The subject of Nature Safe and spring aeration has been discussed and written about many times before. Here are some additional thoughts on the benefits of using Nature Safe at aeration time and how … Continue reading →]]> By Al Lanoie, Northeast Regional Manager

The subject of Nature Safe and spring aeration has been discussed and written about many times before. Here are some additional thoughts on the benefits of using Nature Safe at aeration time and how to increase sales opportunities in a stagnant golf market. The bottom line is if your customers go through the hassle of aeration, they should maximize the benefits of this critical cultural practice by fertilizing with Nature Safe.

Aerification improves long term turfgrass health and playability while creating short term turfgrass stresses and player inconveniences. The high amino acid content of Nature Safe contributes to faster turf recovery and less summer heat stress due to increase root mass and depth.

One of the most important reasons for aeration is the removal and reduction of thatch build up in turf – especially on putting surfaces. As thatch accumulates, the root zone receives less oxygen, water, and nutrients. Nature Safe aids in the reduction of thatch with sugars and carbohydrates that are present in the various formulations we offer.

In addition to improved aerification recovery times, superintendents using Nature Safe are also experiencing increased tolerance to other turfgrass stresses, such as heat, drought, cold and disease pressures compared to turf not treated with Nature Safe. These stress tolerance attributes are helping superintendents decrease their dependency on irrigation and less chemical inputs to manage their turfgrass.

If you do the math of just focusing on your top 25 customers and position Nature Safe only for aeration, the total benefits to your customer, your business and your wallet are amazing!

Here are recommended programs for greens, tees, fairways, and sports turf:

Contact your Nature Safe representative at 1-800-252-4727 if you have any questions about putting together a spring aerification package for your customers. Good luck and great selling during this Happy New Year!

There are two old adages: 1) “Copying is the sincerest form of flattery,” and 2)“Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.” Such must be the case with a competitor’s newest organic manure blended product introductions … Continue reading →]]> By Mike McCarthy, Western Regional Manager

There are two old adages: 1) “Copying is the sincerest form of flattery,” and 2)“Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.” Such must be the case with a competitor’s newest organic manure blended product introductions and baseless claims of content and performance. Perhaps it should be suggested that a good brand name for their products might be “Whisper”, because it contains at the most, 33%-35% organic manure content by volume, and just a whisper of organic value.

Ever since Nature Safe’s successful introduction of 27-2-2/27-0-2 which is a 50/50 blend of Nature Safe’s USDA food grade animal proteins, combined with UFLEXXTM stabilized urea, the fertilizer marketplace has been inundated with cheap copycats trying to imitate and confuse customers by deceit, and blatantly making false claims…“It’s just like Nature Safe, only cheaper”. Yes, that is an actual quote relayed to me by a Denver, CO based golf course superintendent.

Yes, those competitors may have a cheaper cost per bag, but they are, in fact, definitely more expensive. These boastful competitors do not mention that they use chicken manure, sewage sludge or bio-solids to provide their lesser valued “organic” ingredient content.

Here are three main points of concern:

1. How available is the organic nitrogen to the turf/plant? Nature Safe has several university research studies indicating that our feather, meat, bone and blood meals are more readily available to the plant in 12 weeks. This happens more quickly than any other organic ingredients.

2. Amino acid content, which directly translates as “food quality value”, is as much as six times higher in Nature Safe animal protein ingredients as compared to chicken manure and sewage sludge. This is proven by independent research from Clemson University*.

3. Nature Safe’s salt content is .006% when all other organic manure contents are off the charts. Then what about the heavy metal content of sewage sludge? Do your soil and/or water tests show that you are deficient in Mercury, Cadmium and other heavy metals?

Just consider how available the organic nitrogen is to the plant. Research from North Carolina State University* further proved that it took up to two years to release the NPK value of chicken manure to the turf/plant. That same research also proved that the highest amount of N value from chicken manure was 3.6%. When you compare the nutrient release value of Nature Safe’s 13-0-0 at a 99% in three months versus organic manure ingredients that can take up to 24 months to fully release, the nutritional value would equal much less than 1% during that same period. You have to ask yourself how much value is in the bag?

Even if the competitor’s release values were similar (which they are not) consider the value of the food quality that is closer defined as amino acid content. Here is where Nature Safe Natural and Organic Fertilizers score the highest. A good example would be to compare the food value (basic seven) of a Twinkie as compared to filet mignon. Some would say that they are both delicious, but what is the “food quality value” comparison? Would your body and future health benefit more from the Twinkie or steak? That same logic of science holds true in the food quality benefit that is available to the soil microbes. How much value is in the bag?

