With spring fast approaching, now is the time to build a plan. From weed control to fertility selection and application, these strategies will help ensure your greens get off to a strong start.
Weed Control
If your greens have a history of crabgrass or goosegrass infestation, be sure to plan for applications of Goosegrass/Crabgrass Control or a Fertilizer + Dithiopyr product. Apply before soil temperatures reach 55°F for best control, making sure to adjust the application rate depending on the desired duration of control.
Goosegrass/Crabgrass Control
10-3-10 + 0.164% dithiopyr
0-0-5 + 0.103% dithiopyr on DG Pro (100 SGN)
18-6-15 + 0.164% dithiopyr (100 SGN)
Fertility
Early spring green-up is encouraged by fertilizers that do not rely on soil temperatures and microbe activity for release. Fertilizers that include both urea and ammonium sulfate as nitrogen sources, or solely ammonium sulfate, are great options for spring fertility applications.
Broadcast Applications
Contec DG 7-14-14
Contec DG 12-3-12
Contec DG 14-7-14
Foliar Applications
Humic Coated Ammonium Sulfate (HCAS) SG
Foltec SG 16-0-16
Tea Seed Meal
The newest addition to our line of specialty fertilizers, CastAway DG (1-0-0) is a natural fertilizer with high protein content and nutrients derived from tea seed meal.
CastAway DG also features patented Dispersing Granule (DG) Technology, which allows the granules to dissolve with minimal irrigation and move more quickly into the soil profile.
Always keep in mind optimum N:P:K ratios, with ideal ratios being 2:1:2 or 4:1:2. Any small amount of phosphorus or potassium will make nitrogen applications more effective and help the turf recover from, or prepare for, stress. Phosphorus is not often applied with early-season pre-emergent applications but can be applied with the second application of the season.
Build a strong fertility base by beginning the year with one to three granular fertility applications, with the later applications incorporating high percentages of slow-release nitrogen. This builds a base of slow-release fertility lasting into the stressful summer months, in which foliar applications can supplement any nitrogen fertility needs.
