Preventive treatment to ensure a good restart

Let lawn strengthen now for summer

The beautiful, warm days of summer have been behind us for some time now, but that doesn't mean we can go into rest mode for an entire winter. The grass of sports grounds also deserves our attention now, if only to get through the harsh winter months better and prepare the grass as well as possible for the return of spring. In this regard, Fert in Time, international manufacturer, distributor and developer of soil management and plant nutrition products, recommends an effective two-times preventive treatment.

The winter break of our patriotic soccer league is still some time away. So the grass fields won't get some rest for several weeks. However, some golf courses remain open year-round. So groundsmen and greenkeepers better stay alert and best not lose sight of the health of the grass even in winter. That may be even more relevant this winter than usual, as dollar spot has been particularly aggressive this year. In fact, in late November, the fungus surfaced unusually late in some areas, surprising more than one groundsman. 

This is why it is so important to create the best possible conditions to survive the winter, so that the grass is stronger and of better quality in the spring. For optimal results, Fert in Time Europe, an international player in the world of innovative soil nutrition, recommends applying its ImpactPlus Perk fertilizer at two separate times: late fall and early spring.

Innovative fertilizer with proven benefits

Winter fertilizer NK ImpactPlus Perk 4.04.14 + 10% Fe + 1% Mn was developed to combat moss formation in the lawn during the winter period. This fertilizer contains iron in the form of iron sulfate (4%) (for rapid action) and in the form of iron humate (6%). The latter ensures the remarkably slow release of iron for at least 2.5 months. In addition, the fertilizer also contains 4% nitrogen (just enough to prevent active lawn growth) and 14% potassium to help restore and strengthen grass weakened by winter.  

"The combination of potassium and iron is also conducive to the formation of chlorophyll. And that results in very green grass," clarifies Philippe Debougnoux, CEO of Fert in Time Europe. "We are the only company in the Benelux to have an exemption for this unique product. All the copies that exist on the market are cheaper, but they do not have the same unique composition, so our product is much more effective and has a longer effect. Therefore, the cheaper alternatives must be applied several times, versus once over a ten-week period for our product. This significantly reduces labor costs."

ImpactPlus Perk is spread at a dose of three to four kg per acre, once in the fall and once just after winter. Several U.S. studies have already demonstrated the effectiveness of manganese - present in a very high concentration of 1% in ImpactPlus Perk - in suppressing the symptoms of wheat stem killer. These include the study by Joseph Heckman, PhD et al. for Rutgers University in New Jersey and Auburn University in Alabama. In one trial, manganese was applied at annual doses of 2.25 - 4.50 - 6.75 and 9 kg per hectare in April or October over a three-year period. What was found: The lowest dose was sufficient to suppress symptoms, while the 6.75 kg manganese dose showed more effective control of wheat culm killer when disease pressure was high and soil manganese levels were low. This explains the value of a double application of ImpactPlus Perk at a dose of 300 to 400 kg/ha (in other words, at a concentration of 1%, 700 kg corresponds to 7 kg of pure Mn per hectare): once before winter and once after.  

Commit to complementarity

Just as healthy and varied eating and adequate exercise are important to guard against typical winter diseases such as influenza, the preventive application of effective products strengthens the immunity of the lawn. According to Philippe Debougnoux, the efficiency of preventive treatment can be further enhanced by the use of complementary products: "For example, a wetting agent such as MAGNUM FORTY-FOUR can allow water to penetrate hydrophobic soils much better. In fact, this wetting agent helps open pores that have become clogged due to excessive salinity in the soil profile. This is particularly useful during periods of heavy rainfall." 

In the absence of a miracle recipe or a 100% effective curative solution since the introduction of zero phyto, all the preventive measures taken to strengthen the lawn and give it a boost do indeed contribute to a better planning of the greenkeeper's tasks and to the easier execution of mechanical interventions. Without a doubt, this is a valuable help to any team in charge of lawn maintenance.