First and foremost, I would say I’m not an expert. So, I rely on the recommendations of the experts at ATS, like Brian French, who I owe a lot to for our fields and the condition they are in at only two years old. Second, we only cut the infields with a push mower 2x […]

So why am I so adamant on fall plantings of cool-season grass seed? There’s a whole bunch of reasons.

Cool-season turfgrass suppliers are continually looking to improve their product lines of proprietary varieties in order to bring the best genetics to their customers. Plant breeders are always developing new cool-season turfgrass varieties to improve upon a multitude of desirable turf characteristics. These turf traits range from wear tolerance, disease resistance, leaf texture, turf color, […]

To create value and to maximize the return on investment of fertilizer, it is important to apply the correct rates and the correct combination of fertilizer.

As the season begins to heat up, we should be on the lookout for disease pressure in cool-season turf. There can be several diseases that can appear in turf, but we will focus on a few that are most common: leaf spot, brown patch & dollar spot.

It is time to think about weeds that you might find difficult to control in warm-season turf.

Red thread is a fungal turfgrass disease that can strike pretty much any time during the year. However, conditions in the spring and fall, which typically include prolonged periods of cool and wet weather, are perfect for red thread. The pathogen prefers conditions that promote slow turf growth, and long periods of cool and wet weather do just that.

Is the bermudagrass you’re managing slow to green up? This is not uncommon.

Does fertilizer coated with Foliar-Pak's Armament really give better results with turfgrass establishment and growth compared with uncoated fertilizer? The results from a pan test conducted by Product Development Manager Mark Sybouts give a resounding yes!

Is your turf looking a little thin or damaged? It might be time to plan a spring overseeding. Check out these three tips for success!

I believe over the past 20-30 years the horticultural market has overused glyphosate, therefore making it less effective due to herbicide sensitivity/resistance. I want to preserve this chemistry for future generations and hence recommend other chemical options.

Phenology is the study of naturally recurring biological events in plant and insect life cycles. You can use things like plant bud break or bloom time to predict when certain weeds will emerge or when certain insects will hatch.

Advanced Turf Solutions is continuing its tradition of hosting education seminars across our trade area. Select a seminar to view the agenda and RSVP online.

You may have used Foliar-Pak's Ultimate Ornamental Package on annuals to get big beautiful blooms, but have you used this mixture to nourish your trees and shrubs? Find out how.

At the 2019 GIE+EXPO, Steel Green Manufacturing revealed several new features on 2020 spreader/sprayers and announced an early order program valid for Advanced Turf Solutions customers only- offering up to 7% off 2020 machines purchased by November 30th. Download the flyer for more details on the early order program. Steel Green made its public debut […]

Keep your Steel Green sprayer-spreader in tip-top shape with these fall maintenance tips!

As the days of summer wind down and we turn our attention to fall, it is time to consider fall herbicide applications.

Two years after taking over the family lawn care business, Andrew Bowman could not be happier. His family business is thriving with an abundance of new opportunities and growth. How was this achieved in just a few years? By improving two critical aspects of every lawn care marketing strategy: word-of-mouth marketing and name recognition. Here's how this was achieved.

The fall season is a perfect time to thicken up your existing lawn or establish a new lawn. As you prepare for the fall seeding, here are a few tips to consider.

The debate on whether to use coated seed or uncoated seed has a long history, with many on both sides. Advanced Turf favors the use of coated seed and discusses why you should buy it over uncoated seed in this blog.

The constant rain not only limits our opportunities for outdoor activities, but it is also beginning to have a negative impact on turfgrass. Find out what you can do to rejuvenate the turf.

The weather has impacted mowing, fertilizer treatments, weed control, insect control, landscaping projects, ornamental bed, and tree care revenue this year. So, what can one do?

The Commercial Turf and Grounds Management Program at State Technical College of Missouri is top-notch. It's been a recipient of the National Association of Agriculture Educators Region IV Outstanding Postsecondary Agriculture Program Award and has impressive job placement stats. Students have landed jobs with the Boston Red Sox, the Minnesota Vikings, the St. Louis Cardinals, Oakmont Country Club, and the Missouri Botanical Garden, to name a few. The main drivers behind the success of the program are its faculty members: Ryan Klatt and Nick Rackers.

Careers in golf course management and lawn care are stressful at times and require long hours. Reid Neumann, who works in both industries, believes it’s all worth it when he can help others.

What do you think about dandelions?

It’s no secret that proper irrigation is an essential part of having a lush, green lawn. But what will happen in your quest for the greenest lawn in the neighborhood if you decide to be a little too generous with the water?

Find out which seed selections are best for certain conditions and the best methods for seed establishment in the spring.

You may be wondering if premium broadleaf herbicide mixes are worth the extra cost. To help you decide which herbicides to choose and how to save money in the long run, let's first learn more about the ingredients and how they work.

What should the first couple of ornamental applications look like? Here are a few tips on products you might want to consider.

Flight Control can be a very profitable service you can offer your clients.

As we all know, timing is crucial for crabgrass pre-emergent applications. We all try to apply our pre-emergent as close to the germination window as possible. In North Eastern Ohio, this can vary year to year and is strictly based on soil temperatures. Generally speaking, the 1st week of May is when we start to […]

The long winter months are the perfect time to expand your knowledge of turf management through education seminars. But why should you take the time to go to? What's in it for you? Here are the top 6 reasons you should attend education seminars.

Winter injury is a commonly overlooked issue when it comes to landscape maintenance, but it can be an all too common killer throughout the season. Some causes may include wind, snow, extreme temperatures, sun exposure, and low soil temps.

Now is a great time of year to be thinking about ornamental plant assessment. Deciduous woody ornamentals have little to no leaves present, which makes it easier to inspect the overall structure of the tree or shrub. To help with underlying insect issues that you may not be able to see, a dormant oil application […]

The days are getting shorter, the nights longer and the temperatures are falling. Before we know it, our lawn care season will be done. If you want healthy turf next spring, make sure your turf gets a great, well-deserved rest with these tips before winter sets in. Core Aeration During the warm months, turf becomes […]

There is a new product that targets "those" weeds… and approximately 250 more!

It’s hard to believe it’s already October. What happened to 2018? From dealing with weather extremes to weed and fungus outbreaks in regional areas that we haven’t seen before, I sit back and think what a strange and unpredictable growing season 2018 has been.

It's never to early to start thinking about saving and investing for the future. Find out how you can start today.

You wake up one dewy morning to your lawn covered in spider webs, and you may wonder who decorated for Halloween? It could be one of two culprits- actual spiders or dollar spot. But which one is it?

Sometimes it seems it's just one challenge after another. Here are some challenges to look out for and some strategies for success.