It is always exciting to find out something that you thought you were doing well was only half well done.

I do not know if the phrase above was worded correctly, so I will try to explain my thought process.

For the longest time I have recommended waiting to aerate lawns, using a core aerator, in early summer after our heavy spring rains have passed us by. Funny that I am writing this article now, now being April 17¹⁷ at 10:42 am. Rain is coming down so hard that the constant splashing on our metal roof is making me sleepy. Sleep not a bad thing to catch when ever possible at this, the busiest time of the year for those of us in the nursery business. Sleep, each second that passes by is making me drowsier, the rain, the cloudy skies…

11:23 am. I don’t know about you but I feel so much better. One of the best investments that I made for myself was the purchase of a Coleman folding cot.

One of the lawns that I maintain has brown patch that just seems to get worse and worse each month. We cut back on the watering for the entire lawn to once a week. And adjusted the timer to water the effected area for fewer minutes to allow for the runoff from the upper areas that drains through aggravating the situation.

We have used Actinovate, corn meal and compost to cure the Rhizoctonia blight. We could see slight greening of the areas but the browning kept coming back. HELP!

Well, I did consult with two of Dallas Institutes of higher knowledge and experience. Texas A&M Research Center on Coit Rd and Lambert’s Landscaping.

Both suggested that I aerate the lawn frequently. Not just once a year but as many as four times, suggesting that I aerate in the early spring before the heavy rains and then again after the rains have passed. They agreed that my recommended early summer aerations was correct. That this aeration would help lower necessary water output during the summer months by allowing easy penetration and collection of water.

As fall rains come, aerate again and if necessary, depending on soil conditions aerate once more allowing time for soil to have time to close and protect roots from freezing temperatures or no later than the end of October.

Since learning more about aeration, I sent my guys to aerate the lawns that are most effected by brown patch at the beginning of March. We have seen a great improvement in all of the lawns that have been aerated. The grass that has been dull in color and even brown has started to reemerge, filling in and creating lush green colors.

Of course some of the lawns have more severe problems, where grass has died water may be allowed to accumulate in a bowl like depression. We have begun to fill these depressions with a combination of topsoil and compost. NOT TOO THICK! We do not want to smother the grass below by adding too much soil, especially now since the grass is just coming out of dormancy.

We have recommended Humate as an additive to the soil.

So, you ask:

What are humates?

They are highly biodegraded and compressed remains of ancient plant and animal materials. Simply put, they are the highly decomposed organic materials that have fossilized over a period of millions of years. They are also referred to as “humic substances” and are used as solid conditioners, soil supplements, and fertilizer amendments.

How do they work?

1. They provide an available long chain carbon material to the soil structure. Carbon is a basic element for all life forms. This carbon matrix thus promotes enhanced soil microbial activity for both indigenous bacteria and those added to the soil, especially michoriza. This aids in the formation of a balanced soil structure for proper plant development. It also is an aid to decomposition of residual plant material, especially thatch.
2. They provide a full spectrum of organic acids that are essential to plant development. Specifically, these include humic and fulvic acids. These act as organic “chelators” which enhance the uptake and utilization of vital plant nutrients contained in both organic and conventional fertilizers. Due to their negative ionic characteristics, these organic acids increase the cation exchange capacity of the soil, which enhances the transfer of nutrients through cell membranes of plant root materials.

What do they do?

Used in conjunction with a balanced fertility program, quality humates will (a) enhance the overall performance of the fertilizers to a point that an actual reduction of basic N-P-K per 1,000 square feet may be appropriate over time; (b) enhance the development of root systems (michoriza); (c) enhance success of seed germination and overall plant development; (d) enhance overall plant health, resistance to stress, and appearance.

How do you determine the best soruce of humtes to use?

Years of university and field research has found that the best source of humates are those that are mined from freshwater deposits, generally found in New Mexico. These geological materials are composed of a sand matrix, contain freshwater diatoms, and have a salt content of less than 0.5%. They also have a very consistent level of humic acids.

How much to use and when?

A general rule is 100 to 250 pounds per acre or 5 to 10 pounds per 1,000 square feet per application. Depending on the area being treated, the soil analysis, the level of fertility used in conjunction with the humate, and the frequency of application will determine the exact rate of application. These products should be incorporated into normal application schedules with normal fertilizers and equipment.

John Lown is the founder of Menefee Mining Corporation and Earthgreen Products Inc., Dallas, Texas. He has been involved with and funded extensive research and product development of humates and humic substances since 1990.

As a further benefit applications of humates stimulate growth & devolvement of beneficial soil bacteria, which then suppress the non-beneficial fungal bacteria that cause brown patch. Best applied immediately after aeration to allow humates to affect healthy root zone development.

Other benefits of Humates:

• Over 65% organic matter.
• 100% pathogen free.
• Stimulates existing soil bacteria.
• Enhances uptake and availability of nutrients.
• Stimulates root and shoot growth.
• Improves send germination.
• Increases cation exchange capacity of soil.*
• Promotes healthier, stronger plants.
• Better resistance to stress.
• Enhances production and crop appearance.