Salt content may be only regional in importance, especially if you are concerned about drought-like conditions or if your water source is a problem. There are volumes of research available online that has considered the high salinity already present in the soil, perhaps you might want to reconsider adding even more salt from organic manure based fertilizers. Is it really cheaper in the long run?

So, to answer the article’s title question, “Does Nature Safe have any competitors?” The answer is a definite NO. Research, logic, applications and more importantly, the results have proven this repeatedly. It is imperative that you help your customer recognize the facts by reading the product label to correctly value and compare the true cost of available units of N to translate the value in the bag and not fall prey to “…but liars figure”.

The economy continues to put pressure on superintendents everywhere. Rounds played continue to be at best level with last year. Costs go up while budgets are stagnant or decreasing and expectations are as high … Continue reading →]]> By Lou Newman, Southeastern Regional Manager

The economy continues to put pressure on superintendents everywhere. Rounds played continue to be at best level with last year. Costs go up while budgets are stagnant or decreasing and expectations are as high as ever. Wouldn’t it be great if there were some way to get some free labor to help provide nutrition to your course? There is, and it’s right under everybody’s nose…or should I say feet!
That’s right, in every soil there is the potential for free help from billions of helpers, if we would but use them. They are called microbes, microorganisms, soil life, biota or soil fauna. They exist in some form and at some level in every soil whether a sand based man-made green, a landscaped bed, a native fairway or an untouched wetland.

Soils have three major components, minerals, organic matter and biota. The major thrust of all research and learning for the past century has been with the mineral component. We are well versed in the required levels of all chemical elements. In this school of thought, soil is more or less viewed as only a means to hold roots and transfer soluble elements to the roots of the plant. And while this is obviously a critical and important facet of plant nutrition, it is not the full story.

Organic matter (OM) has a long acknowledged role in soil structure. While it comprises only about 2-5% of soil mass, it can play a large part in water holding capacity, drainage, soil buffering and compaction resistance. In the last two decades more and more turf managers (and farmers for that matter) understand the need to maintain adequate levels of OM. Once thought of as only the bane of turf managers in the form of thatch, OM in the soil profile is recognized as a necessary factor in the healthy growth of plants, especially roots.

We are now on the cusp of recognizing and utilizing the third major component of soil, and that is the soil life. Soil biota is a term that encompasses all living organisms from earthworms to bacteria. The vast majority of soil life is in the form of bacteria. These little guys are very intimately involved in a huge cross section of all chemical changes that occur in soil. They consume carbon, they convert nitrogen, they render insoluble minerals available, they secrete substances that build soil structure, they create heat that warms root zones as well as a myriad of other processes, some of which we are still discovering.

Fungi decompose organic matter, create humus and, perhaps most importantly, through Mycorrhiza, make vast amounts of nutrition available to plants by altering availability and increasing a roots capacity for water uptake and drought resistance.

We have long thought of bacteria and fungi only in the terms of pathogens that are to be avoided, controlled or eliminated. But we have overlooked the beneficial organisms and their effects. By promoting the growth of beneficial microbes, we reduce the possibility of incidence of pathogens. Only one organism can occupy a given space at a time. This is the biological rule termed competitive exclusion. Beneficials are far more adaptive than pathogens and given the chance will out-compete pathogens for a place in the soil.

These are the billions of little workers that we can use to help establish prize winning turf. These guys work 24/7. In warm weather, when plants grow faster and require more food, beneficial microbes also increase in activity. In cool weather, plants slow down, and so do these little guys. They help make insoluble chemical forms soluble, they capture soluble forms and hold it for a few days as part of their bodies. Though tiny, their sheer numbers amount to far more mass than historically recognized. And to keep them happy, you need to keep a few things in mind:

• Harsh chemicals can reduce the number of soil microbes. Any sudden increase in chemistry can kill off beneficials, and in some cases make it easier for pathogens to get established
• Most fertilizers are salt based, and the high application of soluble, salt based products can literally dry out microorganisms just as they can damage roots and cause desiccation.
• Slow release fertilizers are better suited to maintaining microbe populations. The availability of chemicals in a slower release pattern does not disturb soil life to any great extent.
• Microbes consume more than just simple available nutrients. They like carbon and proteins. This is what they are made of and it is natural that they are well suited for exploiting these substances for their own use.

