How We Protect The Environment!

The recent news coming from South Carolina of a massive bee kill from pesticide use has reminded us of the high risks involved in our industry. When we first learned about this tragedy, we asked a few questions that were quickly answered. It appears that a major lapse in following proper procedures were made when making the pesticide application. 

As more of the story was made public, we decided that we should make a clear statement on how we protect the environment and the practices and policies we have in place to keep everyone and everything safe. 

Properly Trained and Licensed Technicians

We feel the first step in protecting the environment is to have properly trained and licensed technicians. Every technician employed at Bowman's Pro Turf carries a Pesticide Applicator License through the Office of Indiana State Chemist (OISC). This license is obtained only after the successful completion of the CORE examination issued by OISC. Once the exam has been passed, our technicians receive in depth, on site training. Our trainers have a combined 50 years experience in the lawn care industry. 

Proper Disposal of Containers

Each day we go through dozens of bags and jugs of products. All of the used containers are disposed of in an OISC approved facility. Any jug that contained a liquid product is triple-rinsed and holes are drilled in the bottom, rendering them useless. We also require our technicians to make a count each morning and evening of total bags loaded and used. This allows us to track the amount of waste that we produce and ensure that no trash is left behind on a job site. 

Responsible Use and Knowledge of Fertilizer and Pesticides

Several times a year we attend seminars and training sessions regarding industry updates. Through these sessions, new information is shared about advances made on the products we use. We also are extremely conscious about how much products we use on lawns. There are very specific regulations that mandate how much of certain products can be used in a given time frame. We watch these regulations closely and adjust our lawn care programs accordingly. We also are very aware of the recommended nitrogen amounts suggested by several reputable institutions. This allows us to further adjust our programs while still maintaining maximum results. 

Pesticides and herbicides that are used are strictly regulated both at the national and state level. Every product that we apply has already met strict regulator standards put forward by the Environmental Protection Agency. We will never use a product that has not met these requirements. Similarly, each product is issued a label by the EPA. That label instructs the user of specific site, personal protection equipment, rate of product, and any special restrictions. The label is law and if any part of the label is not followed, the user is in violation and at risk of harming themselves, others, and the environment. 

Avoid Adverse Weather Conditions During Applications

Weather is one of the biggest challenges in the lawn care industry. If we feel that the weather conditions are not fitting to make an application, we will hold off until it is more appropriate. Wind can blow products off and away from the indented target. We are constantly monitoring the weather and making decisions accordingly. 

To protect our liquid products from runoff, we mix and additive in our tanks that enhance the ability for the product to stick to the surface of the intended target. If it rains shortly after an application, our products have a higher chance of staying where we applied them and less chance of runoff.     

Pollinator Protection 

Earlier in the year we shared how we have partnered with Bayer Bee Care for their Feed A Bee program. So far, we have distributed over 3,000 wildflower seed packets in the Wabash Valley. We have trained our technicians about how to properly apply our products without harming pollinators. We have several customers who are bee keepers and have worked with them to maintain a pollinator friendly lawn care program. 

You can read our article about the FeedABee program here.

Pollinator Protection EPA

Follow Strict Office of Indiana State Chemist Guidelines

There are hundreds of laws and regulations in place to protect the environment. We gladly follow and abide to each of these regulations. Wavering from any of the safety regulations that are in place can create a business culture of taking short cuts. We will never cut corners when it comes to protecting our employees, our customers, and our environment. 

For more information about the Office of Indiana State Chemist you can visit their website at www.oisc.purdue.edu. 

If you have any questions about our environmental practices, please let us know. You can learn more about our company by visiting our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

Midwest Regional Turf Foundation: Purdue Summer Field Day 2016

Purdue University Logo on turf

On July 14th, Dennis and I had the opportunity to attend the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation (MRTF) Summer Field day at Purdue University. More specifically, we spent 8 hours at the William H. Daniel Turfgrass Research and Diagnostic Center. I wanted to share a few of the topics that were discussed and some pictures from our day. 

It is very hard to accurately describe the Daniel's Center. The grounds hold 22 acres dedicated to studying turf, both residential and sport. Experiments happen daily at all times of the year. Professors and companies work together to test anything you can think of in the turf industry. Throughout the 22 acres, we were able to have hands on experience with the professors and their research as they led us through training sessions and discussion. Some of what we talked learned about was the "behind the scenes" experiments that happen years before a new product, equipment, or grass seed cultivar hits the market. Everything that was discusses helps us to provide a better service to you! 

Not all grass seed is created equally!

One of my favorite experiment plots at the Daniel's Center is where they are testing new cultivars of grass seeds. These experiments test several things including drought stress, disease resistance, and durability. 

Bluegrass Seed Plots

Many of the seed cultivars tested here do not have names. The manufactures test different species and mixes to see how they hold up over time. It was very interesting to see how different each plot was from those around it. These seed plots were planted 3 ago and have had proper irrigation, fertilizer, and weed control. 

