The Benefits of a Late Season Soil Surfactant Application
Sep 01

The Benefits of a Late Season Soil Surfactant Application

Most cool-season turfgrass managers stop using soil surfactants for the year in early autumn when the summer stress period is over. However, a late season application of Revolution or Dispatch right before you blow out your irrigation system can provide many important turf benefits before the ground freezes in winter, and after the ground thaws in early spring.

Late Autumn Benefit

If it gets dry after you blow out your irrigation system, a late autumn Revolution or Dispatch application will help ensure maximum penetration of any rainfall or snow melts that occur, and will improve soil moisture levels before the ground freezes. More favorable soil moisture levels in late autumn will reduce moisture stress on turfgrass going into the winter, and will maximize photosynthesis and root growth until the ground freezes.

Winter Benefit

If a warm spell occurs in winter and the soil thaws out, a late autumn surfactant application with newer chemistries like Revolution or Dispatch can also help free water drain off the surface faster. Crown hydration injury occurs when free water on the turf surface hydrates the crown of turfgrass and a freeze occurs. This can damage or even kill the plant. So if less free water remains on the turf surface prior to a freeze, the amount of crown hydration damage may be lessened.

Spring Benefit

When the rootzone thaws in early spring, Revolution and Dispatch will still be present in the soil. This will give the same benefit as in late autumn – maximizing penetration of snow melt and any precipitation that occurs to improve soil moisture levels and maximize photosynthesis and root growth coming out of winter. This can be especially important if it gets warm and dry before you can get your irrigation system up and running in the spring.

Try Dispatch Try Revolution

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Want to learn more about the benefits of a late autumn surfactant application? Check out this article from Aquatrols’ Midwest Territory Manager. The topic is also a focus of discussion in this podcast on the Superintendent Radio Network.

Aquatrols

About The Author

More than 60 years ago, Aquatrols introduced the world’s first commercially available soil wetting agent. Since creating an entirely new product category to address water management challenges and opportunities, the company has remained a top innovator and producer of high-performance soil surfactants and related technologies. In addition to its core business of wetting agents, Aquatrols has launched two active ingredients and is the exclusive distributor for Redox’s portfolio of turf products. Aquatrols’ advanced product suite optimizes soil-water-plant interactions in agricultural, professional turfgrass, and horticultural industries in more than 40 countries. Headquartered in southern New Jersey, Aquatrols also has offices in the United Kingdom and conducts business on six continents.