ARCHIVE FOR: October, 2008
We started using Agriox this past July (2008) and have made monthly applications since then. We were just hoping that it would help us survive the heat and stress of our busy season, and we really weren’t expecting the type of benefits we’ve seen. We put it out the first time right before our big Invitational event, which is usually when we start to go south some from the increased traffic, and we quickly saw amazing results. The entire playing surface improved in color and appearance, and the walk-on areas we were close to losing before starting treatments ended up making it all the way through the summer. The greens responded much better from our big Fall aeration, and it was very noticeable where we had sprayed twice, to the point where you could have put chalk marks around them. We definitely believe in the product, and honestly the price could go up by 50% and it would still be worth it.
Brad Lacey, 1st Asst. Superintendent
Willow Point Golf Club
Alexander City, AL
October 28th, 2008
My responsibilities at the course cover all of the non-playing natural areas, planters and flower beds. Across such a wide area there are a lot of different growing conditions, many outside of our ability to control, and of course the range of plant life is quite broad. I have applied Carbotein 
on everything from ornamental turfgrass to flowers, on bushes and shrubs, and even to trees, and in each case I have seen a noticeable positive impact. Plugs that were having difficulty getting established and were looking like weeds took off, even in shaded areas or in bad soils. Annuals that typically would have begun fading are still looking great, and freshly transplanted areas are not showing the signs of stress you would ordinarily expect. The foliage has become so dense in certain places, we’ve had to remove entire sections to clear existing pathways, which allows us to develop new cultivated areas elsewhere. The results we’ve seen have been absolutely amazing!
There’s always more work to be done than hours in the day, so finding products that save time is really welcome. By switching from a granular application to a foliar product, we have reduced water use and are able to cover more ground more quickly. 
We need less space for storage, and what used to be backbreaking work is now simple and easy. As a horticulturist I place a high value on responsible management practices, and the fact that using Carbotein reduces the amount of nutrients lost to run off and leeching is very important to me. That it is less expensive is, of course, a huge plus as well. I am really thankful to have discovered this product.
Debbie Fitzgerald, Horticulturist
Raleigh Country Club
Raleigh, NC
October 16th, 2008
When the heat of mid-July started to stress our greens this year, a few of the high-traffic walk on areas 
started to show signs of black layer developing. I’m the type of guy that likes to stay on top of new techniques and experiment around the golf course, so when a sales representative that I trust recommended we apply Agriox to increase the oxygen in our soil and offset the anaerobic conditions, I went ahead and put it out. At first you couldn’t tell if it was having an effect, but after two weeks even the worst areas began to make a recovery. Before long it was clear it was working because the grass was looking healthier all over. Anything that can help put oxygen into your soil is a benefit, and so we plan on sticking with the maintenance program and will be looking at some of the other Geoponics products as well.
Todd Lime, CGCS
Alpharetta Athletic Club East
Alpharetta, GA
October 13th, 2008
The budgeting constraints daily fee courses work under do not allow any room to try unfamiliar product lines, especially when they are a premium quality label. Surprisingly, the Geoponics guys that came by the course did not give up on earning my business when I repeatedly explained this to them. As a result, we were eventually able to work out a trial on the fairy ring issues I had on some of my MiniVerde greens.
I no longer face this problem, and I attribute that to the Agriox and Penterra treatments I have been making ever since. I found it especially helpful to time aerification around my applications since it really reduces the time it takes to heal over. We are now addressing the sodium issues that come along with using brackish irrigation water with the SALX product.
Originally I had been skeptical about the affordability of the Geoponics products to the point where I hadn’t really considered their cost effectiveness. Once I saw how much of an improvement the treated areas made, I took a closer look at the cost per acre. Five months later I have adopted the complete Grizzly Pro-Turf Program™ and am very happy with it, especially how affordable it turned out to be.
I had been using a granular based program, but now I have the convenience of easy application, the time and labor savings of not needing to water in, as well as the benefit of a more uniform and even feed over time. I put a high value on the technical backgrounds of the sales representatives I have been dealing with; they’re good people that I enjoy working with.
Scott Ryan
Eagle Lakes Golf Club
Naples, FL
October 6th, 2008
For the price I’ve never used a better tracker than Blue Cobra. I don’t really measure, but I’d say it’s 
probably a third less expensive per tank than other brands. Not only do you use less, but it cleans up easily off both your hands and equipment. Unless I was in a real pinch, I wouldn’t use anything else.
Andy McGuire, CGCS
Marsh Creek Country Club
St. Augustine, FL
What I like most about Blue Cobra indicator dye is its reduced use rates compared to others on the market. It’s very concentrated, but I’ve never had any problem with it washing out of my clothes or staining my hands. Combine that with the bargain price per gallon and there isn’t a better value marker out there.
Mike Wilson, GCS
The Champions Club at Julington Creek
Jacksonville, FL
October 6th, 2008
The philosophy we use to guide our efforts here is based upon doing everything we can to enhance the natural processes of plant growth. Some of the long standing, traditional methods used throughout the agricultural world get results by overwhelming that system rather than by working within it. In some ways, we are putting a square peg into a round hole; if you use enough force it will fit, but it isn’t the most efficient way to go about it.
It has been documented that a significantly high percentage of active ingredients within granular fertilizer will never be accessible to the plant, which means we have long been paying for product we know is not being utilized. There are now available more cost effective organic options to the synthetics our industry has come to rely on but in many ways can no longer afford. As a turfgrass manager, my responsibility is to maximize results while keeping expenditures as low as possible, so we are transitioning that way.
As an individual concerned with the environment, I believe it is important to consider what happens to the chemicals we spray after they have been applied. That is what has impressed me as different about Geoponics as a company. Unlike most salesmen that come in and focus on results, their representatives spent time discussing how their products are designed with the environment in mind. I’m not the type to jump right in when it comes to the “next big thing,” but my interest was piqued, so I did some research. Once all my questions had been answered, I was comfortable to try some of their Earth Chemistries,™ specifically the Agriox and Penterra soil treatments.
But my main focus currently is on the role that carbon plays in plant health, which is why we are so intrigued by Carbotein and its various uses. The labor related benefits of working with a foliar are well known, but the potential savings of moving away from granular have not been very widely evaluated. We have seen some very promising results so far, enough so that we’re planning on purchasing in bulk next season, which will lower our cost per acre even more. It isn’t my personality to discuss our approach publicly, but I am more than willing to speak with anyone that has an interest in developing a more naturalistic fertility program.
Brian Sarvis
River Hills Golf & County Club
Little River, SC
October 2nd, 2008