Surfactants can’t stop storms, but if you’re experiencing an excessive rainy season, or know you are about to get hit with a deluge right before a significant course event, surfactants can be a very valuable tool to minimize turf damage and quicken recovery.
Surfactants are agronomic tools, and like most tools they can be used for multiple issues on your property. Whether your goal is to maintain consistent soil moisture, correct hydrophobic conditions, or in cases like this, move excess water off playing surfaces quickly, they offer flexible solutions.
Sixteen90 has been the workhorse soil moisture management product for The Aquatrols Company for over a decade. Even after all these years, we continue to see turf managers utilize it in multiple ways. Sixteen90’s primary function has been as a season-long soil moisture application. This can be accomplished by two early season split applications. However, there are an equal number of turf managers utilizing it as part of a monthly application program. It also shines in moments of weather stress. Heavy rains during peak summer heat can devastate all varieties of turfgrass, especially in compacted soils where standing water lingers and “boils” the turf. Post-storm birdbaths on fairways often result in oval circles of brown-out wilting turf.
A preventive application of Sixteen90 at 5 oz/1,000 sq ft before a forecasted storm can help move rainwater off the turf quickly, reducing the risk of turf scorch. Once you you’ve successfully improved the speed of drainage of those targeted “hotspot” areas, you can resume your normal surfactant maintenance plan.
As we say in the industry, Mother Nature is undefeated. Repeated daily rains will certainly take their toll, but with the right preparation, products like Sixteen90 can give your turf the edge it needs to weather the storm.
Comments are closed.