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Header image John Quinn The Mere

The Mere Golf Resort & Spa

Estates Manager John Quinn is now into his fourth season using a full COMPO EXPERT programme.

The Summer of 2021

It was about 4 years ago, late in the summer of 2021, when I was first introduced to the COMPO EXPERT product range. I had used fertilisers from all other major manufacturers over my 20 years in the industry and the first thing that struck me about the COMPO EXPERT range were the numbers on the bag. Having been used to using products with relatively low nitrogen numbers (generally from 4 – 8), seeing analyses like 17:0:16 and 19:5:10 was a bit of an eyebrow raiser.

Check out our What's in a bag? article here

While I believe in giving the plant what it needs from a nutritional perspective, I was used to applying around the 100kg of nitrogen per hectare per annum. At this point in July 2021 we were a couple of years into overseeding regularly with creeping bentgrass in a shift away from browntop. While the greens were in very good condition, I thought they lacked a bit of vigour, and now gaining a better understanding of creeping bent and its needs, decided to alter my approach to nutrition.

Golf Green Mere

Superb green up & longevity

In September of 2021 we applied Fertilis Swing® 8:0:24 with added magnesium. This was still relatively similar in analysis to other products I had applied so thought it would be the ideal starting point. The green up and longevity of it was superb. The real surprise however was in the way the nitrogen was released and taken up by the plant. We had an incredible colour, vibrant green, and such a healthy-looking sward, but without an explosion of growth that would have affected speed and roll. The greens went into the winter period in the best condition I had seen during my tenure.

Fertilis Swing NK 8-0-24

Fertilis Swing® NK

NK complex fertiliser with emphasis on potassium for autumn application to promote frost resistance and a better re-start in spring.

  • Potassium-based formulation
  • Immediately effective nutrients for targeted applications
  • Very fine granule size for uniform distribution
  • Dissolves completely after only short irrigation or little rainfall
  • With Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX®, to promote root growth and vitality
  • Optimally suited for integrated pest management (IPM) through preventive grass reinforcement
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Green & fairway

Early season boost

The following year, such was the impression this had made on me, I decided to go all in and use the COMPO EXPERT range of fertilisers exclusively on greens, tees and collars. We started the season with Ferro Top® 6:0:12+6MgO+8Fe to provide an early season boost and green up. Both greens and tees responded fantastically, looking and playing brilliantly. The added iron had the bonus of helping to clear up some small patches of fusarium that had started to show.

We followed this with an application of Floranid® Twin Eagle Master 19:5:10 in June. The beauty of this product was, due to it being high analysis I could drop the rate right down and we applied it at 15 grams per square metre, needing only 6 bags to cover all the greens. I can honestly say I had never seen the greens looking as good.

Ferro Top 6-0-12

Ferro Top®

Fine granulated iron fertiliser with high contents of potassium and magnesium plus extra trace elements. It promotes the quality, resistance and colour of turf areas.

  • Produces intensely green turf
  • Proven to get turf growing even when it’s cold
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Floranid Twin Eagle Master 19-5-10

Floranid® Twin Eagle Master

Extra fine granulated slow-release complex fertiliser of excellent solubility. It includes the double N technology (ISODUR®and CROTODUR®) with a nutrient ratio encouraging extraction for high-quality sports turf and golf greens.

  • Microgranulate
  • With the double N technology made of ISODUR® and CROTODUR®
  • For high-quality sports turf surfaces and especially short cut surfaces such as greens
  • No excessive growth and cuttings
  • Reliable slow nitrogen release over several months
  • Promotes vital root growth, increases the resistance of the grasses
  • Reduction of workload, application risk and nutrient losses due to leaching
  • Optimal granulation for a fine distribution
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Floranid twin - The Mere

Relieving stress & drought damage

I am now into my fourth full season of using COMPO EXPERT fertilisers and have fine-tuned the program to get the absolute maximum out of the playing surfaces. The greens have been consistently excellent from early in the year, right through until Christmas. Even in the few colder and wetter months around the turn of the year the quality doesn’t drop off. In 2022 I started winter feeding, using Ferro Top® in the run up to Christmas and this has meant the greens come through the winter period in very good condition and come alive much earlier than they traditionally have.

the mere Kali Gazon

Applications of Kali Gazon produced less dry spots compared to other applications.


I apply Kali Gazon 0:0:27 during the early season droughts that have become the norm and this has had a huge effect on relieving stress and drought damage. The product helps to control the stomatal pores and improves osmotic regulation which has significantly helped with heat stress during these periods. I have also used it late in the year to aid in the battle with disease pressure, as part of an integrated disease management approach that focuses heavily on plant health and it is an excellent tool.

Kali Gazon 0-0-28

Kali Gazon

Fine granulated K fertiliser with magnesium und sulfur. Specifically designed for fine turf surfaces such as golf and bowling greens, tees & sports pitches.

  • Improvement of sward density by strengthening regeneration growth
  • Promotion of root growth, reserve material storage and stocking
  • Promotion of frost and draught tolerance
  • Increased resistance against fungal infections such as snow mould
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drought stress

Increased root mass & depth

Due to the success of the granular fertilisers, I began to use some of the liquid and soluble products from the COMPO EXPERT range. To supplement the granular feeds I apply a mix of NovaTec® Solub 21 BS and Basfoliar® Root Booster, with plant growth regulators every 14-18 days from early February until late October. This has become the main staple of spoon feeding the greens, tees and approaches to keep them at the peak of their health. I have seen increased root mass and depth, consistently good colour and a huge reduction in instances of disease outbreaks throughout the year.

NovaTec Solub 21 BS

NovaTec® Solub 21 BS

NovaTec® Solub 21 BS with Bacillus Subtilis E4-CDX®

  • Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX® competes with harmful pathogens.
  • 100% water soluble
  • DMPP nitrification inhibitor
  • Bacillus subtilis, selection E4-CDX® helps protects the roots.
  • NET - Nitrogen Efficient Technology
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Basfoliar Root Booster SL

Basfoliar® Root Booster SL

Liquid NP fertiliser (20-5) with amino acids for enhanced root growth and drought resistance.

  • Effects based on a special formulation of complex amino acids
  • Promotion of root growth
  • Easy uptake and quick plant availability of the amino acids
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Tees

Superb Distributor & Support

All COMPO EXPERT products were purchased from our exclusive distributor Agrovista Amenity.

Ian Ellis from Agrovista Amenity is my rep and he’s been absolutely brilliant with advice, support and keeping me updated on any new products that are available. He introduced me to the COMPO EXPERT range and is the main reason I started using it originally. As a company I’ve found Agrovista to be superb to work with and that’s the reason I do the vast majority of my business with them.

We would like to thank John for using our products and providing such a fantastic testimonial. We thoroughly recommend you follow John and his team and see all the amazing work they are doing over on X @TheMereGreens

To John and the team at The Mere, you guys are well and truly #expertsforgrowth 👏