*Cation exchange. In soil science, cation exchange capacity (CEC) is the capacity of a soil for ion exchange of Cations between the soil and the soil solution. CEC is used as a measure of fertility, nutrient retention capacity, and the capacity to protect groundwater from cation contamination.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Lava sand can also be used on lawns effected with BP. Applied after aeration or at any time of the year the heavy uneven sizes of lava sand help separate heavy clay soils allowing moisture to quickly penetrate.

My New Toy

It was late last month when our neighbors to the west of Rohde’s Nursery asked if we would maintain their property. Sure what a great deal. No travel time, we can maintain their lawn using organic products instead of some other company that might use chemical treatments and it would give me an excuse to buy a toy that I always wanted.

I finally had a reason to spend $7000.00 on a zero radius, 20 mile per hour lawn mower.

I called Plano Power equipment and ordered a Scaggs Tiger Cub. Within two hours it was delivered and after the mechanic showed me how to use it I was off to the races.

When I first started mowing lawns 37 years ago I walked behind a push lawn mower given to me by Malcolm and Roseanne Carroll. At first I was only mowing 10 lawns a week. A few weeks later I was up to 20. Two months later I was mowing lawns 6 days a week all in the same area near the intersections of Meandering Way and Spring Valley roads. From sun up to sun down I was walking and while I was walking I was able to enjoy the landscapes of all these lawns and the benefits. The benefits being all the wild life in the area, butterflies, hummingbirds and tall two legged birds. Blondes, brunettes and redhead all daughters of customers. Some would polietly say hello while the nicer ones would offer me sandwiches, cold beverages and the use of their swimming pools.

Ah, the good ol days of yesteryear!

Any way by the end of the day, despite the constant breaks to chat with the girls, I was dead tired. No desire to go out to movies, dinner or anything else. Sleep is what I wanted and sleep is what I got.

After mowing lawns for about 4 years I had the sorest of backs and as soon as I could I purchased a self propelled mower. I thought that I had died and gone to haven. Mowing became a breeze as the faster pace gave me the sensation of speed as the air passed through my hair. It took me less time and effort to mow the lawns that I was in charge of, giving me the opportunity to seek out more work.

Again Mrs. Carroll helped me. She had some areas in her landscape that needed a makeover. She took the time to direct me and between both of us we ended up with a beautiful new landscape much of it is still in place at this residence some 30 years later.

I can bore you with more details of my budding career, but I really want to get back to the present and my NEW TOY!

I was instructed as to how the different levers and gears worked and as the employees who thought they were going to use this shinny, powerful and fast machine looked on I took off to mow Mapei’s lawn. I started with the largest area and was traveling so fast that my hat kept blowing off, luckily I had tied the hat’s cord and it would fall down behind me flapping in the wind. Unfortunatley, this lawn mower had so much speed to offer, that the air flow would catch the hats brim and pull it backwards choking me.

I do not know if it was the lack of oxygen or the speed that caused my eyes to water, but they did. I would have to slow down so many times, to adjust the hat back on my head, that I almost considered taking it off. Instead, I drove back to the nursery, ran inside the store and grabbed the stapler and stapled the hat to my head. Man!!! What a mistake! Not only did the staples hurt like hell but now the blood flowing in to my eyes made it difficult to see where I was going. Ahhh, but the speed was back. Now I could travel as fast as I wanted, easily getting up to 20 mph.

And then I saw a Kildeer. A cute little bird that acts like it is hurt as it runs away from its nest, hoping that it will lead the prey away from the eggs that it is trying to hatch. I slowed down to a crawl, careful to not hit the ground nest that had to be hidden in the tall grass. I was travelling from east to west and saw that it was still 10 feet north or possibly two more laps away. I sped up. As I came around again the bird ran off hoping to lead me away, stopping to make sure that I had noticed him/her. I slowed down, the nest was now 4 feet away. On the next lap, I manuvered around the nest and counted 4 little eggs no larger then the size of the tip of my thumb surronded by small rocks about the same size.

One more lap around and I could speed up and I did. Once more I was going full throtle unconcerned about the safety of the nest. They were safe and in one piece. After a few more laps and some distance between this powerful machine and the nest the mother/father quit doing its distracting dance and soon was no where to be seen. I suspected that it flew off in searh of food or water.

Thirty minutes later and I was almost finished when one of my coworkers, Javier, showed up. I drove over to where he waited for me, answered his question, with a large smile on my face, I pulled the right lever that zipped me around and headed back towards the area where I left off.

I heard a series of thunks, small pebbel like sounds crashing against the metal blade housing. And then I looked back and recognized the clearing where the eggs laid. I whipped the machine around my heart in my throat. I stopped, got down from the machines deck and before I got there I knew what I had done. I looked around for the mother/father. Why did it not lead me away from the nest? I scanned the area, my vision blurred. I could not see the adult bird. I called Javier who was still nearby. I waved him over.

“Que paso?” he inquired.

"You take over. I do not want to mow anymore today.”

“Are you alright, what happened?” he asked again.

“I got something in my eye. I’ll be fine.”