1/5/2021 - By John Keeler

Learning From Last Year

A New Year, a new beginning. As we start off this year, we should reflect on the past year just a little. Last year was difficult in a million different ways, but if we really stop and think about what we’ve just been through, I believe we learned a lot from the last year. In those difficult days, weeks, months, and even year, we became better turf managers.

We learned to pivot and change direction at a moment’s notice. In other years, this adapting was due to mother nature and all that she threw at us. This year, it was 12-minute tee times, single riders, and tee sheets that ran from sunup to sundown. Let’s not forget about the sports fields and parks filled to capacity each and every day. With people working from home, the need to be outside was greater than ever this past year, and you as turf managers stepped up!

Start Out On The Right Foot

In 2021, let’s start the year off right by getting soil, water, and tissue testing. Soil testing determines the optimum fertilizer requirements of your turf. Irrigation water testing is important for diagnosing problems that may be related to water quality as well as for evaluating irrigation water nutrient content when used for fertigation. Tissue analysis is a snapshot of your turf needs today. If used in combination with soil testing, it’s the recommended approach for diagnosing nutrient deficiencies and determining fertilizer requirements.

Utilizing these three assessments in your turfgrass program provides a balance to the plant’s requirements. Turfgrasses require at least 16 nutrients for normal growth and development. Some nutrients are needed in large amounts, other nutrients only in minute quantities. Regardless of the amount required, a deficiency of any of these nutrients will limit the growth and development of your turf. So, a calcium deficiency can be just as detrimental to the plant as a lack of nitrogen, even though turfgrasses use more nitrogen than calcium.

Looking Forward to 2021

We’ve always been committed to conducting extensive product research and studies through an array of trials with our trusted university partners. We do this to develop the best methods & practices for your success, so you don’t have too. We pledge to continue these programs into 2021, and we’ll continue to look for new and innovative ways to make you successful. Have a great year and remember we’re only a phone call away.