6/2/2020 - By Jason Frank

Every year we look for new solutions to old and new problems facing our industry. Sometimes these new solutions help us with labor. Sometimes they control pests better than previous products. And every now and again they even save us money. This week, we’ve created a review of some new chemistry solutions that can help you manage your turf better this year.

This summer, there are three new tools to consider for managing your turf. They’re brought to us by some of the brands we know and love in the turf industry, and they all contain brand new active ingredients—always exciting to learn about.

Rayora™ Fungicide (FMC)

• Purpose: For improved control of Dollar Spot

• General Description: A next generation DMI with the breakthrough active ingredient that provides excellent turf safety and rapid uptake. It features the fastest plant uptake of any of the DMI fungicides, which means faster protection. Actively protects treated turf grass leaves and newly developing leaves.

• Active: Flutriafol

• Signal Word: Caution

• Class of Chemistry: DMI Group 3 Fungicide

o Preliminary data suggests effectiveness on certain DMI and SDHI insensitive strains

o Excellent turf safety, including bermudagrass greens as a DMI

• Formulation: SC

• Rain fast: Two hours

• Controls: Ideal for preventative and curative Dollar Spot, Rayora™ fungicide is set apart by its rapid foliar and root uptake. Good Brown/Large Patch, Spring Dead Spot, and Grey Leaf Spot control; future studies set for Fairy Ring and Bermudagrass Decline control (nice rotational product).

• Tolerant Species: For use on warm and cool season turfgrasses

• Use Sites: For use on turf in golf courses, in lawns and landscape areas around public, industrial, and commercial properties. Restrictions: Do not use on home lawns and turf sites associated with apartment buildings, daycare centers, playgrounds, playfields, recreational park athletic fields, athletic fields located on or next to schools (i.e., elementary, middle and high school), campgrounds, churches, and theme parks.

• Rates: 30.5 to 61 oz/ac. 

• Cost and package size: 2.5 gallon (Agency Priced): $495

o $47.17 to $94.35/ac

• For more information on this product, call your local Harrell’s rep or visit the FMC Website.

GameOn™ Arylex® Active Specialty Herbicide (Corteva)

• Purpose: For improved control of Doveweed

• General Description: A new Specialty herbicide combines the power of new Arylex® active and 2,4-D choline with proven fluroxypyr to economically achieve superior control of Doveweed and 100 other broadleaf weeds.

• Active: Arylex®, 2,4-D, Fluroxypyr 

o Low Order

• Signal Word: Warning

• Class of chemistry: Arylex® active is the first member in a new class of synthetic auxin herbicides.

• Formulation: EW

• Controls: Doveweed and 100 other broadleaf weeds

o Visible results within 24 to 72 hours

• Tolerant Species: cool season turfgrasses (bentgrass, bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue and ryegrass) and warm season turfgrasses (bermudagrass, zoysiagrass)

• Use Sites: Golf courses (including fairways, aprons & roughs, and tee boxes), industrial sites, cemeteries, commercial sod farms, and unimproved turfgrass areas. Unimproved turfgrass areas are defined as sites that are not regularly maintained and may only be mowed and treated 1-3 times per year. Not for use in residential turf.

• Rates: 3 to 4 pt./ac

• Cost and package size: $124.88/2.5gal (Quasi-Agency)

o $18.73/ac to $24.98/ac

• For more information on this product call your local Harrell’s rep or visit the Corteva website. 

Vexis® Herbicide Granular (PBI Gordon)

• Purpose: For improved control of Sedges and Kyllingas

• General Description: New active ingredient, pyrimisulfan, provides exceptional control of sedge and kyllinga species, plus listed broadleaf weeds.

• Active: Pyrimisulfan

• Signal Word: Caution

• Class of Chemistry: Sulfonanilide ALS inhibitor (WSSA Group 2, HRAC B)

• Formulation: Granular formulation, which will reduce potential for drift and non-target application and can be applied to wet turf

• Controls: Provides extended control of sedge and kyllinga species, plus listed broadleaf weeds.

• Tolerant Species: Labeled for cool season turfgrasses (bentgrass mowed over ½ inch, fine and tall fescues, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass) and warm season turfgrasses (bermudagrass mowed over ½ inch, Buffalograss, St. Augustine grass)

• Use Sites: Golf courses (including tees, fairways, and roughs), residential turf, commercial sites, parks, schools, cemeteries, sports facilities, athletic fields, and sod farms

• Rates: 4 lb./1000 sqft. or 174 lbs./ac

o Can be applied to wet or dry turf

o For best results, water in within 48 hours of treatment

• Cost and Package Size:

o 2lb Shaker Can: $11.80 (Quasi-Agency)

• $1,026/ac

o 15lb bag: $18.60 (Quasi-Agency) 

• $215.76/ac

• For more information on this product call your local Harrell’s rep or visit the PBI Gordon website.

We hope this review helps you better understand how these new and exciting products can be an effective addition to your turf management program this year. What’s exciting is that all three products reviewed can be applied for warm and cool season turf, giving a number of managers the ability to try something new this year. Remember, always read and follow labeled instructions and wear proper PPE when handling pesticides.

We look forward to your feedback!

For more information on these products or any of the products carried by Harrell’s please visit our website or contact your local Harrell’s rep.