Spring Nutrition and Pest Management

Spring Nutrition and Pest Management

Spring warmth has come late in 2022, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Although it appears we’re still in for a roller coaster ride in the transition zone and northern climates, here are a few things to consider as it relates to spring and summer nutrient and pest management programs. Careful planning will help turf managers get off to a great start and set the table for success in 2022.

Key agronomic considerations

Carefully consider the amount of residual nitrogen (N) in soils this spring.  Delay any moderate (0.25-0.50 lbs./M) to large (>0.75 lbs./M) soluble N applications until you accurately gauge turf color and shoot growth as soils warm above 50^oF.  

Spoon feed nutrients, including N, to best manage shoot growth while improving turfgrass color, vigor and maintaining playability. This is especially important for phosphorus (P) early in the season to promote a strong transition from dormancy to metabolism, encourage recovery from winter damage or promote establishment – particularly when soil temperatures are cold and/or dry. Choose highly efficient nutrient delivery formulations like Proven Foliar GRIGG® amino acid complexed or BRANDT® Manni-Plex® technology formulations like these.

Of particular importance, is a complete and balanced nutrition program, especially where soil chemistry is limiting, including high pH. BRANDT has developed an effective program and made it especially easy to order – the BRANDT Summer Success Kit – which highlights the BRANDT Manni-Plex foliar fertilizer technology. Our research has shown a significant improvement to turfgrass quality under environmental stress after nutrient inputs with this program. Additionally, this program provided significantly better turf quality than urea applied alone (N control) at the same rate. The BRANDT Summer Success kit details can be found here.

For those managing cool season turf, and specifically annual bluegrass (Poa annua), recall that anthracnose (Colletotrichum cereale) can successfully overwinter and infect turfgrass in the early part of spring. Pay close attention to other key diseases this spring including dollar spot (Clarireedia jacksonii), microdochium patch (Microdochium nivale), yellow patch (Rhizoctonia cerealis) and brown ring patch (Waitea circinata).   

As part of an integrated approach to disease management, it’s important to begin applying trusted phosphite fertilizers.  The BRANDT T&O product portfolio offers many options, including GRIGG P-K Plus®, which contains soluble phosphate – in addition to phosphite – making it fundamentally different from other phosphite fertilizers available to the market today. Find some of BRANDT’s research on anthracnose and microdochium patch management strategies here. When using BRANDT’s nutritional IPM programs, recall it’s best to make those applications preventatively, prior to the onset of disease.  Use history as a guide and monitor when environmental conditions are most favorable for disease development.

Hear Fist HandBRANDT Summer Success and BRANDT Bi-Monthly are pre-packaged kits that offer a complete greens nutrition program. They contain a carefully selected mix of BRANDT nutritionals that help maintain turf strength and vigor during tough environmental conditions.

Download the BRANDT packaged nutritional kits brochure HERE>

Hear first hand what golf course superintendents who use the programs have to say.