Turf and Ornamentals Community Hub
Stay up-to-date on news and updates from Bayer during these challenging times
We have staffing plans in place to maintain plant and facility operations in order to provide customers with the products and services they depend on.
Bayer continues to work closely with local, state and national health officials to do our part as we learn more every day about COVID-19. We are committed to keeping you informed of any changes that may come in the days or weeks to follow.
Bayer is always available to support your business. Our dedicated team of professionals is available to answer any of your questions and continue to provide best-in-class service and solutions to you.
You can reach out to your Bayer area sales manager with questions or concerns. For general product support, contact our customer support hotline for any questions or concerns: 1-800-331-2867.
Make Science Make Sense
As you and your family stay safe indoors, check out these awesome science experiments from Bayer to share with your family. From lava lamps to making gooey slime, you will find something that will make science fun.
Start a science adventure today!
Click on the segment below that pertains to you and your business to see the latest Bayer Turf and Ornamentals communications
We hope you will find useful information here to help you get your course ready for opening day, and keep it in top shape. Also follow us at @BayerGolf on Twitter for regular updates.
Agronomic Updates for Golf Course Superintendents
The world is facing uncertain times with the current Covid-19 issue and its impact on society. It is impossible to predict the long-term impact on golf courses, but here are some tips to help you weather this storm of uncertainty, realizing staff and budget may become limiting.
Increase plant growth regulator (PGR) use to limit mowing frequency
- PrimoMaxx® and Aneuw®
- Trimmit®, Cutless®
- Reduced turf growth decreases recovery from diseases, so consistent preventative fungicide applications are still most effective in terms of cost and labor
- Increased PGR rates may cause some reduction in turf color but this is temporary. Turf quality will improve as the effects of the PGR wear off.
Increase mowing heights
- Mowing all playing surfaces higher reduces mowing frequency but be careful not to raise mowing heights excessively, as it may be difficult to resume regular mowing once this storm passes. A 25 - 40% increase in mowing height is recommended.
- Alternating rolling with mowing can help reduce mowing stress, maintain speeds, and limit scalping when regular maintenance continues. Also, increasing sand topdressing can help to raise effective mowing height.
Pest management – Preventative applications made in the spring for the most problematic pests are critical for reducing costs and labor later this season.
- Preventive Weed Control: Goosegrass, crabgrass, and general weed control is best addressed in the early part of the year with preventive herbicide applications. Tools like GDD Tracker and other app-based weather and soil temperature tracking tools are useful in timing these applications appropriately.
- Preventive Disease Control: Most of the important diseases on cool-season turf begin infecting in the early part of the year. Root-infecting diseases like Pythium, patch diseases, as well as foliar and crown diseases like dollar spot and anthracnose are all best controlled with preventative applications well before symptoms start. Nematodes also fall into this category. Well-timed applications of effective chemistries like DMI fungicides can help optimize inoculum control and save time and labor later by not chasing diseases curatively.
Getting aggressive with aerifying/topdressing – Many clubs struggle to find the right time of the year to aerify for various reasons (volume of play, shortened playing season due to weather, uncooperative management or membership etc.). With limited or no play during a mandatory shutdown, now is a great time for aggressive aerification and topdressing, especially in areas that need it most.
We should all follow CDC’s precautions to stay safe during this time. At Bayer, we care for you and your well-being and please do not hesitate to call on us when needed.
Available Golf Course Management Programs
Banol First – April 1 through May 30, 2020
Now is the time to start controlling Pythium root rot (PRR) to promote root health and limit summer damage. This year started with warmer temperatures and excessively wet weather in parts of the country, getting ahead of disease-causing inoculum is critical with a good preventive fungicide strategy.
Coming soon! Online training courses to keep you up to date on agronomic advice.
Golf Course Management Industry Resources
We are pleased to provide you with agronomic advice and support, and updates about upcoming programs to help your business.
Lawn and Landscape Agronomic Updates
April Update
Constantly changing quarantines and health regulations are continuing to affect maintenance practices. With cancellations, customer skips due to no payment, phone ahead notifications, and odd working schedules, there continues to be disruptions in your applications. Here’s a few more points to consider:
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure –This year even more than normal, we never know when we’ll get back to each particular property. Insure your preventative applications for annual grasses and white grubs are solid, using tried and true products at the highest recommended rate
Timing is everything, or not – All applications in lawn care have preferred timing, but there is still some flexibility with many applications
- Preemergence herbicides for crabgrass, goosegrass, foxtails, etc.
