Johnsons Lawn Seed this week launched a ‘campaign for quality’ after accusing some grass seed suppliers of cutting corners and undermining the market.

They suggested that more price pressure and lack of consumer knowledge meant that substandard seed products were being sold.

“Consumers deserve quality and lawn seed should not be exempt from this,” Guy Jenkins from DLF Trifolium said. “Some suppliers however are taking advantage of pricing sensitivities and the fact that many consumers do not necessarily understand the differences between lawn seed types and their characteristics. As a result we have heard of several cases of agricultural grasses, including annual ryegrass, being used in domestic blends. This will not only result in poor quality lawn but can lead to long-term lack of consumer confidence in lawn seed products.  There is no doubt that this can have a negative impact on all suppliers, no matter the quality they offer.” 

Johnsons say every grain of lawn seed they produce has been rigorously tested and is the result of millions of pounds and years of research and development by parent company DLF Trifolium.

Jenkins added: “Quality is key to our business, and is a driving force behind everything we do.  We believe in offering consistent quality year after year.  Reliable quality leads to brand loyalty amongst customers, giving retailers the opportunity to tap into repeat business and confidence with their suppliers.”

Ensuring that consumers were armed with as much information as possible was key, Jenkins said, and Johnsons offered comprehensive information on lawn creation, combating disease and weeds and ongoing maintenance – information easily obtained from the website, in-store merchandising support and packaging.

“We are calling for all suppliers to consider the long-term impact that bulking out lawn seed mixes with low grade seed can have on the long-term success of their business, as well as the wider market,” he said. “It is our responsibility to ensure the future of our industry, and we will be doing everything in our power to ensure that our offering is consistent and of the highest possible quality both now and into the future.”