Nature Safe is produced to feed this microbial population. Nature Safe is slow release nutrition, protein based nitrogen and phosphorous, is easy to apply, feeds for months, has an extremely low salt index and promotes the growth of soil microbes so they not only capture the nutrition in the Nature Safe, but also from native soil minerals and conventional fertilizers.

Plant nutrition is not a chemical system, it is a biochemical system, and recognizing it as such means you can do a better job. Used alone, or applied with conventional fertilizers in fairway blends, Nature Safe will increase the microbe populations putting all these guys to work for you. It’s free labor, who works overtime, with one goal in mind. Isn’t it time to put them to work for you?

In the United States this year, golf course superintendents have been put to the test with all kinds of weather extremes. Mother Nature has reeked havoc in Florida and Texas with unbelievable heat and drought, tremendous … Continue reading →]]> By Natural Choice Editor

In the United States this year, golf course superintendents have been put to the test with all kinds of weather extremes. Mother Nature has reeked havoc in Florida and Texas with unbelievable heat and drought, tremendous flooding in parts of the Midwest and warmer than normal temperatures throughout the country. Nature Safe products can help turfgrass through all these extremes.

Nature Safe will not leach or runoff and, with a low salt index, Nature Safe has an extremely low burn potential and is ideal for improving the turf quality, appearance and health of these areas. Nature Safe will put energy back into the turf and improve turf density and soil water retention as well as encourage aggressive root development. These areas will be better equipped to deal with the conditions inherent to these problem areas.

Where Nature Safe is used on fairways, you will see improved appearance, improved health and less need for iron and other applications.

Nature Safe is also a natural for overseed, providing excellent seed establishment and a vigorous start to your overseed application. Nature Safe will also take care of your primary turf that is being stressed by the presence of the overseed. The overseed will use up much of the available energies and plant food in the soil that the primary turf would otherwise have access to. Nature Safe will enhance the health of your dominant turf during this stressful time and will not keep it from going dormant. This will become more evident in the spring when you transition from your overseed. Your dominant turf will have greater concentrations of energy and plant food that will allow it to aggressively put down roots and grow in the spring.

For bunker faces, steep slopes and mounds typically found in the fairway, use Nature Safe 10-2-8 at 3/4 lb. of N per application. Apply Nature Safe to these target areas as soon as possible. The turf in these areas is typically thin. Getting Nature Safe in the system now will help halt the thinning and will encourage new rooting and improved turf density and appearance. Make another application in late fall or early winter as a dormant feed. Your next application would be in early summer after transition.

When overseeding, apply Nature Safe one week prior to overseed application. Use Nature Safe 10-2-8 or 8-3-5 at 1/2 lb.- 3/4 lb. of N per 1,000 sq. ft. This will help your overseed get established and provide the dominant turf with adequate energy and plant food as it deals with the stress of overseed. This will also allow it to go dormant with increased reserves that will aid in transition in the spring.

Maybe you recall from your childhood when your favorite uncle or other elder relative rubbed your tussled head of … Continue reading →]]> By Mike McCarthy, West Coast Regional Manager

Maybe you recall from your childhood when your favorite uncle or other elder relative rubbed your tussled head of hair and asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Your mind quickly raced through a wide variety of possibilities and you said, “Maybe an astronaut to leave my footprints on the moon or baseball player who hits the grand slam home run to win the World Series, or maybe even a turf grass expert that represents Nature Safe Natural and Organic Fertilizers!”

Some of those thoughts ran through my mind as I intently watched both All Star games this season. Foremost was the Triple A All Star game played at Spring Mobile Park, home to the Salt Lake Bees in Salt Lake City, Utah. As an invited guest (eating several hot dogs, peanuts and Cracker Jacks) I sat glued in my seat as the International League won 3 to 0 against my much beloved Pacific League. A day earlier, I had watched the National League win 5 to 1 over the American league game that was played and televised from Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona. I proudly realized that both nationally renowned sports stadiums played on turf completely treated with Nature Safe products.

In the case of the Triple A Spring Mobile Park, the SL Bees team home stadium, their turf program is documented in a previous newsletter (November 2010) about how their newly renovated field was transformed completely using only Nature Safe fertilizers. More recently, after a music concert venue had destroyed a portion of the outfield, it was resodded using only Nature Safe 5-6-6 on the bare topsoil followed by an application of 10-2-8. Multiple applications of Nature Safe 27-2-2 with a 50/50 organic blend with UFLEXXTM Stabilized Urea were made later.