- It’s always better to be earlier than too late (which is after crabgrass and other annual grasses germinate) Split applications should be applied 4-6 weeks after crabgrass starts germinating in untreated hotspots. Refer to your specific label for details
- If the initial preemergence application was missed, include a postemergence herbicide in the tank mix to control already germinated annual grasses
- Postemergence herbicides for summer annuals:
- Applications are most effective when summer annuals are young, but applications are effective into summer
- Potential phytotoxicity increases with temperatures over 85°F
- Be careful with tank mixing nitrogen, adjuvants and higher herbicide rates as temperatures warm. Refer to the label and your experience, but caution is always advised
- No rush on insecticides for white grubs
- Insecticides for white grubs are always most effective when applied when adults are first observed since larvae may still be 2-4 weeks away depending on your location
- Since most damage from grubs is a result of animal foraging in early fall, insecticide applications can be made through August for white grubs in most areas
- Fire Ants
- As soil and air temperatures warm up this spring, fire ants become much more active.
- If you live and work in fire ant territory, insecticide applications should be made as soon as possible to be most effective
You might only have one chance – This is a repeat from the previous posts but we continue to include it because it’s critical:
- Don’t skimp on rates – all products provide maximum and longest control when the highest rates are used
- Stick with products that you have experience with, now is not the time to experiment
- Calibrate – especially important with fewer visits to the lawn to make rescue applications. Be sure to check distribution pattern with push and ride-on spreaders
- Educate the homeowner – many homeowners are sheltering at home with more time to mow and water the lawn. Raising the mowing height and irrigating only as needed are two easy concepts for homeowners
More information:
- The National Association of Landscape Professionals has more useful information on COVID-19.
- If looking for additional information on turf pests, please see the Bayer Lawn Solutions Guide.
We at Bayer are in this with you and please do not hesitate to call your Bayer Area Sales manager if we can help.
March Update
With the constantly changing quarantines and health regulations, the ability to carry on professional lawn care business is inconsistent among states, counties, and municipalities. Here is some insight gleaned from our team’s 140 years of combined turf experience.
You might only have one chance - uncertainty in labor availability and changing local regulations affecting freedom to operate put added pressure to maximize efficacy
- Don’t skimp on rates – all products provide maximum and longest control when the highest rates are used
- Stick with products that you have experience with, now is not the time to experiment
- Calibrate – especially important with fewer visits to the lawn to make rescue applications. Be sure to check distribution pattern with push and ride-on spreaders
- Educate the homeowner – many homeowners are sheltering at home with more time to mow and water the lawn. Raising the mowing height and irrigating only as needed are two easy concepts for homeowners
Annual grasses – crabgrass, goosegrass and foxtails are best controlled with single or split applications of preemergence herbicides made well before germination
Broadleaf weeds – summer annuals are best controlled in spring with a postemergence herbicide, but consider including a preemergence herbicide that also helps control broadleaf weeds yet to germinate
White grubs – applications should start as adults first appear, maximize the rate and water-in to maximize control
Non-selective control of weeds in beds, walks, hardscapes, etc. – these weeds continue to germinate throughout the season, so include a preemergence herbicide along with a non-selective burndown herbicide
Growth regulators to reduce (not eliminate) mowing – some companies will use once or twice in the spring to help minimize the spring growth flush
Fire Ants – With many areas of the country implementing “shelter in place”, more families will spend time in their yards, gardening, and other activities. Fire ants become much more active during April and May, a good fire ant preventative product, such as TopChoice, can control fire ants for the entire season
More information
- The National Association of Landscape Professionals has more useful information on COVID-19.
- If looking for additional information on turf pests, please see the Bayer Lawn Solutions Guide.
We at Bayer are in this with you and please do not hesitate to call your Bayer Area Sales manager if we can help.
Available Lawn and Landscape Programs
Topchoice Spring Program
From March 1 – May 31 My Bayer Rewards members can earn $20 credit per TopChoice bag. Now is the time to stock up on the only fire ant treatment guaranteed to provide you with protection for a full year. Not a member? Sign up at MyRewards.Cropscience.Bayer.com.
2020 Summer Armada Program
Here is an exclusive offer for My Bayer Rewards members. From April 1 – July 31, you can now get a $100 rebate per case of Armada. Not a member? Sign up at MyRewards.Cropscience.Bayer.com.
Lawn and Landscape Industry Resources
We are pleased to bring you timely agronomic advice and support. If you have any questions or wish to consult on agronomic issues, please feel free to reach out to our expert below:
Aaron Palmateer, Ph.D. Ornamental Technical
Tel: (786) 525-0717
E-mail: aaron.palmateer@bayer.com
Agronomic Information for Production Ornamentals
May 4, 2020 Update
We are well on our way into Spring and with warmer temperatures and higher rainfall comes increased pressure from disease, insects and weeds. Taking a preventative approach to minimize and control issues before they occur will save time, frustration and most importantly money. Most growers will agree that effective weed control is one of their toughest pest management challenges. The labor required to control weeds is very expensive and quality labor is not getting any cheaper or any more plentiful. Growers have limited resources – time, money and personnel – and it makes sense to utilize those resources wisely. Those greenhouses and nurseries that are doing a good job managing weeds are laser focused on controlling weeds at their source. They invest the time and money to address the problem sooner rather than later, saving valuable resources and ultimately, improving profits. Preemergence herbicides are the most cost-effective way to control weeds. Here are some tips to maximize weed control with preemergence herbicides:
Application timing & Prevention
- Sanitation and preventing weed seed from entering production areas is crucial for successful weed control. Always start clean!
