echnology is an important part of the horticultural industry. There are continual improvements in such things as turf, soil amendments, irrigation systems, and chemical applications. Some of these technologies can greatly reduce water usage while improving turf durability and drought tolerance. The following are some of the new technologies that we are starting to utilize.

HORTICULTURAL POLYMERS: HP’s are a synthetic potassium based product that comes in a granular form. Essentially, they soak up water and allow it to be released to plants and turf over a period of time. HP’s are integrated into the soil before sod is laid or into the planting pit before a plant is planted. They then soak up excess water, which reduces runoff and makes the water available for a longer period of time.

WATERSORB: Watersorb is a liquid product that is applied to turf through a sprayer. Essentially, it increases the porosity of the soil. This allows more air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the root zone of the turf. After the Watersorb is applied it only takes a few days to see a noticeable improvement in the health of the turf.

NETAFIM: Netafim is a type of subsurface irrigation. It’s not necessarily a new technology but it is just now gaining popularity. It is basically a grid of drip emitters that is buried 4”-6” below the soil. The advantage of Netafim is that it is much more efficient than a typical over head sprinkler system. There is very little water lost through evaporation and run off.

ET IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS: An ET irrigation controller is a self programming controller that uses real time atmospheric conditions to assess how much water is needed to keep turf healthy. This product is not readily available yet but once it is it will probably become the industry standard. The advantage with this controller is it takes the guesswork out of watering your lawn.