Reviewing your Year

Now is the time to review how your management program worked in 2024 to make appropriate changes, if needed, to maximize performance in 2025.

• Weather is always a huge determinant – you likely experienced unusual weather again in your area this year, just like always
  • Temperatures are clearly warming, growing seasons are expanding, and storms are becoming more extreme, almost regardless of where you live
  • “Season-long” control from a single application is becoming harder now as multiple applications of preemergence herbicides and maybe grub control are now required due to extended growing seasons
  • Pests are on the move, including goosegrass, yellow foxtail, white grubs, fall armyworms, annual bluegrass weevil, and multiple diseases that are now showing up in new areas
• Plan for the worst - use weather forecasting or growing degree day models instead of calendars to time applications, and stay alert for new/evolving pests
• Resistance is an issue - the days of applying a single mode of action to control a specific pest are over. Tank-mixes and rotation of multiple modes of action is critical. Contact a specialist if products no longer control a species like in the past after you eliminate weather, environment, and human causes
• How did your primary applications fare?
  • Last winter’s snow mold applications 
  • Poa seedhead applications
  • Preemergence herbicides for crabgrass and goosegrass
  • Spring fungicides for summer patch, fairy ring, root pythium, etc. 
  • Post emergence weed control in spring, summer, and fall 
  • Grub and other insect controls
• Poor performance? Re-evaluate cultural practices, timing of application, rate, watering-in practices, sequential applications, etc. Product labels are helpful as are manufacturer representatives. Most product failures involve a human component
• Time for a change? If poor performance can’t be tracked back to unusual weather or human error, and it has occurred for more than a year, consider a change in strategy and/or product
• Consider using proprietary products - Envu as well as other major manufacturers stand behind their products and can offer technical assistance in the event of failures, unlike most post-patent manufacturers
• Need more info - follow all label directions and contact your Envu Area Sales Manager if you need assistance.