- Though some preemergence herbicides can provide minimal postemergence weed control, they are much more effective when applied prior to germination.
- Preemergence herbicides form a chemical barrier in the soil where germinating seeds emerge. If the chemical barrier is incomplete or disrupted, weed seed can germinate and grow.
- Preemergence herbicides are primarily broken down by microbes. Microbial activity is relatively low at cool soil temperatures, so applying early is always better than applying late.
- For optimum results apply preemergence herbicides before weed seed germinate. Existing weeds must be hand-weeded before application.
- Preemergence herbicides should be applied soon after potting and following adequate irrigation to settle the potting media. When potting bareroot transplants into containers some preemergence herbicides require an interval of up to 4 weeks before application (check label for specific instructions).
- In cooler climates, preemergence herbicides can be applied in the fall and will provide season-long control the following year, especially when followed by a sequential application in the summer.
Crop tolerance
- Select preemergence herbicides based on the crop being grown. Check the manufacturer’s label to see if the crop has been tested and can be treated safely. Not every environmental or cultural condition can be accounted for, so it’s best to conduct a small trial before applying a new product or treating a new crop for the first time.
- Preemergence herbicides should be used cautiously in structures. They are not typically labelled for direct treatment of plants in containers when grown indoors. Marengo is labeled for use under benches and on floors in structures. Always read the label prior to use
Sequential applications
- Research shows sequential applications of preemergence herbicides consistently improves long-term control compared to single applications at the same total rate.
Herbicide resistance
- Cases of herbicide resistance have been reported in goosegrass, crabgrass, and annual bluegrass as a result following the repeated use of the same active ingredient or within the same group of active ingredients over many years.
- Tankmix and/or rotate modes of action among pre and postemergence herbicides as often as is practical.
Need more info? – Contact your Bayer Ornamental Specialist if you need assistance.
We should all adhere to the CDC’s precautions to stay safe and healthy during this time. We care for you and your wellbeing, so please do not hesitate to call on us when needed.
March Update
Our dedicated team of professionals are available to answer any of your questions and continue to provide best-in-class service and solutions to our customers. Whether for product support, technical and agronomic expertise, pest diagnoses, or just someone to talk to, you can count on us to be there when you need it most.
Here are a few tips for dealing with potential labor shortages and slow sales.
To avoid excessive growth that can occur while holding plants longer than desired be sure to monitor irrigation and attempt to use less water. Space plants to allow for adequate air flow and try to keep temperatures cooler, but not below 60° F. Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are mostly used in early stages of production (i.e. plug and liner trays), but can be used successfully, later in the crop to minimize excessive growth. Be sure to read product labels and consult the manufacturer for additional questions and recommendations.
With the potential for reduced labor and less eyes on the crop, preventative pesticide applications are more important than ever. Using a preventative approach and applying pesticides before pests and diseases are present will minimize the potential for severe outbreaks and protect plants while being held longer than normal. Other considerations include using systemic fungicides and insecticides that offer longer lasting residual control. Drench applications should be made when possible, to allow for root uptake and longer lasting plant protection. The same can be said for weed control and the use of preemergence herbicides to prevent weeds before they occur. Be sure to choose products that provide longer lasting control, such as Marengo.
by Aaron Palmateer, Ph.D.
Available Production Ornamentals Programs
Marengo 2020 Spring Program – California Only
From April 1 – May 31 growers receive special pricing and terms on purchases of Marengo and Marengo G. Pricing is per product and per invoice. Multiple invoices will not be aggregated. Download the information sheet to read more.
Marengo 2020 Spring Program
From April 1 – May 31 growers receive special pricing and terms on purchases of Marengo and Marengo G. Pricing is per product and per invoice. Multiple invoices will not be aggregated. Download the information sheet to read more .
Recent Product Updates
Broadform Now Registered for Use in California
Broadform fungicide is now available for use on greenhouse- and nursery-grown ornamentals in the state of California for foliar disease control of key pathogens including Botrytis, leaf spot and dieback diseases.
With both knockdown and long-lasting residual protection, Broadform is a strong rotational fungicide that controls more than 50 pathogens on ornamentals, including fruits, nuts and Christmas trees.
Other product features of Broadform fungicide include:
- Unique chemical structure of fluopyram differentiates it from other SDHI solutions on the market
- Two modes of action control more than 50 pathogens
- Helps prevent dieback and tip blight diseases
- Systemic movement into flower bud tissue