I had the privilege to walk the entire stadium at Chase Field, home to the Arizona Diamondbacks and site of the American-National League All Star game with Grant Trenbeath, Head Grounds Manager. He proudly detailed his high level of satisfaction with Nature Safe and promised his continued support and use with a similar Nature Safe fertilizer regimen that also included 5-6-6, 10-2-8 and 27-2-2. Grant proclaimed, “The field looked the best ever in 10 years.” I must admit that he applied ammonium sulfate along with a spray application of iron during the season.

It’s also interesting to note that Nature Safe Natural and Organic Fertilizers are used by several professional sports venues to include, but not limited to, Kansas City Royals (the host site for the 2012 All Star Game), Omaha Storm Chasers, Colorado Rockies, Indianapolis Indians, Boston Red Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, California Angels, Salt River Sports Complex (home to Rockies and Diamondbacks spring training), and Colorado Rapids Soccer. The grounds managers of these facilities recognize the benefits of Nature Safe in building a strong soil foundation leading to turf grass that is more resistant to drought, heat, shade and salt stressors.

All of this brought other success stories to mind as well. The 20-something-year-old All Star baseball players most likely began their young careers on the athletic fields of the public and private schools they attended. Public schools systems like Poway Unified Schools use Nature Safe’s 27-2-2 exclusively on all 42 of their athletic fields. Other educational facilities using Nature Safe include Boulder City Colorado Schools and Oklahoma City Public Schools. Some of these athletes probably played a pick-up game of baseball at city parks in Walnut Creek and San Marcos, CA or Bend, OR where Nature Safe is exclusively utilized. Perhaps these players attended college and played baseball for San Diego State, University of California, Brigham Young University, Azusa Pacific University and Concordia University – all current success stories incorporating Nature Safe in their campus and athletic field turf programs.

Nature Safe Natural and Organic Fertilizers is proud of our all star performance. With parent company Griffin Industries/Darling International we will continue to demonstrate exceptional product quality, performance and industry leadership for another 68 years and beyond!

NS 10-0-8 With Kelp Extract

Nature Safe’s 10-0-8 with Kelp Extract has become a popular product and is receiving great reviews after its introduction at the 2011 Golf Industry Show. This new product is … Continue reading →]]> By Al Lanoie, Northeast Regional Manager

NS 10-0-8 With Kelp Extract

Nature Safe’s 10-0-8 with Kelp Extract has become a popular product and is receiving great reviews after its introduction at the 2011 Golf Industry Show. This new product is 100% organic utilizing Nature Safe’s blend of proteins and Ocean Organics® Kelp Extract. This kelp extract is made using Ocean Organics’ exclusive cold water extraction process to remove the nutrients from their seaweed. The kelp works with the proteins to aid root development, plant nutrient uptake and improve stress tolerance.

Following the Golf Course Show in Orlando, I worked with distributor Metro Turf Products and Labriola Landscaping and Lawn Care in White Plains, New York. Labriola is a long-term Nature Safe user and a firm believer in organic nutrition. They apply Nature Safe on some of the most exclusive properties including the Pepsi Cola World Headquarters.

During our meeting, the conversation centered on 10-0-8 and how the addition of kelp extract would be a superior blend to any other supplemental programs that Labriola was using in conjunction with Nature Safe. The kelp extract enhances the performance of the Nature Safe to provide a dense and fibrous root system that acts as a pre-stress conditioner. A truckload of product was ordered and applied.

Fast forward to July 2011. I met with Labriola to follow up on our spring meeting. They were very impressed with the performance of the 10-0-8. “The turf had never looked so good despite the summer stress. I think the rooting and denser turf contributed to the turf’s performance,” said Brian Rusnack of Labriola. “In addition to deeper rooting, weed competition was eliminated because of the health of the turf,” said Rusnack. “Supplemental applications to complement organic fertilizer applications would not be needed. I have become a firm believer in this product – seeing is believing and the performance of the turf speaks for itself.”

NS 10-2-8 With PBS 150 Long-term Soil Surfactant

This product is a blend of NS 10-2-8 with a long-term soil surfactant manufactured by Aqua-Aid and blended by NS distributor Andre and Son. This blend provides organic nutrition and prevents the formation of localized dry spot. It also enhances the delivery of water to the plant from irrigation and rainfall.

