Holganix Cancel The title field is required!

1. Jeffrey Sexton

   

   0 posts
   
   12/1/2013 11:12 AM

   How many of you are using the Holganix product? What are your experiences with the product? Will it make my greens grow during warm, humid days during the summer? Are you finding yourselves spraying less foliar fertilizers and spraying less fungicides like they say? Any info would be great. Thanks.
   
   Jeff Sexton
   Evansville CC

   
   
   
   
2. Kenneth Ingram

   

   18 posts
   
   12/3/2013 12:12 PM

   Jeff I can't name a course in MD using the product. They have a dynamic salesperson in the area and we get a lot of questions at the university about Holganix. With 26 ingredients it would be a research nightmare. How do they handle the refrigeration equipment? Do you lease the equipment? I do know they have hooked several up scale private schools, ballfields, etc. with the organic approach. Kenneth Ingram, UMD

   
   
   
   
3. Matt Dutkiewicz

   

   0 posts
   
   12/3/2013 2:12 PM

   I used Holganix in mid-Sept after aerifying. The pic I have attached shows the results I had with it. Top pic is the morning after aerification, and right before I sprayed. The bottom pic is 3 days after aerification. The holes have closed up, and there is a significant coloration difference. I was pleased with the product, and talked with a couple Supt's in the area who used it all year, they said they weren't noticing a significant difference aesthetically, but when they pulled some plugs the roots extended much further than where they usually were. None of us experienced any negative aspects, so I am giving it a shot for the upcoming season. I purchased enough for 5 apps on my greens, and I got the fridge with that order. I did not have to purchase the fridge, or lease it. My understanding is that it will remain with me as long as I have or order Holganix, if I choose to not order again, they will take the fridge back. That is a perfectly fine situation for me. I'm sure results will vary, some better, some not as good, but for me it's worth a try. Plus it has a molasses smell, that to me, reminds me of BBQ sauce. Can't beat that!

   
   
   
   
4. Larry Stowell

   

   0 posts
   
   12/3/2013 5:12 PM

   Without a non-treated check for comparison, it is difficult to determine what the product does. And, in the case of products with many components, what is a suitable non-treated check. At least the non-treated check plot area should receive the equivalent amount of nitrogen and iron that is applied in any product evaluation.
   
   Here are some ideas if anyone wants to conduct their own on-site research.
   
   http://www.paceturf.org/index.php/journ ... practices/
   
   Spectrum Technologies has a new smartphone app that provides an objective measurement for turf quality. Don't depend upon your lyin' eyes, use some type of objective measurement tool.
   
   http://www.specmeters.com/store/greenindexturf/?F_Sort=2

   
   
   
   
5. Matt Dutkiewicz

   

   0 posts
   
   12/3/2013 8:12 PM

   Ok, since all the emails have started rolling in....let me say I am NOT advocating Holganix or suggesting that anyone should use it. All I said is it didn't hurt my turf, it brought some color out, and helped with aerification recovery on my greens. That's it. I didn't do scientific studies on it, or extensive research. I just sprayed it and liked what I saw. That's it. Just my perspective. It's a fairly inexpensive product, so I am going to try it out for a season. Also for clarification to some of the emailers who were quite angry; I have 90 year old, clay based, push-up greens.

   
   
   
   
6. Melvin Waldron

   

   43 posts
   
   12/3/2013 8:12 PM

   Thanks Larry for the links, looks very useful.
   
   On the turf app if I buy it can I down load on both my iPhone and iPad? If I read it correctly I also need to buy the Turf Board as well?
   
   Thanks!
   
   Mel

   
   Melvin H. Waldron III, CGCS, Horton Smith Golf Course, City of Springfield/Greene County MO
   
   
7. Larry Stowell

   

   0 posts
   
   12/4/2013 12:12 AM

   I think you are correct on pricing. Contact Spectrum before purchasing the product.
   
   I'm in the process of evaluating the app and board. It is easy to use and looks promising. If it correlates well to other methods of evaluation (chlorophyll meter and standard digital image analysis), the app and board make a nice additon to the tool kit. It is worth a look. I will post my results in a link on Twitter @paceturf when I am finished testing.

   
   
   
   
8. Andy Jorgensen

   

   1 posts
   
   12/4/2013 5:12 AM

   We have done a few applications with it over the past few months. In my opinion it was adding some "extra" beneficial items that we were missing from our regular foliar program and that's why we tried it. After two applications we saw some good root growth and color. We then aerified and applied a third application and the roots took off. We sampled root growth before, during and after, since that was our main goal. We initially had roots around 1" on TifDwarf greens in July, and then down to about 5" after the third application following aerification in September. If the response was from additional Urea, then so be it. I'll take the root growth any day.
   
   As far as disease control goes, that is hard to say. We haven't backed off on our fungicide applications at all during this time frame. But, instead of applying the traditional products, we have applied two applications of Civitas the past five weeks. Nothing else. When we had one course on a traditional foliar and fungicide program get attacked by leaf spot, the Holganix and Civitas course was untouched. Not sure which was the contributing factor in the prevention of the leaf spot, or if it was an outside influence.
   
   I can tell you though that I have heard both good and bad about the product. Some competing vendors think it is a great idea and method of creating healthy soils. They however feel their product is superior and are trying to get me to switch. Others, think it is snake oil and continue to bash it. It amazes me how quickly someone will bash a product that they have no personal experience with. I like to keep an open mind and not open my mouth about something I know nothing about. And even then, three applications does not make me an expert. I can only relay my own personal experiences and opinion and let the audience determine what is right for their course. I'm know for a fact the same conversations took place when some now standard foliar products originally hit the market.

