Go Green and Save Green

It’s up to lawn care professionals uphold the “green” part of the profession.

“The perception is that since we work in the “green” industry, we’re green,” says Jerry Sullivan, technical manager at Scotts LawnService, at a recent seminar at the Ohio Turfgrass Conference & Show. “That’s true in a sense, but how we execute procedures and maintain things comes into play.”

With a growing emphasis on green practices among consumers, it makes sense for contractors to adopt green programs as part of their service offerings, Sullivan says.

“Green is here to stay – it’s our responsibility to accept and become active in these initiatives,” he says. “As you go into spring, be receptive of customers who want a softer or more green approach and have services available to them.”

First, it can be helpful to inform customers of the green benefits lawns already provide. They have a cooling effect, they reduce sun glare and they protect lakes and streams from runoff from fertilizers and other products. In addition, Sullivan sites a study from the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute that found responsibly managed lawns store four times more carbon than the amount emitted from a mower.

Responsible lawn-care practices are effective ways to not only practice a more green program but also to cut costs, Sullivan says. Skyrocketing prices of prilled urea hurt contractors. Using fertilizer effectively can help contractors ensure they don’t spend more than they need to for the material.

Here are suggestions for developing an effective fertility program:

• Determine the turf’s requirements – a soil test is helpful but not always necessary, Sullivan says
• Select the appropriate fertilizer carrier
• Apply the correct rates
• Use proper timing of the applications

Sullivan outlined the pros and cons of quick- and slow-release nitrogen carriers and suggested contractors weigh the options in each situation and determine which provides the most effective treatment for that application. There also are natural organic carriers, including multiple varieties of activated sewage sludge, animal byproducts and plant-derived.

But even if contractors don’t turn to all-natural or organic products, green practices can still be put into place by managing lawns properly.

Effective application frequency and rates vary by situation, but they generally have one common factor: lower amounts of fertilizer can be applied in late spring through mid-to-late summer, Sullivan says. Shoot and root growth tapers off during this period.

Another effective lawn-management tool is integrated pest management (IPM), which includes the following practices:

• Using resistant cultivars
• Maintaining cultural practices
• Scouting, monitoring and identifying pest cultivars
• Determining pest threshold levels
• Preventive and curative treatment

Learn when preventive treatment is best or when curative treatment is more effective, Sullivan says. Also, keep in mind that one application of a pesticide at the right time can go a long way in controlling multiple pests, which can possibly reduce the number of pesticide applications needed. For instance, moving a preventive treatment up from June or July to May can sometimes eliminate the need for surface insect control in the summer months, Sullivan says.