DON’T LET WEEDS RUIN YOUR LAWN THIS FALL!
When most of us think about crabgrass and broadleaf weed control, we tend to think about heavy applications of pre-emergent herbicides in the spring. In fact, fall is an equally important time to treat your lawn. All season long, annual grasses, wildflowers, and weeds have been working hard to produce seeds that are feverishly trying to establish themselves on your turf. As established turf begins to slow down its growth rate and enter winter dormancy, weeds will find no refuge in a lawn that has been treated with a pre-emergent herbicide. In this edition of Turf[TECH]Report, we’re taking a closer look at one of the widely used and most cost effective pre-emergent herbicides on the market: Prodiamine .
WHAT DOES PRODIAMINE CONTROL?
Great for control of crabgrass, prodiamine is also effective against summer annual grasses, annual blue grass, goosegrass, spurge, chickweed, and a large number of annual broadleaf weeds. Prodiamine is safe to use on established turf (with exception to golf putting greens) and around ornamentals/established perennials. It is also safe for use on tree farms.
CHEMICAL NATURE
Prodiamine is a member of the Dinitroaniline family of pre-emergent herbicides. It is commonly referred to by its trade name, Barricade. Pre-emergent chemistries similar to Prodiamine include Trifluralin, Pendimethalin, and Benefin. Prodiamine is a popular control agent due to its low volatility and its ability to break down to non-phytotoxic levels in a relatively short time frame. Pure Prodiamine comes in fine granular form and can be dispersed by mixing with water (creating an orange/yellow solution) or tacked onto a granular fertilizer and dispersed with a spreader. Prodiamine has no post-emergent properties.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE BIOLOGICAL MODE OF ACTION FOR PRODIAMINE
All members of the Dinitroaniline family of herbicides function as microtubule assembly inhibitors. It sounds complicated, but it’s not so bad once we brush up on our high school biology! Here’s how Prodiamine works:
- Plants, just like all organisms, have cells. All cells must grow and divide (a process called mitosis). Before cells divide, their contents including their chromosomes (DNA) are duplicated.
- Microtubules attach to clusters of duplicated chromosomes and help separate them so that when one cell splits into two, both cells have an equal number of chromosomes.
- Prodiamine works as a microtubule assembly inhibitor. What this means is, Prodiamine stops plant cells from being able to produce tubulin.
- Tubulin is the protein molecule that makes up microtubules.
- In summary, if plant cells can’t make tubulin, then they can’t make microtubules. If they can’t make microtubules, they can’t separate their chromosomes during mitosis. And if they can’t separate their chromosomes, the cell fails to divide. If cells can’t divide, the plant stops growing. Ultimately, the plant dies.
THE SIGNS & SYMPTOMS THAT DEMONSTRATE PRODIAMINE IS WORKING
Remember, Prodiamine is a pre-emergent herbicide, which means many weeds and grasses treated in the seedling stage will fail to germinate. Those that do germinate usually experience severely stunted growth characterized by short, swollen coleoptiles and hypocotyls (the emergent stem and first leaf). Prodiamine impairs root development; treated plants typically experience short stubby secondary roots and limited root hair development. This results in the plant starving due to its inability to find nutrition in the soil. Thickened short stems and crinkled leaves are another indication of Prodiamine’s effectiveness.
WHEN SHOULD I APPLY PRODIAMINE?
Prodiamine can be applied all by itself, or in conjunction with a fertilizer
or liming treatment. For maximum effectiveness, an early spring application is suggested as temperatures begin to climb into the 50 degrees Fahrenheit. An additional application in the fall is also important and will help ensure that weed seeds from the current growing season do not get a chance to establish themselves going into winter and fewer weeds will be present in your turf grass in spring. For lawns with excessive weeds and crabgrass, a mid-summer application may be necessary. It is safe to apply Prodiamine three times in the same growing season (at regular intervals).
WHEN IS IT SAFE TO RESEED?
As is the case with all pre-emergent herbicides, DO NOT APPLY
Prodiamine to newly seeded grass, nor newly germinating grass, as this will kill establishing grass in both cases. It is recommended that reseeding take place no earlier than 6-8 weeks after a treatment.
JARGON ALERT
- Non-phytotoxic: not poisonous to plants
- Microtubules: a hollow cylindrical structure in the cytoplasm of most cells, involved in intracellular shape and transport.
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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.