I met with Scott Dodson, Superintendent of the exclusive Park Club in Buffalo, New York. I mentioned this product would be great on bunker faces, tees, clubhouse grounds and approaches where the soil may differ from the soil used on putting surfaces. Scott used the product this spring and summer. “This product is phenomenal. The turf has been under heat and drought stress and has never been better. We even eliminated the need for over watering,” said Dodson. “The membership has complimented me on the grounds surrounding the 18th green and clubhouse because of the aesthetic beauty they were noticing and enjoying.”

These are two great products to get prepared for next year’s golf season.

Nature Safe not only formulates fertilizers for the professional sports turf, landscape and golf industries but we also sell extensively to the organic agriculture market. This organic segment of the overall value of all organic crops … Continue reading →]]> Lou Newman, Regional Manager

Nature Safe not only formulates fertilizers for the professional sports turf, landscape and golf industries but we also sell extensively to the organic agriculture market. This organic segment of the overall value of all organic crops in the agriculture market has grown about 15-20% annually for the last decade. Today, organic agriculture products are estimated to be a $26 B (yes, billion!) market.

The principles of plant growth used by turf customers are exactly the same as those used by farmers and growers in corn, cotton, tobacco, soybeans, vegetables and fruits. Nature Safe has the same benefits when growing a crop for harvest as it does when growing a crop for durability and appearance.

These basics are the Nature Safe story. Feed the soil microorganisms that mineralize and make available plant nutrients and they, in turn, will feed the plants. In organic agriculture it is important to have a well balanced soil with active soil life. Research at many institutions across all crop lines have repeatedly shown that healthier, less stressed crops have far less loss in production from insects and diseases. Pathogens in general are opportunistic and will do the most damage against plants that have less vitality.

These basics are the Nature Safe story. Feed the soil microorganisms that mineralize and make available plant nutrients and they, in turn, will feed the plants. In organic agriculture it is important to have a well balanced soil with active soil life. Research at many institutions across all crop lines have repeatedly shown that healthier, less stressed crops have far less loss in production from insects and diseases. Pathogens in general are opportunistic and will do the most damage against plants that have less vitality.

Farmers are the most difficult to change and are the most skeptical consumers in the world. They have been successful over a long period, and have seen methods and products come and go. So, when I make a presentation to an agriculture group, I know they will want to see results.

This is just what happened to me in North Carolina. After a presentation a farmer approached me and with many of his colleagues standing by stated that if I was so sure that Nature Safe was so good, surely I would give him some to try on his pastures. If it worked, he’d be glad to pay for it later.

Well, if there’s anything tighter than a hill country farmer, it would be my boss, Rick Geise. I didn’t want to turn the guy down, but then again Rick would want some valid justification for something like this. Besides, the farm dealer at whose store I made the presentation was going pale just thinking about giving out free goods and then trying to collect based on feel good results.

So, having been in many a previous rodeo I told the gentleman let me do it this way. You buy what you need and if you are not satisfied, you tell the store owner and I’ll credit him with any refund he has to make to you. The farmer got a twinkle in his eye, I guess because he liked the haggling as much as anything and he agreed. All eyes were going to be on this fella’s pasture, no doubt.

I didn’t hear much of anything, but also was never asked for a credit. Then the other day the store owner sent me photos. Not only was the farmer satisfied, but by the end of the season, he preferred the organic fields. And if you look at the shots you can see why.

Side by side fields were fertilized on the same day at the same rate of N. The photos were taken last fall on rye grass pastures.

Nature Safe may be a simple idea, but the power of unleashing multiple trillions of soil microbes to work on your behalf should never be underestimated. This is what made a believer out of an otherwise doubtful farmer. The farmer can put more cattle on the Nature Safe side than on the same area of the conventional. Thus, he makes more money so his return is better. Besides, did you notice what those conventional fertilizers did to that tree?

Most companies avoid trouble, shy away from challenges and eschew difficult situations. NOT US! You always thought Nature Safe was kind of…well, different. We are and we’re proud of it.

Every course has trouble spots, … Continue reading →]]> By Lou Newman, Regional Manager

Most companies avoid trouble, shy away from challenges and eschew difficult situations. NOT US! You always thought Nature Safe was kind of…well, different. We are and we’re proud of it.

Every course has trouble spots, and we want you to try us as the remedy. Let’s take a look at some problems that are common to many courses that should be looked at as opportunities for Nature Safe.

