THE IMPORTANCE OF A FALL FERTILIZER APPLICATION
Remember all the time you spent on your lawn this spring and summer; weeding, feeding, treating, watering
and mowing? Now that fall is here don’t let all that hard work go to waste. There is one more step to ensure that your lawn is protected throughout the winter and has the nutrients it needs to start off next spring looking great! Although you may be feeling tired of lawn work, as the professional will tell you, fall is one of the most important fertilizer application times of the year.
WHY SHOULD I "WINTERIZE" MY LAWN?
Fall brings back perfect conditions for your lawn; cooler nights, morning dew, sufficient rainfall. These conditions cause your grass to begin to grow again. Your grass begins to store its nutrients in its roots throughout fall in preparation for winter. A fall feeding enables the plant to store more food for winter and is readily available when warmer temperatures arrive in spring, thus producing a quick spring-greening and thicker lawn growth.
HOW TO "WINTERIZE" YOUR LAWN
1. CONDUCT A SOIL TEST
If you’re unsure if you should apply a fall fertilizer, conduct a soil test
to check the amount of potassium (an element essential to fall turf health) in your soil.
- NOTE: Cool-Season grasses will always benefit from a fall feeding since it is their peak growing season.
2. KNOW WHAT TYPE OF GRASS YOU HAVE AND WHEN TO APPLY A FALL FERTILIZER
Cool-Season Turf
Grass types such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescue or perennial ryegrass which are most commonly found in northern regions. Cool-season grasses experience their peak growth in fall and respond well to fertilizer. Fall fertilizer applications are best utilized by your lawn and soil when applied throughout Mid-September to Early November.
Warm-Season Turf
Grass types such as Bermuda, centipede, St. Augustine and Zoysia. If you’re located in an area where freezes occur and lawns go dormant during the winter, you shouldn’t fertilize after September 1st (so you don’t fuel new growth that will be damaged by winter freeze). If you’re located in an area where warm-season grass stays green during the winter months, an application of fall fertilizer in the early autumn is recommended.
- NOTE: If you are unsure of the type of grass you have, consult a lawn care expert to determine which species is in your yard.
3. PURCHASING THE CORRECT TYPE OF FERTILIZER: FALL FERTILIZER OR FERTILIZER WITH WEED & FEED?
When your lawn begins to grow again in fall, along with new grass growth, a few weeds may appear as well. If this happens, use a Fall Fertilizer with Weed and Feed (See Weeds to Tackle Late Summer and Fall article for more information about pesky weeds common in late summer and fall). If your lawn is weed-free, use a fertilizer meant for fall application. When choosing a lawn care product to winterizer your lawn, make sure that it has extra potash (chemical symbol K means potassium, it’s the “K” in N-P-K) in the blend. Potash/Potassium assists with root development that will strengthen your lawn so that it is prepared to survive the winter season and look great in spring.
4. APPLYING
First, you will need to clear the lawn of all leaves, either by leaf-mulching or by raking and bagging. Then use a lawn spreader to apply your fall fertilizer application. Refer to label instructions to determine timing, amount and application rate of the product you purchased.
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://www.groundsguys.com/blog/2014/january/feed-your-lawn-with-proper-fertilization/
https://www.bayeradvanced.com/articles/winterizing-your-lawn
http://www.todayshomeowner.com/how-to-winterize-the-grass-in-your-lawn/
http://www.hgtv.com/design/outdoor-design/landscaping-and-hardscaping/lawns/how-to-winterize-your-lawn
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/lawn-care/when-should-i-apply-a-winter-fertilizer-to-my-lawn/#page=0
http://awaytogarden.com/weeds-to-target-late-summer-and-fall/
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.