Bowman's Pro Turf, LLC.

Last year was very exciting for Bowman’s Pro Turf, Co. As we begin to gear up for the beginning of our 2017 lawn application season, we wanted to share some of the great accomplishments we had last year that we plan to continue this year.

Highlights

FeedABee
We became a partner with the Bayer Bee Care Center and their FeedABee Program. Through this program, we distributed over 3,500 wildflower seed packets all over the Wabash Valley. Bee and pollinator health are very important to us and we recognize and understand that as a lawn care company. We provided educational material through handouts, emails, blogs, and social media to help educate the community on the importance of this issue and share what we do to protect our pollinators!

Education
We cannot stress the importance of staying educated and informed in the lawn care industry. All of these educational sessions and training’s provide us with the opportunity to learn about new technology and network with other lawn care companies from around the country. The information we learn at these training’s is implemented within our own company and help us to continually improve our business.

Here is a list of some of the more exciting educational sessions we were able to attend in 2016.
Indiana Green Expo
Real Green Users Conference
IPLLA Winter Regional Workshop
Indiana Green Industry
MRTF Purdue Summer Workshop
GIE Expo
IPLLA Winter Workshop

White Grub Infestation
Throughout 2016, we faced several issues. One issue that was unexpected was the white grub infestation. We saw an increased number of white grub issues in late summer. Customers who received a grub preventative treatment in the Spring were spared from the damage caused. The damage that was seen was often in the forms of raccoons and other mammals foraging through the turf and eating the grubs. This damage can and was devastating. We have spoken with other companies and entomologists and we cannot come up with a confident answer to why the infestation was so bad. You can find more information about grubs in a previous blog post, here.

Weather Effects
Anyone in the Wabash Valley knows that 2016 was a strange year for the weather. We had one of the hottest and wettest summers for a very long time. There were times of consistent rain fall events and times when little rain fell. The only reliable factor for several months was the high day and night time temperatures. The constant heat and rain helped to provide for some great conditions…for weeds and turf diseases! Heat, sunlight, and water are three factors that affect the efficiency of herbicide and also contribute to an increase in turf diseases.

The weather was our biggest enemy in 2016. By mid July of most summers, we usually hope for some measurable rainfall. That was not the case last year. Many companies across the state and Midwest experienced the same issues. Unfortunately for everyone, nobody can control the weather. However, we have made the most of the unfavorable weather and took away some great lessons that we have been sharing with our customers.

Recap
We feel that 2016 was a successful year. The challenges we faced have helped us to improve our business. Since 1987, we have faced many unique and unexpected events so 2016 was not very different. The one thing that has stayed the same is our dedication to our customers. We have and will always continue to provide the best customer service and be experts in all aspects of our company. Our goal is to help you achieve your lawn care needs. If there is ever anything we can do to help or improve, please let us know.

Be sure to like us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest news and offers!

Fall is here! The change in the season means for some big changes to prepare for in the yard. Dropping temperatures and falling leaves provide for some extra chores around the house. If some of these chores are left unattended, your lawn could pay a price!

Leaves: Mulch, Burn, or Throw Away?

The biggest chore we can think of in the fall is dealing with all of the leaves. Should you rake them into big piles and burn at the edge of your property? Should you shove them in lawn bags and leave them by the curb? Should you just mow over and mulch them to scatter them on your lawn?

The answer:

Mulch! By mulching these leaves, you are allowing nutrients to be returned to the soil. Mulching these leaves will not be as simple as mowing your lawn. Make several passes in different directions to ensure no large clumps are left and the leaf material is finely chopped up.

Piles of leaves that are left unattended will have some very nasty consequences in the Spring. The compaction of the wet leaves will choke out the grass it is covering. The leaves provide a great place for different winter fungus to grow and spread. Waiting until Spring for leaf cleanup will do more harm than good. Thin areas that have large clumps of leaf debris collected will become stressed and drastically hurt turf quality.

Fertilize!

As the fall months lead  into winter, the turf will need more nutrients. The grass will need more nitrogen to sustain during the winter months as it enters dormancy. When spring arrives, the turf will be in a much better position than lawns that received no fall fertilization. It is recommended by turf scientists to apply at least 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet during these fall and winter applications. This increased nitrogen will bring great benefit to the lawn. 

Proper Mowing

As we have always said, proper mowing height is at least 3.5 inches for cool season grasses. This does not change when the seasons change. For your lawn to maintain through the winter, the grass plant needs to be as strong as possible. By mowing at that height, it is proven that the turf will be healthier year round.

When do I seed?

Unfortunately if you are just now asking that question, it is almost too late! The optimum time to seed is between August 15th and September 30th. The seed needs time to germinate and grow before the first frost hits. Any seeding done after September 30th is at risk and we do not encourage it. 

The recent news coming from South Carolina of a massive bee kill from pesticide use has reminded us of the high risks involved in our industry. When we first learned about this tragedy, we asked a few questions that were quickly answered. It appears that a major lapse in following proper procedures were made when making the pesticide application.

Pollinator Protection EPA