The most obvious difference was in the Kentucky-31 or K31 seed. A homeowner will often read "Kentucky" and assume that it is a bluegrass. That is not the case! If you look close at the following picture, you can see the K31 is much lighter in color and has a wider blade.

Kentucky 31 or K31 grass between Turf Type Tall Fescue

Walmart and Rural King will have K31 grass seed on sale for a very cheap price. As you can see, even with ideal irrigation, fertilizer and weed control, the K31 stands out as undesirable among the rest. It goes to show that you get what you pay for.

Thousands of studies!

As the day progressed, we were able to learn about just a handful of the current studies that are happening. It was fascinating to hear how many different ways they test equipment, products, grass types, and much more. All of the experiments they preform are replicated at multiple locations throughout the 22 acre complex to ensure that they have the most accurate data. Below are pictures of some of the experiments.

This picture shows one experiment testing what affects mowing height and fertility have on dandelion blooms. A common theme throughout every experiment that involved mowing height was that the higher you mow, the less weeds are present. You can also observe that the turf is darker on the plots that are mowed above 3.5 inches.

Mowing Height Demonstration

The white grub is one of the most destructive insect pests in our region. This area is being used to test different behaviors of the white grubs and their adult beetles. It is fenced off with electrical wire and the beetles are protected in small cages to protect them from being eaten by animals. 

White Grub Management Experiment

The hot, humid, and rainy conditions have produced an ideal environment for many turf diseases.If you look closely at this picture, you can see the middle area was treated with a fungicide. The surrounding areas might have also been treated with fungicide but maybe at a different rate, with a different machine, or different formulation. 

Golf Course Turf Disease Management

This area shows the effectiveness of about 10 different types of crabgrass pre emergent used at the same time. The study went into detail so far as to test the effect of watering in immediately or waiting a week for rain. Each herbicide was also tested at different strengths.

Pre-emergent Experiment

Summary

Field Day Book

Overall we had a great day! Special thanks to everyone how put on this event and Dr. Aaron Patton who led many of our sessions. We had a great time learning about current topics in the lawn care management industry and how we can better serve our customers. A lot of what we talked about was how we can achieve better results. I was fascinated to see how many different ways they test one product before it even makes it back to the manufacture for final production. We talked about much more than what I can fit into this blog post!

As I have said before, lawn care is more than just a hobby. We are constantly reading and learning about different turf management topics. We utilize experts to become better informed so that we can provide the best service to our customers. While having a license to perform lawn care applications is important, a company also needs to have the knowledge of how to use that license. 

Be sure to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram! Head over to our website for more information about services we offer.

About MRTF

The mission of the MRTF is to support turf research and education at Purdue University for the advancement of the turfgrass industry.

Visit www.mrtf.org to learn more about the Midwest Regional Turf Foundation.

Lawn Care Myths...

Since it is April 1st, we wanted to write about some topics that are myths but commonly are mistaken as fact. 

This is not an April Fools Joke blog...

Getting rid of grub worms gets rid of moles! FALSE

The primary food source for moles are earth worms. Your lawn may be infested with moles and not grub worms. If grub worms are present, moles will eat them but they will consider it a special treat. Also, when moles feed, they follow their food source. When the soil is dry, the earth worms move to deeper soil that is moist and cool and the moles follow. When it rains a lot the earth worms move to the top. This is often when we see a lot of mole damage because they are closer to the surface.

I got rid of my moles so that should mean we will not get any more! FALSE

Moles do not care about property lines or if there were moles in your yard previously. New families of moles will come and go. There is no "mole preventer" on the market that will actually act as a barrier to keep new moles from moving into your yard. 

I used a product that said year long control so I will not have any more weeds this year! FALSE

Year long or season long control is hardly a real thing. To understand why, you need to understand the biology of plants and the weeds that you are trying to fight. Different species of weeds germinate and grow at different times of the year. One application of one product will not provide year long control from all weeds. 

When you are sick with a cold you use one medicine. If you have strep throat you use a different medicine. It is the same with weeds. You might have killed one weed, but other weeds may not be affected. And just because you killed one, does not mean it will prevent new weeds from growing. 

Lawn care is nothing more than just throwing some fertilizer on a lawn. It can't be that hard! FALSE

In the lawn care industry, everything that we do has a scientific reason behind it. From the fertilizer analysis we choose, to the time we apply products, we calculate everything. It is not as simple as some people try to make it sound. If proper timing is not closely monitored or the wrong product used in an area not designated safe, a lot can go wrong. 

It is extremely important to hire someone who knows what they are doing. A cheap price tag might be appealing but if they truly do not have an understanding of plant and insect biology and the chemical makeup of products, you will pay for it in the long run.

I picked up some grass seed that can be planted in heavy shade and at any time of the year and get full results! This is going to be easy! FALSE

Unfortunately, there is no grass that can truly thrive in heavily shaded areas. If you go to state park, look around and see how much grass is growing in the woods. Chances are you will see moss, ferns, and other plants...but not grass. Grass needs at least 8 hours of sunlight a day to thrive. Heavily shaded areas require a lot of care to build up the turf. 

