THE NECESSITY OF POTASSIUM IN YOUR LAWN CARE PROGRAM
Maintaining a lawn with a well-balanced fertilizer program is key to promoting strong, healthy lawn that can withstand weed and insect infestations as well as suppress diseases. There are three key nutrients needed for a lawns’ health, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P)
and potassium (K). Potassium is the nutrient most necessary to improve and protect a plants health against environmental stresses, helping your lawn better resist harsh weather and drought especially during to the winter season. Without potassium, grass would appear to be yellow and stunted in growth with a weak root system and unable to withstand harsh conditions. Discover why potassium’s role in turf and soil is important to the overall health of a lawn:
WHAT IS POTASSIUM?
Potassium or “K” is a primary plant nutrient that regulates important physiological processes that influence a plants overall ability to resist environmental stresses. Plants require K as a cofactor for enzyme activation. Potassium supports the internal process of the plant cells that affects photosynthesis, water absorption, respiration and protein production. A deficiency of potassium weakens a plant and increases its vulnerability to drought, temperature fluctuation injury and disease.
POTASSIUM BENEFITS YOUR LAWN BY
Supporting Root Development; this will help strengthen your lawn by firmly rooting grass into the soil to create a route of nutrient uptake to ensure overall health. This aids in winter survival as well as helping it look great in spring.
- Promoting the Stem and Leave Growth of Plants; potassium aids in the photosynthesis process which plants go through to create their main source of energy, glucose.
- Activating Plant Enzymes used in Protein, Starches and Sugar Absorption; allows easier absorption of the enzymes needed for plant survival, especially during periods of drought, temperature fluctuations and disease.
- Strengthening Plant Cell Walls; a strong cell wall will aid plants in retaining key plant nutrients while allowing them to persist longer through the season. A stronger plant cell wall will increase moisture retention which will help in periods of drought.
- Maintaining Turgor Pressure by regulating the amount of water that plants can intake.
- Creating Lawn Disease Resistance; potassium is a plant health booster that improves a lawn’s resistance to grass and soil diseases, harsh weather and drought.
- Catalyzing Iron Uptake; encourages easier uptake of iron.
HOW TO TELL IF A LAWN HAS A POTASSIUM DEFICIENCY
If a lawn is experiencing a potassium deficiency, it can manifest in different ways. By looking for visuals like yellowing of the edges of leaves, excessive weeds, leaves appearing to be burnt or turf diseases, these are all signs potassium is needed by your plant. One way to be sure of a lawn’s potassium level is to conduct a soil analysis. At home test kits can be found at your local lawn and garden store or kits may be obtained from your local county extension office.
- PROTip: Soil with a lower pH will often suffer from potassium deficiencies due to increased soil acidity. Managing your soil by maintaining a neutral soil pH will keep important key nutrients, like potassium, available in the soil for plant uptake. Sandy soils are more likely to experience lower potassium levels due to its soil texture of larger pore spaces that lack the ability to retain key nutrients.
POTASSIUMS IMPORTANCE IN FALL
Although potassium is important throughout the whole lawn care season, it is most crucial during your fall application. You will notice that fertilizers recommend for fall have an increased amount of potassium in the blend. Potassium is very important to apply prior to entering cooler months to protect the roots from frost and strengthen the plants’ cell walls allowing it to better retain nutrients. This will result in strengthening your lawn to withstand the harshness of winter while helping it look great in spring!
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.
References:
http://plantscience.psu.edu/research/centers/turf/extension/factsheets/turfgrass-fertilization-professional#pot
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/potassium-grass-85462.html
http://www.lawncare.net/potassium-for-lawns/
https://www.thespruce.com/closer-look-at-potassium-2152969
Turf Care Supply - TurfReport Blog
Turf Care Supply, LLC, a portfolio company of Platte River Equity, has officially acquired Beaty Fertilizer, the industry respected Tennessee-based manufacturer and blender of custom granular and liquid fertilizers, as well as combination products. This strategic move expands Turf Care’s manufacturing footprint, adds new product capabilities, and enhances overall production capacity. “The partnership with Beaty Fertilizer marks a major milestone in our journey and an important step forward in our mission to grow, innovate and lead in our industry,” said Mark Mangan, President of Turf Care. “This acquisition is more than just expansion; it’s a powerful opportunity to strengthen our product offerings, broaden our market reach and provide greater value to our customers. By welcoming Beaty into the Turf Care family, we are reinforcing our commitment to excellence and positioning ourselves for an even brighter future.” “We are excited about this next step in the Beaty Fertilizer story. For almost 50 years, our family and our employees have worked hard to serve customers and communities with pride and heart,” said John Beaty, President of Beaty. “Now, we are embracing an opportunity for growth with Turf Care. With our combined know-how and resources, we’ll keep building on what we’ve worked so hard to create and bring even more value to our customers, employees and partners. We truly believe this partnership will keep the Beaty legacy going strong while opening up new doors for growth and innovation.” Tarun Kanthety, Vice President at Platte River, added, “We believe the acquisition of Beaty Fertilizer represents a strategic step in expanding Turf Care’s footprint and product breadth... as it scales and enhances its value proposition to customers.”
Root out Grubs, Before they Attack Yours! White grubs, the immature stage of several scarab beetles—including Japanese beetles, masked chafers, May and June beetles, and green June beetles—are a major threat to turfgrass across the Southeast. These beetles follow a complete metamorphosis (egg, grub, pupa, adult), with most species completing their cycle in one year. Eggs are laid in early summer, grubs hatch within two weeks, and begin feeding on turfgrass roots through the late summer and fall. May and June beetles differ slightly, with a two- to three-year life cycle and prolonged feeding as third-instar grubs. Grubs damage turf by severing roots, causing grass to yellow, wilt, or lift easily from the soil. Feeding is typically concentrated in patches and worsens during hot, dry weather. Wildlife digging for grubs can create further turf destruction. Healthy turf may tolerate 5–10 grubs per square foot, but damage becomes evident as populations rise or turf is under stress. Early detection and timing are essential. Scouting begins in late June, shortly after adult beetle activity peaks. Monitoring plants favored by beetles can signal egg-laying is underway. Treatment is most effective when small grubs are active—typically from mid-July through early August. For professional turfgrass managers, insecticides containing imidacloprid (Merit®), chlorantraniliprole (Acelepryn®), or trichlorfon (Dylox®) are the most effective tools. The primary months of preventative application of Acelepryn® is from April to end of May and Merit® from April into July - targeting grubs before they hatch. Curative treatments with Dylox® or similar products are applied July through the fall, when young grubs are feeding and most vulnerable. Always follow label directions for optimal application and safety. Timing may vary slightly by regional seasonal needs. Turf Care Supply has a variety of professional TCS Growstar insecticide fertilizers available to protect your turf and prevent grub damage, before it starts. Click on the button below to view products, contact your sales rep for addition TC Growstar products available.
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.