Spartan Mowers Releases 2025 Product Lineup
Jessica Schwartz
What Are The Top Turfgrass Challenges Anticipated For 2022?
Weather is inconsistent; crabgrass, nutsedge, and brown patch can be counted on. With last year’s employment and supply chain issues, the usual technical challenges, like hard-to-control weeds and diseases, did not go away. Looking back on 2021 from Weed Man’s national perspective of franchises across North America, there were plenty of challenging turfgrass issues. Remembering these challenges can help us be on the lookout and prepared for what 2022 may have in store. Weathering Challenges A big part of the challenge when it comes to weeds and disease is related to weather—and unfortunately, we have no control over this major factor. 2021 was a year of weather extremes from record-shattering heat to frigid cold waves, torrential downpours to relentless drought. Weather plays a major role in the amount of weeds as well as the types and severity of diseases. But it also has major implications on efficacy of treatment applications. For example, in mid-February 2021, a historic cold wave crippled the Central U.S. It was especially disruptive to the weed applications already started, from Texas all along the Gulf States. Cold weather can make weed control difficult and slow down weed death; not to mention concerns for equipment freezing. In early summer, the Central U.S. again saw several severe weather systems, producing significant thunderstorms and some hail. These storms were particularly hard on pre-emergent controls as heavy rain can reduce effectiveness. These storms also brought adult army worms which created major issues later in the season. The East and ...
What Are The Top Turfgrass Challenges Anticipated For 2022?
Weather is inconsistent; crabgrass, nutsedge, and brown patch can be counted on. With last year’s employment and supply chain issues, the usual technical challenges, like hard-to-control weeds and diseases, did not go away. Looking back on 2021 from Weed Man’s national perspective of franchises across North America, there were plenty of challenging turfgrass issues. Remembering these challenges can help us be on the lookout and prepared for what 2022 may have in store. Weathering Challenges A big part of the challenge when it comes to weeds and disease is related to weather—and unfortunately, we have no control over this major factor. 2021 was a year of weather extremes from record-shattering heat to frigid cold waves, torrential downpours to relentless drought. Weather plays a major role in the amount of weeds as well as the types and severity of diseases. But it also has major implications on efficacy of treatment applications. For example, in mid-February 2021, a historic cold wave crippled the Central U.S. It was especially disruptive to the weed applications already started, from Texas all along the Gulf States. Cold weather can make weed control difficult and slow down weed death; not to mention concerns for equipment freezing. In early summer, the Central U.S. again saw several severe weather systems, producing significant thunderstorms and some hail. These storms were particularly hard on pre-emergent controls as heavy rain can reduce effectiveness. These storms also brought adult army worms which created major issues later in the season. The East and ...
Summer Lawn Disease Management
Turf disease has always been a consistent adversary across the United States for residential lawns and commercial landscapes alike. With the arrival of summer comes the looming threat of lawn disease outbreaks in cool season grasses. Though disease outbreaks can occur in warm season turf, it usually happens during the spring and fall months as temperatures shift between winter and spring, or fall and winter. Cool season grasses are more commonly impacted by disease during the summer months (mid-June) and into the early fall. Common diseases found in cool season turf: include brown patch; large patch; Pythium blight (seen below); spring dead spot; and fairy ring. Although certain chemical fungicide solutions have the ability to cure turf disease, there are a few cultural methods that can be performed to keep disease outbreaks from occurring beforehand. Mowing. Mowing grass at its recommended mowing height improves turf’s ability to fight off disease. When mowing, no more than one-third of the leaf blade should be removed at all times. Removing more than this amount increases the possibility for disease outbreaks since the grass will have a difficult time recovering from stress or damage. Regular maintenance on mowers also ensures a sharpened mower blade for proper cutting. Mowing with dull blades increases the chance of disease as the mower blades tear the grass instead of neatly slicing them. Once the grass is ripped, it is left open and vulnerable to disease access. Irrigation. Although turf requires a certain amount of water, the amount ...
Summer Lawn Disease Management
Turf disease has always been a consistent adversary across the United States for residential lawns and commercial landscapes alike. With the arrival of summer comes the looming threat of lawn disease outbreaks in cool season grasses. Though disease outbreaks can occur in warm season turf, it usually happens during the spring and fall months as temperatures shift between winter and spring, or fall and winter. Cool season grasses are more commonly impacted by disease during the summer months (mid-June) and into the early fall. Common diseases found in cool season turf: include brown patch; large patch; Pythium blight (seen below); spring dead spot; and fairy ring. Although certain chemical fungicide solutions have the ability to cure turf disease, there are a few cultural methods that can be performed to keep disease outbreaks from occurring beforehand. Mowing. Mowing grass at its recommended mowing height improves turf’s ability to fight off disease. When mowing, no more than one-third of the leaf blade should be removed at all times. Removing more than this amount increases the possibility for disease outbreaks since the grass will have a difficult time recovering from stress or damage. Regular maintenance on mowers also ensures a sharpened mower blade for proper cutting. Mowing with dull blades increases the chance of disease as the mower blades tear the grass instead of neatly slicing them. Once the grass is ripped, it is left open and vulnerable to disease access. Irrigation. Although turf requires a certain amount of water, the amount ...
