By Beth Deckert, Natural
Choice Editor
Nature
Safe and a strong IPM (Integrated Pest Management) program offers a great
solution for the environmental challenges turf managers face every day. To
understand this, it is important to keep in mind that the soil and turfgrass
are truly dependent on each other. The soil in itself is a biosphere,
maintaining microbial populations and supporting the growth of plant life
through nutrients and minerals found there. The theory behind most chemical
applications is to “wipe” out problems, whether caused by disease
or insects. In essence, you break down the soil biosphere. Once chemicals are
applied, the microbial populations in the soil are weakened in health and in
numbers. The turf’s health and natural resistance to pests and disease is
impeded. We fertilize over and over to compensate for this void. Suddenly one
problem is fixed, but several others may surface and a vicious cycle is
started. With Nature Safe, soil health is most important. Soil health
correlates directly with plant health. Nature Safe builds up the soil and in
turn builds up the turf. By increasing microbial populations, Nature Safe
creates its own fertilizer factory in the soil for turf. A healthy, stronger
turf will handle stress conditions better and will build up resistance to
disease and pests.
By
understanding some of the simple concepts below, you will be successful in your
turf management practices.
Nature Safe improves soil
health and ultimately improves plant health. As Nature Safe is released
in the soil, the product provides the NPK the turf needs and the food energy
the soil microbes need. As you feed the microbes, they provide the biological
formula for reducing pest
pressures. The more microbes in the soil, the better. University research shows
that Nature Safe increases bacterial populations from 30 million cfu/g soil to
1 billion cfu/g soil.
Nature Safe requires a
program application approach. Nature
Safe needs to be applied monthly during the growing season to maintain the food
energy needs of the microbial population. The key benefits are stress and pest
reduction.
Nature Safe is the
foundation to good IPM. Nature Safe offers the biological
benefits void in many turf programs. Nature Safe combined with sound cultural
practices and wise spray programs offers the formula for success.