Horticulture

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.

Land preparation and maintenance before the autumn rains The sharp variations in climate that we have witnessed in recent months and the unpredictability associated with rainfall remind us with increasing urgency of the need and importance of maintaining our land in the best possible condition, in order to be ready to face not only extreme weather events of short duration, but also prolonged periods of bad weather. Despite the fact that nowadays it is more and more complex to predict these sudden climatic changes, autumn remains a period characterised by a large amount of precipitation; this is why it is essential to take preventive measures to ensure effective land preparation and maintenance. What are the main actions that should be taken to ensure successful soil preparation through preventing erosion? First of all, a regular flow in the watercourses must be ensured to protect their banks and embankments; It is necessary to carry out regular cleaning and maintenance; Areas that have been stripped of their original vegetation must be consolidated and greened; As well as reducing the use of concrete and land consumption. Different types of products for different types of situations As part of these activities to protect the land and prevent hydrogeological and erosion risk, various types of techniques and materials are generally used, including bio-mesh, geo-mesh, bio-mats, bio-textiles, geo-grids, geo-cells and geo-composites. Among this wide range, Virens' products are the only pre-seeded materials to be available both in a biodegradable version, i.e. temporary, and in a permanent version, i.e. with synthetic or metallic components. Having both the technical and vegetative solution for protecting, consolidating and greening surfaces in a single product is a considerable advantage in terms of the final result and operability of the intervention. Moreover, Virens products are customised in terms of seeds, fertiliser, etc., offering the possibility to cope with different situations with the best possible greening tools, such as bio-textiles, geo-textiles and geo-composites, all pre-seeded and designed to grass and vegetate any type of soil surface. Virens bio-textiles Our Viresco® Sator belongs to the biotextiles/biofelts category. Composed entirely of cellulose-derived fibres, it completely biodegrades in about 4-5 months, and being very thin (approx. 4mm) it adheres perfectly to the ground, preventing underlying seepage and offering excellent surface erosion protection. Our Viresco® Sator biotextile firmly retains seeds and fertiliser in the mesh, even under extreme conditions and inclinations, ensuring uniform greening and ideal ecological and landscape results. It is widely used for lining and protecting natural and artificial earthen slopes or embankments, including watercourses, for erosion control and the protection of seeds from runoff, as well as to ensure more favourable conditions for them to take root and grow. But that's not all, it is in fact recommended for all critical situations in construction, in landscaping, in the greening of landfills, reclaimed land, quarries, in geotechnics, as a fine particle retentor and as a matrix for grassing façades of strengthened and reinforced soil.   Virens Geomats Virmat belongs to the category of geo-mats, available in a heavier structured version (Virmat) and a lighter, more manageable version (Virmat L). These are three-dimensional, anti-erosive gripping geo-mats, which again are the only ones of this type of product that are pre-seeded. They consist of the combination of a high-tenacity, three-dimensional geo-mat with the Viresco pre-seeded biotextile, and provide robust slope protection on the one hand, and quick grassing and reinforced root anchorage to the soil and three-dimensional structure on the other. The result is a single, vigorous block capable of resisting the strongest erosive forces. Virmats can also be applied at very steep angles, up to 70°, and are able to perform an effective protective and vegetative action. A solution particularly suitable in all the situations and contexts listed above and in particular characterised by: slopes of significant height very steep slopes watercourses banks and beds very loose slopes poor soils poorly irrigated escarpments.  The RecsViresco geo-composite Also belonging to the category of geo-composites is RecsViresco, the latest addition to Virens' range of erosion control pre-seeded products. The result of combining a double-twist wire mesh with the pre-seeded Viresco® Sator biotextile, it is designed for erosion control and vegetative covering of steeply sloping soils or soils that are exposed to erosion and surface instability. The metal reinforcing element has a permanent function of containing and absorbing the deformational stresses that develop on the surface of the soil mass, but on its own it does not offer the necessary protection against erosion of the medium-to-fine fraction of the soil. To achieve this, the combination of pre-seeded biotextile with high greening capacity well anchored to the soil by the wire mesh itself is very useful. RecsViresco is used for: immediate erosion control of the slope surface and fine soil parts;  regular and uniform plant establishment and growth;  erosion protection and soil seeding in a single step without the need for sowing before or after laying;  greater speed of execution of the work; excellent environmental compatibility from a physical-chemical point of view;  landscape improvement associated with the securing of critical slopes. The choice of Virens products may vary depending on the slope of the terrain, as it is necessary to diversify the proposal as the slope increases: Viresco® Sator works well on slopes up to 45 degrees. Virmat L works well on slopes up to 45-55 degrees. Virmat works well on slopes up to 55-70 degrees. RecsViresco works well on slopes up to 60-70 degrees.