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25 Apr 2022

How to reduce Fertilizer costs | Doggett Corporation

Reducing Costs We all know the cost of doing business is ever increasing.  Fuel costs, labor, equipment is at all-time highs.  Fertilizer components are no exception.  There are some ways you can somewhat help get the most out of your plant nutrient dollar, stay competitive and profitable. Consider the plant species you are feeding. Also consider the immediate environment, soil type, pH, and is it very wet or dry.  Taking a soil test can help determine what nutrients are lacking or in excess. Another way to determine nutrient needs would be to take foliar tissue test during the growing season.  By doing this you can figure out what specific nutrients the plant needs. When considering a fertilizer formulation, don’t look for the cheapest products out there.  Consider what product will give the best results and return on your dollar.  Look...

02 Feb 2022

Plan Ahead for Your Fertility Program | Doggett Corp

Planning Ahead As you are gearing up another season, this is a good time to do some planning for your fertility program.  Whether you’re doing lawn care, tree and shrub care, or both it is a good time to evaluate what your needs are going to be. One of the best ways to determine your fertility program is take soil samples and have them test for N,P,K and minor elements.  You can also find out the pH, and CEC (cation exchange capacity) of the soil.  During the growing season you may opt take tissue samples and have them analyzed for any nutrient deficiencies. By doing this you can prescribe exactly the products that best fit.  This will help both you and your customers save money. With rising costs and lack of availability of raw ingredients, it’s more important than ever...

28 Nov 2021

Fertilization During Late Fall And Dormancy Period | Doggett

FERTILIZATION DURING LATE FALL AND DORMANCY PERIOD There is much discussion about the effectiveness of fertilizer applications during late fall. As a PHC operator, it is a great way to generate revenue into the late season and keep your employees working.   As for the benefit of trees and shrubs, there are three compelling reasons why this is an effective time for a root stimulating type of application.   Although shoot growth, or lack thereof, is the most obvious sign of dormancy, root activity and growth never stop.   When the dormancy occurs growth systems within the plant turn to root production.   During this time, trees and shrubs produce most of their non-woody root extension.    It is important to keep in mind that we do not want to over stimulate the plant, but to maximize the effectiveness of...

14 Sep 2021

Tips to Strengthen Trees Before Winter | Doggett

Fall is here and winter is right around the corner. You want to give your clients’ trees the best chance to overcome the summer stress and prepare for the cold winter months. 3 Tips to Strengthen Trees Before Winter Are: 1) Fertilize Before the Ground Freezes. We know trees and shrubs use nutrients all year-long. Yet, fall is when trees put on 60% of their annual non-woody (feeder) root growth. Applying fertilizer from early-late fall before the ground freezes is a good approach. Fertilizers can be applied before the leaves drop and the soil temperatures drops. Nutrients can be taken in by the root system and stored as energy for the spring when trees come out of dormancy.   Use a high-quality professional slow-release fertilizer with a low salt index like our Fall 12-24-24, 6-12-12 fall liquid, or 11-22-22 organic...

02 Aug 2021

To Fertilize or not to Fertilize – That is the question | Doggett Corp

The decision as to when to deep root feed trees and shrubs requires looking at a variety of situations. Most commonly, the ideal time to feed is in the spring after bud break when plants are in full leaf.  During this time the vascular system is most active and able to uptake nutrients.  By applying a slow release source (ureaform, UF, or SNT stabilized N) plants will have a consistent nitrogen availability over several weeks or months. If feeding in the fall, nitrogen is not needed for uptake but is held by the root system as stored energy.  Application rates therefore are lower in the fall. There are times when fertilization is not recommended.  If there is an infestation of sucking or scale insects, many of them benefit from nitrogen application and the infestation can increase. Control the pest first,...

