2/18/2020 - By Tyler Otero

As I travel around the Mid-Atlantic region during the growing season, I get the privilege of visiting all levels of golf facilities, sports fields, and landscape companies, but one thing is always noticeable upon entering these places.   What was my first visual impression of the facility?  Focusing in on the golf course facilities out there, although these principles can be applied to lawn care or sports complexes, one of the biggest impacts you can have on your clientele, whether those are members, guests, or the paying public, is the visual quality of the entrance to your property.  Some golf courses have winding entrance roads, lined with ancient trees, while others are right off busy highways.  Regardless of your location, these entrance areas are often overlooked, forgotten, or cut out of the budget for various reasons, but they remain vital to the overall experience of the target customer.  What about when the golfer reaches the parking lot, and walks into the pro shop or clubhouse?  Was the front lawn healthy and vibrant?  Were the flower beds weed free and colorful?   These are some of the question’s property managers should be asking. 

So, as we trudge through the rest of winter, I challenge you to take some time and show a little love to these “common areas” of your course.  Common areas could mean the entrance road, clubhouse lawn, flower beds, parking lot islands, or a combination of any of these at your facility.  It doesn’t necessarily require a large staff or extra money to add some value to your property.  As you make your beautification plans for the 2020 season, consider Harrell’s to be your one-stop-resource for improving the common areas at your course.

First, for your fertility needs, consider using POLYON® controlled-release fertilizer in the lawns and landscape beds surrounding your property.  One application can provide months of a guaranteed controlled-release of nutrients.  An excellent product for flower beds is our 14-14-14 POLYON® Fertilizer.  A single application can give your season-long fertility in flower and landscape beds in the Northern part of the United States.  For the turf areas this Spring, consider one of our many standard blends of POLYON® Fertilizer sparged with your favorite pre-emergent weed control product.  Some of our offerings include blends in “mini” and “regular” SGN sizes that are sparged with either Dimension, Barricarde, or Ronstar (Restricted Use Pesticide).  Also, we offer a few different options of Harrell’s “One and Done” POLYON®  Fertilizers that are sparged with both Dimension herbicide and Acelepryn insecticide.  Outside of pre-emergent fertilizers, we offer a wide variety of standard fertilizers, so be sure to ask your Harrell’s rep on their next visit which POLYON®  fertilizer product is right for you.

Also for your mulch beds and fine-turf areas, Corteva Agriscience is launching a brand-new specialty herbicide product this Spring called Crew.  This granular herbicide combination of Dimension and Gallery is safe on turf and ornamentals but offers broad spectrum control of hard to manage weeds.  If your landscape areas are susceptible to disease pressure, consider using Orkestra Intrinsic brand fungicide from BASF this season.  With over 48 different species of disease-causing pathogens listed on the label, Orkestra can be used as a preventative or a curative control product to keep your landscape areas looking beautiful.  When you are installing new annual and perennial plants, don’t forget to add EarthMAX® G into hole before you backfill.  This carbon food source will help establish strong roots in your newly planted beds.

Regardless if you are at a high-end private club, hosting major championships, or a rural, nine-hole course trying to keep the cash register ringing, I ask that you take a minute to consult with your Harrell’s rep to help build a common areas program that fits your facility and budget.  We have many solutions that will fit your needs.   Have a great rest of the winter season and may the weather always be on your side.