In the Southeastern United States, lawn care and turf management programs have failed to evolve. Even though new herbicides are becoming more and more normal, fertility costs are where the sacrifices have been made. As a result, the cheaper nutritional packages are resulting in underperforming lawns and the issues that come with it - disease, weeds, poor soil.
I feel, as industry professionals, it is our duty to educate customers on the costs of professional maintained turf and to work within their budget to provide a beautiful lawn. At the same time, it is our responsibility to do what is right for the soil, the turf and the environment.
How do we do this?
My program at Outdoor Designs has certainly shifted over the years to keep up with economic fluctuations; however, my goal remains the same: provide the best results I possibly can with the budget I'm afforded. I do this by honing in on correcting soil structure and drficiencies. This is a long term solution, but with correct customer education, a turf professional can be alloted additional time and ultimately budget to provide the quality of lawn the customer comes to expect.
Compost teas have become a vital part of my program. Year one, the effect isn't overwhelmingly astounding. As we move into year two and three the results begin to compound - less disease, better color, greater root mass. Interestingly enough, neighbors who've gone the conventional fertility path begin to see a decrease in performance at the year two and three mark.
In the end, shifting my focus to soil health has garnered my business more growth than providing a two week green up. I am also minimizing my environmental impact by applying fewer nitrates, phosphates, and DMI and Strobi fungicides. The way I see it, the kinder we are to our environment, the longer our children get to enjoy it.
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