climate change, need to move to more favourable environments. Creating these spaces results in an improved quality of life, not only for nature itself, but also for man. Virens solutions We have seen how, in an area characterised by erosive phenomena, flooding and intense water flows, intervening with hydraulic engineering works is essential to preventing environmental damage, protecting agricultural land and creating an environment favourable to biodiversity. Virens has always been actively involved in the design and construction of all things related to the banks of these areas, which are subject to periodic flooding, since they must also be protected from occasional erosion due to both rainfall and water flows. Virens intervenes mainly in the most exposed situations such as banks, i.e. places where water impacts the soil, and the ground receives more stress, thus requiring more protection. In these cases it is not sufficient to rely on vegetation, as the power of precipitation is too strong for plant roots alone to be able to hold it back. Our products are ideal for grassing the bank more securely. The use of Viresco® in the second embankment level and Virmat or RecsViresco in the first embankment level, allows for double and greater protection. Another product we offer is Viresco Sator with mixtures of melliferous plants, our seed-rich pre-seeded product that attracts pollinating insects, which are crucial in helping to protect our planet.

What are Geomats? Three-dimensional geomats were developed in the 1960s and consist of synthetic filaments woven together and fused at the contact points with a thickness of approx. 2 cm, making them a very flexible, lightweight and easy-to-use material. They are used to control the erosion of slope surfaces caused mainly by atmospheric phenomena, such as water runoff and wind, and perform this function from the moment they are laid, thanks to the strength of the materials they are made of. They are highly durable and fall into the category of Turf/Earth Reinforcement Mats (TRMs). The role of geomats Three-dimensional geomats consist of an open structure with a high void ratio that allows vegetation to grow and establish itself without creating any obstacles. It is important to remember that a well-vegetated geomembrane slows down the flow velocity of water, but also of wind, and is capable of doubling resistance to water flows. For this reason, they are mainly used on earthen slopes, and prior to installation, adequate preparation of the intervention site is required by means of reprofiling the slopes and establishing a slope profile that is compatible with the geological characteristics of the site and the requirements of stability, safety and landscaping. Application of geomats  The geomats are usually applied after digging anchor trenches approx. 50 cm beyond the top of the slope, which can differ depending on the type of soil, the slope inclination, or the presence of watercourse banks, etc. Subsequently, the trenches, once the geomat has been laid and anchored, must be filled with soil and compacted. The geomats are then unrolled, taking care to maintain contact with the ground, anchoring and overlapping the rolls according to possible water flows. Geomats can be applied to: slopes of significant height very steep slopes watercourses banks and beds loose slopes poor soils poorly irrigated escarpments. Geomats are easy to lay and do not require specialised labour or technical equipment, and they do not suffer from corrosion the way metal products do. Virmat pre-seeded geomats They Virmat geomats are an evolution of traditional geomats: combined with pre-seeded biotextile Viresco® Sator fabric assembled in the lower part of the product, they are designed to offer the best performance on the market. This combination produces an effective protective action and an excellent vegetative result by permanently fixing seeds and fertilisers. The ability of pre-seeded three-dimensional geomats to retain a layer of vegetable soil at the top of the mat provides moisture and thermal protection to the seed contained in the underlying bio-textile, which in turn, prevents the loss of fine soil in all weather conditions and ensures perfect cover for vegetation.  Thus, on the one hand it provides robust slope protection from the outset, and on the other hand, it provides rapid grassing and reinforced anchoring of the roots to the soil and the three-dimensional structure, which is rendered invisible by the vegetation. The result is a single vigorous block that is resistant to erosive forces. In the case of traditional unseeded three-dimensional geomats, it is necessary to spread the seed underneath, before laying, or on top, after laying. With Virmat on the other hand, erosion control and seeding are achieved in one single solution, with lower costs and increased effectiveness.