28 Jun 2021

Doggett’s Arbor Care Program

[caption id="attachment_9027" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Doggett’s Arbor Care Program[/caption] Trees can be so much more than decoration to add beauty to our yards (though they do that!). They also add value to your property.  A healthy tree is one that grows strong roots. It has plenty of energy stored up by photosynthesis through leaves on branches reaching towards sunlight. Trees provide shade, oxygen and food for animals. However, in order to keep your tree healthy you need to take care of it by watering it and fertilizing it regularly. Trees are often times the most prominent feature in a yard and home. Because of this, they deserve to be cared for properly. Many people don't know how to do this, so we put together a comprehensive arbor care program on what you need to do when caring for your trees! Trees...

25 May 2021

What are Phosphites?

What are Phosphites? A simple definition: A Phosphite (H3PO3) is a Phosphate (H3PO4) with one less oxygen (O) molecule.   That missing oxygen molecule makes Phosphites vastly different from Phosphates.   Phosphate is the phosphorous (P) in NPK fertilizers.   Phosphite is more soluble than Phosphate. This makes foliar and root uptake more efficient. It slowly converts to phosphorus following an application to roots or foliage and also offers additional unique benefits:   1. Works as a biodegradable fungicide to help protect plants from Phytophthora and armillaria root rot.   2. Can be applied as a direct application to open wounds or bleeding cankers on trees to help speed healing.   3. As a soil application, it enhances plant resistance to stresses induced by drought, water logging, disease, and insect infestations.   4. Reacts with soil bacteria to produce mycorrhizae...

13 May 2021

Humates

What are Humates? Humates (humic acids) are the result of the decomposition of plant and animal tissue in the soil.  This final decomposition (humate) creates complex molecules which provide a variety of benefits to soil and plants. For more information click this link. Plants grown in humate rich soil produce better growth, better nutrient uptake, and are less subject to stress. Humates increase soil water holding capacity, holding up to seven times their volume in water. Humate molecules attach to plant roots and enhance the uptake and efficiency of nutrients. Humates stimulate root growth and development, thus speeding up establishment of newly planted trees, shrubs, and turf. Although humate is not a fertilizer, it complements a good fertilizer program. In soils, especially those lacking in organic matter, it is often advantageous to supplement the humate profile. ‘Doggett’s Natural Resource’ product...

28 Apr 2021

Stablized Nitrogen (SNT)

Stabilized nitrogen is a management tool that slows the rapid release of nitrogen. Nitrogen is the primary element in any turf grass and landscape management program. Nitrogen is expensive and also requires frequent re-application due to leaching and volatilization. . This extends the time of nutrient availability to the plant. This then reduces the number of applications, saving both valuable time and money. Stabilized nitrogen (SNT) works in 2 ways: 1. Urease, an enzyme, slows the conversion of urea to ammonium. By slowing this conversion, it retains more nitrogen as plant available ammonium. The less N converted to ammonia gas, the less lost to volatilization. 2. Nitrification inhibitors work by slowing the microbial conversion of ammonium to nitrate. This helps prevents leaching of N along with the reduced volatilization. Stabilized nitrogen is a management tool that slows the rapid release...

22 Apr 2021

Micronutrients

Micronutrients  are plant nutrients essential for optimum plant growth, but required in small amounts. Most complete fertilizers contain 6 micronutrients, and the percentage of each is critical to prevent toxicities and/or deficiencies. These include: 1: Boron (B) – Aids in the differentiation of plant cells, and also regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates. 2: Copper {Cu) – Activates several essential enzyme systems in plants. 3:  Iron (Fe) – Required for the formation of chlorophyll, and also controls the synthesis of indoleacetic acid, a plant growth regulator. 4:  Manganese (Mn) – Assists iron in chlorophyll formation.  High levels of Mn may induce Fe deficiency.  This symptom is sometimes called Mn toxicity. 5:  Zinc (Zn) – An essential component of several enzyme systems.  Like Fe, it also controls the synthesis of indoleacetic acid. 6:  Molybdenum (Mo) – Required by plants for utilization of...