   
   
   
   
9. Steven Huffstutler

   

   11 posts
   
   12/4/2013 6:12 AM

   The reason people bash products is because they always make the same claims......"You can cut back / eliminate fungicides..........you'll never have to aerify again..........it eats thatch........your green speeds will increase...........on and on and on.
   
   
   Steve

   
   
   
   
10. Matt Dutkiewicz

    

    0 posts
    
    12/4/2013 6:12 AM

    Steve,
    Can't speak for your experiences Steve, but those type of claims were never made to me by my local vendor. Maybe vendors have a lot more to do with how these products are perceived than they should.

    
    
    
    
11. Hardy Andrew

    
    12/4/2013 8:12 AM

    Being someone who has been bashed for doing things "differently" over the years. All I can add is that nothing is ever a replacement to sound agronomic and cultural practices. Some products may just be as Andy stated something that was missing from an existing program. Being a guy who lives and dies (a lot by the way) with his Poa, more roots sounds good to me.

    
    
    
    
12. Dru Clark

    

    0 posts
    
    12/4/2013 3:12 PM

    I have at this point made one app. The soil temps were around 65 degrees when I pulled the trigger on the app. Before the app our clipping yield was minimal at best and had been minimal for around two weeks. Over the next two weeks our soil temps droped to 60 degrees. With that said, during this decrease in soil temps our greens began to grow and maintain color with no other inputs. I can't really explain how this occured since it sounds backwards being that I'm on UDB. I won't make another app until next spring for obvious reasons. All I can say is the proof is in the pudding regardless of what people say. I base my opinions on physical results. Not what Joe Shmoe says... I will try almost anything once. Just my 2cents.

    
    
    
    
13. Larry Stowell

    

    0 posts
    
    12/5/2013 12:12 AM

    From my perspective, a simple knockout trial will provide answers to some of the questions that have been raised in this discussion so why not just incorporate this tool when evaluating new products or practices. Knockout trials can be as simple as placing a board over some of the area to be treated. It is so simple I can't understand why it is not a standard practice when new products or practices are evaluated. Check out this video for a couple of ways to conduct a knockout trial:
    
    http://youtu.be/F7R7-sVRWOk
    
    Here is another knockout example, this time evaluating phosphorus application.
    
    http://www.paceturf.org/photo/showphoto.php?photo=559
    
    The report that accompanies the above photo can be found below - this takes the simple knockout trial one step further, but the photo alone is pretty convincing that a change in weather or other factor was not involved (nice square of P deficient bentgrass remains where the knockout board was placed) and the MAP applications resulted in improved turf performance. Photographic data will also make it easier to justify purchases of products in the future and provide more confidence when changing products or practices.
    
    http://www.paceturf.org/journal/role_of_phosphorous_in_suppression_of_poa_annua_on_bentgrass_greens

    
    
    
    
14. Tom Kaplun

    

    0 posts
    
    12/5/2013 5:12 AM

    My concern with the product having read up on it and contemplating it is, does increasing root biomass in itself sometimes become too much of a good thing? Don't get me wrong, I know all of us try to drive our roots and they are the foundation for success up top but does increasing root biomass so much eventually lead to more problems with increased organic matter buildup. And how can we even quantify what it is in the jug that's benefiting the plant when less than 1% of the soils microbial population has been classified and understood? I'm not doubting the merits of the product, sounds like it could be promising but what I struggle with now that all these "plant health" products are bombarding the market is are all these new chemistries and untested products going to eventually lead to a whole new wave of problems as a result of overstimulating and manipulating the plant? One thing I am learning is that without sound university testing to back these newer products I will always be skeptical.
    
    
    Tom Kaplun
    GCS
    North Hempstead Country Club

    
    
    
    
15. Corp Chad B

    
    12/9/2013 2:12 PM

    University's will never study it very much in-depth as they are backed by chemical companies, if word got out that you could make a product for 3-10 dollars an acre the University's would go broke!! . Because with the correct tool you can make this same product! I applied two apps of Holganix starting in early September and the last one in mid October (a little late). I did two fairways, two roughs and one green. I also did a control on each area. My results were the longer the grass the better the product worked. I had better root growth on all areas that I applied Holganix, sooooooo next year I plan on going wall to wall with it. It looks like I will save about 10k on fertilizer so looks good here. Also everything will bring up health issues sometime or another, I feel that as long as you keep proper management practices that no matter what you use will work and work well. If you decide to quit aerifying, topdress and so on because the product says you can then I agree that you will have issues down the road.

    
    
    
    
16. Larry Allan

    

    0 posts
    
    12/10/2013 7:12 AM

    As long as they give me a fridge, I will buy just about anything

    
    
    
    
17. Clayton DuBose

    

    0 posts
    
    12/24/2013 8:12 AM

    I purchased the Holganix product this past fall, they supplied me a "nice" refrigerator and set everything up. I've made two apps on overseeded tifdwarf, haven't changed much of my other program and we have one of our best greens overseeding in years. Used same rate of seed and very pleased with the results. I will be curious to see the results after starting the program back up this spring and running it through the summer. It seemed very economical to me and I have a very respectable salesman in the South Carolina area that I am close friends with and trust. Time will tell, but so far so good. It's definitely not a one and done application type of product, but I have been able to see results on overseeded turf so far.