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TIPS FOR IDENTIFYING & MANAGING THATCH
Thatch is a loose, intermingled organic layer of dead and living stems, shoots, and roots. It develops between the area of grass and the soil surface. Thatch is beneficial to your lawn’s health as long as it is not an extensive amount. Healthy thatch should be up to ½ inch thick, anything more means your lawn may have thatch buildup. Buildup begins when your lawn creates organic debris faster than it is broken down. When you have a thatch problem it compromises your lawn health by:
- Forming an impermeable layer that prevents fertilizer, water and insect/disease controls to reach the soil.
- Promoting a shallow grass root system since grass ends up growing into thatch instead of nutrient rich soil.
- Blocking sunlight from lower grass blades.
- Harboring a potential disease by holding moisture against grass blades.
- Creating an uneven lawn that leads to scalping while mowing.
IDENTIFY WHEN YOU NEED TO DETHATCH
- Feel your Lawn. If it feels spongy and is bouncy/springy underfoot, then there may be a thick layer of thatch built-up.
- Inspect your Lawn. If you can’t see the soil between the turf crowns and you can’t shove your finger though the visible layer of thatch, then you should consider dethatching your lawn.
- Measure the Thatch. Pry up a small section of soil with a shovel and examine the thatch layer directly on top of the soil. If it’s over ¾ of an inch, then it’s time to dethatch.
MANAGING YOUR THATCH PROBLEM
Dethatch. When your lawn has thatch buildup you have three options for removal:
- Manually: For small jobs, you can dethatch with a rake (dethatching rakes can be purchased online or at your local home improvement store).
- Rent: You can rent a dethatcher (vertical cutter, verticuter or power rake). There are many different models and they can be heavy machines with different settings so be sure to talk to your rental facility for advice.
- Hire a Professional: If you think you need to dethatch and/or the project is too large for you to handle, hire a lawn care professional to successfully take care of the thatch problem for you.
Prevent. Follow the four basic techniques of a healthy lawn to prevent a future thatch
problem: proper watering, fertilizing, mowing
and regular aeration.
For professional fertilizers, humic and AMP-XC™ enriched products available, please visit TurfCare’s online Product Catalog.
For green industry professionals or others interested in ordering Turfcare products, please contact our Customer Service
to find a distributor near you.
Reference:
http://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/turf/extension/factsheets/thatch
https://www.bayeradvanced.com/articles/how-to-tell-if-your-lawn-needs-dethatching
Turf Care Supply - TurfReport Blog
Platte River Equity Portfolio Company Turf Care Supply, LLC Acquires Agri-Nutrients, Inc. Brunswick, OH , October 9, 2024 – Platte River Equity (“Platte River”) portfolio company Turf Care Supply, LLC (“Turf Care”) is pleased to announce its acquisition of Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (“Agri-Nutrients”), a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the turf & ornamental (“T&O”) industry. This strategic acquisition provides Turf Care with an established presence in the south-central United States, an enhanced product portfolio and additional manufacturing capacity. “This acquisition represents much more than a business transaction; it is a strategic step forward in expanding our reach and enhancing our customers’ growth. By bringing Agri-Nutrients into the Turf Care family, we are broadening our product portfolio, expanding our market presence and further positioning ourselves as a leader in providing innovative solutions for our customers,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “We are excited about joining the Turf Care team,” said Jim Montgomery, President of Agri-Nutrients. “At Agri-Nutrients, our core values center around customer service and product innovation, and we are confident that this combination will allow us to better serve the needs of our customers.” “Platte River welcomes the Agri-Nutrients team to Turf Care. This transaction underscores our long-term commitment to fostering growth through both organic and inorganic initiatives across the Turf Care platform,” said Tarun Kanthety, Vice President of Platte River. “The partnership with Agri-Nutrients strengthens Turf Care’s value-added offering, creating additional growth opportunities across the combined customer base.” B&A Corporate Advisors served as the exclusive financial advisor to Agri-Nutrients. About Agri-Nutrients Founded in 1992 and based in Catoosa, OK, Agri-Nutrients is a manufacturer and blender of custom granular fertilizers for the T&O industry, predominantly selling into the lawn care, sports turf and golf course end markets. About Turf Care Supply Established in 1974, Turf Care Supply is one of the largest formulators and blenders of urea products to the T&O market. Turf Care has a comprehensive product portfolio of fertilizers, combination products (herbicide/insecticide), soil amendments and enhanced efficiency fertilizer ingredients. Turf Care's products are sold to distributors and blenders serving the commercial, residential and golf end markets. Turf Care operates four manufacturing facilities strategically located throughout the eastern U.S. About Platte River Equity Founded in 2006 and based in Denver, CO, Platte River Equity is a private equity firm focused on investments in established lower middle market operating companies within targeted industrial sectors where it has substantial operating and investing experience. Platte River utilizes prudent capital structures in order to invest in future growth opportunities and withstand changing economic environments. The firm also provides significant ongoing support to its portfolio companies through dedicated resources across functional areas. The firm has raised funds with committed capital in excess of $1.6 billion and is currently investing out of its fifth fund. The Platte River team is the largest collective investor across its funds, deeply aligning the firm with its investors and portfolio company management teams.
Dear Valued Industry Partners and Customers, We are pleased to announce that Turf Care Supply, LLC has acquired Agri-Nutrients, Inc. (October 1, 2024) a respected manufacturer in the turf and ornamental fertilizer industry. This acquisition marks a significant step forward in our commitment to providing you with an expanded range of innovative products, services, and industry expertise, all designed to support your business’s continued growth and success. As a valued partner or customer, you will benefit from enhanced service capabilities and an extended geographic reach, thanks to Agri-Nutrients, Inc.’s strategic facility located in the Port of Catoosa, Oklahoma. With this established presence in the Southwest and Western markets, Turf Care Supply, LLC’s expanded operational footprint will allow us to serve a broader region with greater efficiency, delivering even stronger support to help drive your business forward. We are dedicated to ensuring a seamless transition while maintaining the high standards of service you expect. If you have any questions or would like to explore how this new location can enhance your operations, please feel free to contact your account manager or our customer service team. Thank you for your continued trust in Turf Care Supply, LLC. We look forward to partnering with you as we grow together and continue supporting your success. Sincerely, Mark Mangan President Turf Care Supply, LLC
With a focus on providing sustainable manufacturing and reducing carbon emissions, Turf Care Supply has embraced the electric power market with the latest mobile equipment upgrades. Completed in June 2023, TCS received all deliveries of electric forklifts to all three manufacturing facilities, including Hatfield, MA, Martins Ferry, OH and Sebring, FL.