Irrigation, seeding timing, and soil preparation all need to be carefully analyzed to ensure that any seed has a chance to germinate and grow. 

I saw on the TV that the bee population is dying and that pesticides have killed them all. FALSE

The USDA has released a study showing that the bee population has actually been on the rise over the last 10 years! The number one killer of bees are mites. Mites are tiny insects or parasites that attach themselves to the bee and live off of the bee. Many bee keepers use pesticides to kill the mites that have infected their bee colonies. 

The EPA and other governing agencies including the Office of the Indiana State Chemist have put strict regulations into place regarding the use of pesticides around bees and other pollinators. We are always looking out for our little bee friends. You can find out more about what we are doing to help the bees in our blog "Our Commitment To Bees!"
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Here at Bowman's Pro Turf, Co. we take pride in working with our customers to provide the best quality service in the Wabash Valley. We are not going to sell you something that you do not need, that will not work, or you do not want. When anyone calls us, we provide the facts. We work to ensure the integrity of the Lawn Care Industry is upheld. We work to provide an experience that builds trust and confidence in our company. Anything less is unacceptable. 

From our 28 years in the Lawn Care Industry, to constantly attending training, we have the knowledge and understanding to properly address your lawn care needs.  

We would love to hear back from you! Leave comments below or write us on our Facebook page. We also have a new website! Be sure follow us on Instagram and Twitter! 

Is your lawn care company licensed?

Would you hire someone to do electrical work in your home who was not a licensed electrician? 

The answer should be a resounding NO! 

Lawn care is no different. In the state of Indiana, it is the law that anyone who applies pesticides or fertilizers to a property for money must obtain a business license from the Office of Indiana State Chemist. That business also is required to employ at least one individual who is a certified applicator and pass the category 3b exam (turf management). 

Why is this important to me, the homeowner?

Many of the fertilizers and pesticides that are applied to your lawn have very important instructions regarding the handling, use, and disposal of the product. As a certified and licensed company, we know how to properly use these products in ways that yield the best results.  We are also legally bound to only perform tasks indicated by our license and category type. This limits individuals and companies from providing services that they do not have proper training or understanding in. 

I will just have my mowing guy spray when they are here. Is that ok?

Only if they are licensed! Individuals in Indiana must be licensed to apply any type of pesticide or fertilizer to a customers lawn regardless of the type of company they own. Even if your mowing company will "kill your weeds for free" they still must obtain a proper license. 

Why is a license so important anyway?

As lawn care professionals, we take a lot of pride in our work. Our programs have taken years to develop and have required a lot of research and learning. Licenses are important because they protect everyone involved in the lawn care industry including the environment, the homeowner, and the applicator!

What about your applicators? 

All of our lawn care applicators have passed the Indiana Pesticide Applicator Core Exam issued through the Office of Indiana State Chemist and are considered Registered Technicians, RT's. Our applicators also attend training throughout the year to stay current on industry standards. All of our applicators follow strict guidelines regarding the handling and use of the products that are used. 

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Our training in turf management gives us the knowledge to properly identify issues and provide our customers with the best solutions. We take pride in our work and in the lawn care industry. It is important to us that our customers know that we are dedicated to providing the best service and results. If you are not happy, we are not happy! 

Be sure to like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @BowmansProTurf and Instagram @Bowmans_Pro_Turf. 

Dormant Seeding

Several times in the last week we received calls about seeding estimates before Spring. This is not unusual and, if done properly, can provide great results.

In the turf industry, we call this "Dormant Seeding." The term dormant is used because the colder temperatures allow the seed to lay dormant in the soil and not germinate until the soil temperatures rise consistently above 50 degrees or higher (late April). It is very easy for us to schedule a dormant seeding application because it is completed before the unpredictable spring showers occur, typically in March.

Some of the reasons that you might consider dormant seeding are:

• Thin turf due to winter damage
• Poor turf recovery and density from the previous year turf issues
• New construction around your home that disrupted turf growth

Some things to consider about seeding new turf areas include:

• Is the soil sandy or filled with clay?
• How much shade covers the desired area to be seeded?
• What kind of seed will be planted?
• How will irrigation be managed? 

Healthy turf provides aesthetic, economical, social, and environmental benefits to not only the homeowner but to the community as a whole. Turf provides for areas for recreation, relaxation, and sports activities. The environment is also benefited through established turf by increased air quality, reducing soil erosion, filtering contaminants from water, and many other important ways.

A lot of the issues that are faced with seeding lawns comes after the seed is applied. During your consultation with us here at Bowman's Pro Turf, Co., we will provide you with information regarding the proper care of your newly seeded area. It is important that the instructions are followed to help ensure the best results.

If you would like to request a free estimate for dormant seeding, give us a call at 812-448-1852! We would be happy to help you achieve the best yard possible. 

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @BowmansProTurf, Instagram @Bowmans_Pro_Turf, and Facebook!

Some of the content in this blog was gathered from the Purdue University Extension publication Establishing Turfgrass Areas From Seed (AY-3-W) and are available from the Education Store.