TYPE
Dollarweed, also commonly known as Pennywort, is a summer perennial broadlead weed. Dollarweed is a member of the parsley family, housing numerous different species including: marsh pennywort, coastal plain pennywort, many-flowered pennywort, whorled pennywort to name a few. This weed reproduces from rhizomes (a continuously growing horizontal underground stem that puts off lateral shoots and adventitious roots at intervals), seeds, as well as has tuber plant parts that aid in dollarweed's propagation.
WHERE IT GROWS
Dollarweed can infest many species of turf grass native to North America, particularly in southern regions. Dollarweed thrives in warm, humid climates. Dollarweed is resilient in areas in the southern United States, particularly raging in southern Florida where it can take over St. Augustine lawns. Dollarweed thrives in turf that is weak and thin, especially in: home lawns with poor turf maintenance, golf fairways and roughs, sports and playing fields, as well as industrial grounds. Often, this weed is found in wet to moist areas of turf or anywhere where moisture is in excess.
- NOTE: Plant size can adapt to frequent mowing, reducing leaves to 1cm in diameter and expanding to 6-10 cm when un-mowed. This can be commonly seen in fairway management on golf courses.
HOW TO IDENTIFY
Dollarweed grows low to the ground and has green, glossy leaves that are round with scalloped edges (imagine a lily pad). Some leaves can grow up to the size of a silver dollar—hence the name! The petiole or the stalk that joins a leaf to a stem is long and slender and is attached to the center of the leaf, forming an umbrella-like appearance. During the summer months, clusters of white flowers appear, arranging as elongated spikes or as rounded umbels at the top of a long stalk. The fruit appears greenish in color, rounded and somewhat flattened.
- NOTE: Dollarweed can be confused with dichondra. Understand that dicondra's petiole is attached to the edge of a kidney shaped leaf.
GROWING SEASON
Dollarweed tends to emerge in early summer and can live up to two years!
HOW TO MANAGE
Because dollarweed reproduces from rhizomes, it's difficult to kill once it takes hold in the soil. The best method for removing dollarweed is to follow these good cultural methods.. First try to minimize irrigation since dollarweed is a water-loving species. Most turf grass can survive with less moisture than dollarweed can. Second is to maintain a healthy, dense turf with a strong root system and a good lawn fertility/care routine to prevent dollarweed from spreading by rhizomes. Next, ensure the correct mowing height for your turf species and avoid lawn scalping. Finally, establish proper aeration and thatch management practices so dollarweed cannot move into lawns.
For intense dollorweed infestations, use a post-emergent herbicide that contains the active ingredient (AI) Penoxsulam, a proven herbicide control technology that targets dollarweed (among other weeds as well). Apply the post-emergent in spring (NOTE: Avoid the use of herbicides in the heat of summer, as they will cause more stress to turf). Once applied, DO NOT mow or cut back the dollarweed in any way; allow the herbicide to absorb into the shoot tissue so that it may be transported down to the roots. Because dollarweed is an invasive, tough weed to control throughout the growing season, repeat applications of post-emergent herbicides can be done in both spring and fall. Continue as necessary and follow all label application instructions.
- NOTE: Be sure to know your grass type prior to applying any herbicide control product on turf! Certain AI's will have adverse effects to certain lawn types. Read the full product label to make sure the product can be used for the turf grass species needed to be treated. Contact a local lawn care expert to help identify turf species in your region.
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.
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.