4/5/2021 - By Matt Gregg

As the onset of Spring knocks on the door for the majority of the US, many turf managers have had some winter ‘down-time’ to reorganize and tweak their agronomic nutritional spray programs.

A common question asked by many turf mangers over the past several months, was as follows: What defines a foliar spray and what defines a good soil spray? Let’s take a look!

By definition, a foliar spray is the application of a nutrient based solution with a low volume amount of water, typically less than 1 gallon per 1000ft². This applied nutrient solution remains on the leaf blade and is absorbed into the plant through the cuticle and stomatal pores. With clarity and direction from various plant/soil testing labs, mangers have a clear picture of nutrient deficiencies and what is desired/needed to maintain nutrition. Foliar feeding allows an avenue for managers to spoon feed the desired macro and micronutrients. This delivery mechanism provides the turf managers with a specific, controlled response, such as vegetative growth, color, or stress tolerance.

Harrell’s MAX® foliar products have been engineered with the highest quality chelates and raw ingredients. With these complex ingredients, Harrell’s MAX® foliar products provide the highest quality and most efficient foliar nutrition source for turfgrass, production grown plants, and specialty crops.

With the defined parameters above on the reasoning behind using a foliar spray, let’s take a dive into the application of a Soil Spray!

Over the last few years, many managers have found tremendous success developing and combining core products to apply as a soil spray application. The intent of a soil spray application is to “mine the soil” for plant nutrition, enhance microbial health, improve soil structure, and generate an “active” soil.  

Designing a soil spray application can be achieved through, but not limited to, using the following products as your balanced approach to application:

• HydroMAX® Wetting Agents – It all begins with the wetting agent. Ultimately, this provides the “vehicle” to move the products into the soil.
• EarthMAX® – Provides an exceptional source of diverse, active, beneficial bacillus, Carbon, Humic and Fulvic Acid for root development, and active fungi populations.
• Soil Enhancer – Carbohydrate food supplement for soil biology.  Soil Enhancer is composed of a natural solution of simple and complex carbohydrates and plant based amino acids from Seaweed Extract.
• Root Enhancer – 10% Fulivc Acid Source + Iron. Helps with nutrient chelation and plant function, allowing for increased Root Development.
• Cal Plus – To change soil chemistry. Bicarbonate/salt remediation and pH reduction. Provides the ability to free up nutrition in the soil.

In developing a “Soil Program” please consider the following theory or base principals. A “soil program” is based upon feeding the soil; in return the soil feeds the turfgrass. The Harrell’s MAX® products listed above allow the application to “Enhance” the following key fractions in the soil: (1) Physical (2) Chemical and (3) Biological.

Soil Spray Strategies

1. Start with HydroMAX® Wetting Agents – In particular Fleet®/Symphony®, this the Vehicle to move the spray components into the soil.
2. Add EarthMAX® = Compost Extract/Active Beneficial Biology
3. Add Soil Enhancer – Food Source
4. Add Root Enhancer – BioStimulant (Fulvic Acid)
5. Add Cal Plus – Soil Chemistry

Please contact your local Harrell's Representative to develop and design your unique Foliar and Soil Spray program, to match your agronomic needs!