Greens: Sure, they need special attention and can make or break a course (or a superintendent’s career!). After aeration, greens are tender and fickle and need to be handled carefully. They are vulnerable to distress from moisture, heat, wind and disease. Nature Safe has built its reputation on providing nutrition to tender roots. Our slow release formulations do not dump fertilizer, so damaged roots can heal and grow without having to worry about burn or leaching. A year-round program of Nature Safe on greens and tees builds strong roots that regenerate quickly after aeration without excessive top growth. Our protein base feeds beneficial soil microbes and gives them the upper hand on crowding out pathogens which can mean less disease and spraying of chemicals.

Tees: I don’t know about your golf game, but there are times when, by the time we get to the green, I may not even be in the hole anymore! So, while greens are crucial, tees are actually the most used and seen parts of any course. No matter how bad I play on a hole, and no matter how early I cry “Mea Culpa,” I always get to tee off on the next hole. Plus, tees can get more traffic in more concentrated areas than greens. So treat them as carefully as you do greens. Using Nature Safe year-round will build strong roots so grass withstands the foot traffic. And on par 3’s, divot marks heal over faster.

Practice tees: Talk about traffic and divot marks, practice tees get the worst. Do not overlook this vital area in a Nature Safe program. Even people who don’t play that day may visit the practice tee. Their impression of the course could well come from 30 minutes on the practice area. Three to four Nature Safe applications a year will let the area withstand the wear and tear a lot better.

New sod: Whether patching, re-working or planting new, Nature Safe is the perfect product for use on sod and seeded areas. Tender new roots can thrive without fear of burning. You’ll need to water for the plants to grow, but you will not have to water just to insure the fertilizer does not burn or build up. As Nature Safe breaks down and becomes available it feeds as the plant grows. No harsh salts build up. The fertilizer will lie in place until adequate moisture is available for the plant to grow, then it will release as needed. Large rain events will not leach away nutrition as can happen even with some high tech coated fertilizers. And while high temps will allow more microbe activity and make more of the Nature Safe nutrition available, it will reach a point of diminished activity – just like plants that start to shut down at extremely high temps. Even some of the best complex nitrogen products available can run into faster release under high temperatures meaning the nitrogen you paid for will be wasted and not able to be used by the plant.

Dry spots: Every course has dry spots and they can drive superintendents crazy. Some are due to construction missteps where too much top soil was taken off. Some can be the result of years of erosion. Some are too exposed to south facings of winter winds. Some are on steep inclines and drain so fast that they are hard to keep watered. Try recommending a combination of Nature Safe and a good wetting agent/surfactant. You can bucket mix Nature Safe with any granular wetting agent. Spread it carefully on the dry spots and be sure to provide adequate water at the correct rate. Repeated use in these spots will mean a softening of the ground. The Nature Safe will nurture healthy roots which help in water percolation leading to a better grass canopy. The improved canopy will further add to the softening and root penetration leading to less and less evidence of the dryness problems.

Shady areas: Great trees on a course add character, beauty and challenges. But along with that comes shade, whether on fairways, roughs or greens. Research shows that the concentrated protein characteristics of Nature Safe help build grass even in shady situations. Nature Safe promotes the growth, activity and population increase of soil microorganisms. As unicellular animals, soil microbes generate carbon dioxide as a by-product of respiration, just like more complex animals. This increase in CO2 means grasses can store more energy in their roots more efficiently. This magnifies the impact of sunlight during photosynthesis. This higher content of stored food is what the plant relies on during heavy shade periods. Grasses decline less and at a much slower rate meaning better coverage that can withstand more shade.

High traffic: Ever been on a golf course and seen the cart tracks that criss-cross the fairway, particularly next to a cart limit sign or past a curb that keeps you on the cart path? These high traffic areas can become hard packed and eventually dry spots. The answer is a strong, vibrant root system. As the canopy is degraded by traffic, only strong roots can regenerate top growth. Plus these roots help break up any subsurface pan that develops and allows water percolation. Nature Safe’s slower, yet programmable delivery of easily digestible proteins build the root strength that is required to offset the wear and tear from high traffic.

Bunker faces: Hard to cut, water and feed, bunker faces can be maintenance nightmares. Highly soluble fertilizers create soft, leaf tissue with overly aggressive leaf expansion and elongation. Using Nature Safe means fewer application operations, which are usually by hand, as well as less need to cut back unnecessary growth. Nature Safe will provide deep green color with far less maintenance requirements.

So next time you are presented with any of these issues, just remember, at Nature Safe we’re looking for trouble!