By Eric Maurer,  National Sales Manager of ICT Organics It is likely your standard yearly program calls for pre-emergent herbicides in the spring, fertility throughout the year, and over-seeding along with core aeration in the fall, or something similar.  New products, Pre-Emerg liquid and Pro Turf with Weed Control (granular) from ICT Organics, now enable you to apply a pre-emergent product in the fall.  This fall application will reduce overwintering weeds (e.g., Common Chickweed, Corn Speedwell, and Henbit etc...). Both Pre-Emerg and Pro Turf with Weed Control affect the seed hairs on crabgrass and broadleaf weeds, thus reducing their viability.  Turfgrass seeds do not have hairs so they are not affected.  This is a complete shift from traditional barrier type products that restrict anything from germinating. Untreated area on left, Pro-Turf with Weed Control applied on right Pro Turf with Weed Control (granular) – Why not add a proven p...

Welcome, HALO! by Jenna Messier After much anticipation, ICT Organics released its new 25(b) weed killer,  HALO , this Spring!  Our customers have been trialing the product over the past few months, and we have heard  some great reports  about the efficacy of this product.   Here are some tips for using HALO: HALO offers two rates of application, per the label, which you will choose depending upon the weed pressure in your lawn. Low Rate: 7 oz. HALO in 1.5 to 2 gallons of water per 1000 sq. ft. High Rate: 10 oz. HALO in 1.5 to 2 gallons of water per 1000 sq. ft. Spot spray: 10 oz. in 1 gallon of water. Additional Tips from the Manufacturer: To maximize results of HALO, apply with  PRE-EMERG  liquid, a product also produced by ICT, pre-emergent weed killer to kill both visible weeds (with HALO) and weed seeds (with PRE-EMERG). HALO and  PRE-EMERG  are ...

Joe Magazzi, President of Gr.E.A.T Red Thread & Pink Patch – Plan your attack on these fungal diseases! by Joe Magazzi We have been receiving many questions about Red Thread and Pink Patch, which are fungal diseases that can occur in turf grass.  These diseases are usually easy to identify by patches of pink or red discoloration on turf grass. These diseases tend to appear and be most active when temperatures are around 70°F, but they can start to grow with lower temperatures.  These diseases also appear during periods of wet weather, such as we have experienced in the Northeast this Spring.  Due to a convergence of these warm and wet weather conditions, Red Thread and Pink Patch are thriving and very prevalent in turf grass.  Red Thread at Joe's house Red Thread and Pink Patch are generally aesthetic diseases that can be controlled both by adjusting your fertility and cultural practices. However, in severe cases, these diseases (especially R...