From herbicides to insecticides and the machines that apply them, try these products for your turf.
By Jennifer M. Holloway
Control insects with minimal smell
Agrium Advanced Technologies’ Precise Acephate Greenhouse and Nursery Systemic Insecticide has been registered by the EPA and 27 states. The active ingredient has been encapsulated for safer handling and to minimize smell. The granular, controlled-release treatment is labeled to protect against insects like aphids, mealybugs, thrips and leaf miners, and research showed the product remained active in container-grown crops for more than four months.
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Challenge weeds
Blindside herbicide from FMC Professional Solutions works through foliar and root uptake to control more than 70 broadleaf weeds and sedges like doveweed, dollarweed and buttonweed. It has been registered for use on established turf and can be applied to most warm-season turfgrasses, including St. Augstine Grass and Kentucky bluegrass. The granular herbicide should show signs of control within a week of application.
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Flexible use rates
Bayer Environmental Sciences received EPA registration on Specticle, a pre-emergent herbicide for use on warm-season turf. When applied in lower use rates, Specticle provides three to four months of weed control. With higher use rates, it controls rises for eight months. The herbicide is available as a wettable powder in pre-measured water-soluble packets to control grassy and broadleaf weeds like Poa, crabgrass and goosegrass.
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Apply in spring or fall
Dow AgroSciences’ Gallery specialty herbicide is a pre-emergent herbicide that can be applied in the spring or fall, controlling the growth of broadleaf weeds for up to eight months and reducing post-emergent applications. Gallery works on established cool- and warm-season turfgrass and can be used on more than 700 landscape ornamentals, groundcovers and perennials. One application of Gallery can control 95 broadleaf weed species.
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Spread, spray
The 2012 PermaGreen Triumph spreader/sprayer is a ride-on unit with a 5.5-horsepower engine. The machine has a 150-pound, three-hole Lesco hopper and two 6-gallon spray tanks to handle spreading and spraying materials. The 2012 Triumph has a 1-acre per fill capacity to cover an acre in 15 minutes.
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Self-propelled spreader
The Ecolawn Applicator is a self-propelled topdresser that spreads materials from soil mix and compost to calcite clay and crumbed rubber. The unit’s 34-inch width helps with spreading materials on both residential and commercial properties.
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Multitasking spreader
The SourceOne TurfSavr can be used as a spreader for seed and fertilizer, but the inclusion of high-carbon steel renovation knives makes it useful for seed penetration. Remove the unit’s hopper for basic dethatching or install a TS010 flail blade for more aggressive dethatching. The self-propelled TurfSavr uses an 8-horsepower Honda OHV engine, and the StepSavr attaches with a built-in, quick-release receiver hitch to change from walk-behind to ride-on.
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Moving forward
Earth & Turf Products’ 100 SP self-propelled walking topdresser spreads materials when moving forward to reduce waste and decrease the possibility of excessive spreading. Compact in size, the topdresser spreads wet and dry materials like sand, compost, wood chips and crumbed rubber. The 100 SP has a capacity of 10 cubic feet.
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Convert attachment
The TurfEx Thatch Groom ‘N’ Sweep Package is an attachment system designed specifically for zero-turn mowers. Available in both 48- and 60-inch widths, this attachment can be converted from a sweeper to a dethatcher and includes two rows of brush sections. To switch between the brush sections, simply remove a containment plate and slide the brush or tine sections in and out of the housing.
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Help turf recover
Becker Underwood has a full line of biostimulant nutrient blends to help turf recover more quickly from stress and also enhance growth. The products, which include VigaRoot, Salute WSP, BioGain WSP and BioGain WSP + Sprint 330, are made of high-quality, naturally occurring humic substances, seaweed extract and a blend of natural sugars, nutrients, vitamins, amino acids and beneficial bacteria.
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Mark your chemicals
Blackburn’s chemical marking flags and signs help professionals meet state chemical application posting regulations. Contractors can choose between rigid markers of heavy cardstock or corrugated plastic, and chemical compliance messages or custom messages can be printed in up to two colors. Blackburn also offers traditional and banner flags with vertical messages.
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