Turf Tip: Does ice melt directly harm surfaces when it is used?

No. The real damage to concrete comes from water seeping into it and then refreezing. Water is absorbed by concrete and accumulates. When the water freezes, it expands, causing pressure to build up. The increased pressure will eventually become too much and will damage the concrete. Poor quality concrete, or less than a year old is most vulnerable.

Turf Tip: Use Caution When Seeding

When seeding turfgrass, remember your pre-emergent and broadleaf weed sprays can affect seedlings. You may have to wait 4 weeks or even up to 6 months before seeding after applications. Read the herbicide label to figure out your seeding timetable based upon your application rate. 

Craig Shepherd
ProGro Sales Representative

Turf Tip: Crabgrass

When using pre-emergents, border all edges of properties abutting concrete, brick, or asphalt. These are always problematic crabgrass areas.

Roy Cranmer
ProGro Sales Representative

Turf Tip: Don't Forget About Your Turf When Putting Down Ice Melt

"When putting out ice melt this winter don't forget about the turf below. Ice Melt damage will mostly show up along the edge of your turf, about 4"- 6" inches in, and it may not show up until the spring."

Turf Tip: The End is Nie...or Is It?

Most of the time, a end year turf tip consists of putting your turf to bed, ways to protect from winter kill, late season fertility, or snow mold treatment. Earlier, a colleague of mine wrote, we are not out of the woods yet, and discussed how the unusual warm temperatures have left turf still needing treatment. Yes, we may not be out of the woods yet, but I prefer to look at things with more of a glass half-full aspect. This year's mild start to winter means no one can say, 'I just didn’t get around to it.' There’s been time and season enough to complete applications on and maintenance of your turf. Seed, fertilizer, and fungicides are still leaving out the door; and ice melt is still collecting dust. And so I say: "December is like November and October the month before, if you ain’t did it yet, do it right now." So, complete your applications and take care of any remaining maintenance before Ol' Santa brings colder winter weather.

All tomfoolery aside, ProGro would like to thank all of our customers for a successful year.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 

Roy Cranmer 
ProGro Sales Representative

Potassium's Importance to Turf

Potassium is one of the primary nutrients that turfgrass needs to thrive. It controls turgor pressure, as well as plant enzymes utilized in protein and carbohydrate production. Because of this, it's crucial in traffic and drought tolerance. Although potassium is found in our Midwest soils, only an incredibly small amount is available to the plant. Potassium forms, such as feldspar and muscovite, are tied up in the soil profile and cannot be used by the plant. Thus, using a sprayable or spreadable potassium fertilizer is choice. The Anderson's® and FoliarPak® both make solid options for potassium fertility. Improve the turf's ability to handle more traffic now!

Craig Sherperd
ProGro Sales Representative

Fall Weed Control

The first day of fall has just past and that means we are in the perfect window to target perennial and winter annual weeds. As the temperature falls and day length shortens, plants store carbohydrates for the impending winter. Plants also limit their top growth and increase root production. We can use this to our advantage. Fall herbicide applications are highly successful because the plant helps to carry the active ingredients to the roots and ensure a complete kill. A well-timed herbicide application this time of year can reduce or eliminate many weed problems in the spring.  

Rusty Stachlewitz
ProGro Sales Representative

Turf Tip: Keep Your Eye On The Ball

As the days get shorter and the temperatures get cooler, you can hear the collective sigh of relief, "another season is just about in the bag!"  While the major stress issues are behind us, there remains a potential for pest damage to turf. Dollar spot can be a significant threat well into October as the warm ground starts to collide with cooler air temperatures. Fall is also the time to apply treatments that require lower soil temperatures, such as those for Take all patch. Soon, we will find the gaps in our grub control programs as the damage from feeding larva start to appear. September is typically a dry period and low humidity period in our area.  Maintaining proper irrigation and treatments for LDS are vital to preparing turf as it hardens off for winter. So, enjoy the fact that the end of the season is near, but do not let your guard down just yet!

Aaron Goy
President ProGro Solutions

Turf Tip

"With all the rain lately, it's important to understand how that will affect your pre-emergents. Standing water and over saturated soils have the ability to cut the half life of your weed pre-emergents dramatically. This means, if breakthrough occurs, it is possibly a result of the current weather pattern as opposed to product failure. As always, if you have product concerns, feel free to reach out to your ProGro rep for help with the situation."

Scott Verdun
ProGro Operations and Sales Support

Turf Tip: Spring has Sprung

"June is almost upon us, which hopefully is a sign of more consistent warmer temperatures to come. This is a perfect time to jumpstart your green, tee and fairway soil ecosystem with a bionutritional product.  Fortunately for all of our ProGro customers, we have the answer with Holganix, a Biological Meta-Catalyst.  With spring aerification coming to an end, along with some reported cases of winter desiccation, Holganix would be a perfect addition to address the needs of your turf at this time. Holganix will provide quicker aeration hole recovery and increased root mass and density. It will also provide increased nutrient and water efficiency. Finally, you will see a stronger and healthier plant, which in turn, will be more capable of resisting disease and insect activity. As you can see, the benefits of Holganix will definitely keep you ahead of the game this summer!"

Mike Werth

ProGro Sales Representative

Turf Tip: Mmmmm...Tastes Salty

"I've been told any soil that can grow a crop of weeds, can certainly grow grass. Yet over the years, I have seen some the of best looking soil seem absolutely barren. If you have a problem spot, you can't just cup it in your hand and smell it (okay, maybe you can if someone refueled a mower and spilled all over the place). You can't taste it (well maybe if it's next to a sidewalk where they've used five times too much salt all winter.) You can't put your ear to the ground and listen to all the microbiology (at least I'm pretty sure of that one).

The only way to really know what's going on down there is with a soil test. Understanding the soil will save time, money, and most of all aggravation.  With spring seeding upon us, now is the best time to do a soil test. Proper knowledge of pH, salts, soil texture, and nutrient levels will aid in seed selection and fertility inputs.  You can only know what you need after you find out what you have. For assistance in sampling or results, please contact your ProGro rep." 

Roy Cranmer

ProGro Sales Representative

Turf Tip: Poa Seedhead Suppression Applications

"As spring emerges, golf course superintendents break their dormancy inside the office and investigate their courses to prepare for the upcoming season. One of their first chemical applications, often the trickiest to accurately time, is their poa seedhead suppression application. There are many schools of thought on when to apply the application for poa seedhead suppression. One is after the first forsythia bloom, using Growing Degree Days (www.gddtracker.net). The other is applying after identifying seedheads in "indicator" areas (South-facing slopes, near cart paths or asphalt). These methods all have merit and it may be wise to take all into consideration. It is vital to continuously check weather forecasts when planning your application. If there is a chance of frost within 48 hours after application, it is recommended to wait for warmer weather before applying. Some growth regulators, especially Embark (mefluidide), will have deleterious effects on turf quality if a frost occurs after application. My advice is to check the weather and use all information you have at your disposal, including past records, to decide when to apply. Also, be patient and use common sense." 

Brett Ziegler

ProGro Sales Representative