Steve Birks, head groundsman at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground, says he is still delighted with the effects of Aitkens' Award Ultima fertiliser two years after he first started using it at the home of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club.


Notts CCC Groundsman Steven Birts and Aitken Product Specialist Peter Fell

Steve, who has been at Trent Bridge since 1997, after starting off as a 16-year-old at Derbyshire, says the impact on colour and root density has been particularly pleasing for him.

“We’ve been using it for the last few years,” he explains.

“It’s improved the colour, the root depth and everything, so we’ve been very impressed with it. We started noticing a difference in colour and the density improved along with everything else within three months of it being applied.”

Steve says he has also noticed a massive reduction in disease since using Ultima, which he applies all year round.

“In the winter we use the autumn and winter mix and the colour is green and fresh. We’ve hardly had any disease on it since we started using it, in fact we haven’t sprayed for disease for quite a few seasons now.”