The Holganix Blog

When I sat down with Mike Braddell, Farm Operations Manager at Lakeside Sod Supply Co in Buffalo, New York, he proceeded to tell me about how Holganix Bio 800⁺ Lawn has helped him produce a better sod crop and reach harvest more quickly, all while improving his soil health. Mike has been using the product for the past three years on his Bentgrass and Bluegrass. His company also distributes the product to local lawn and landscape companies in the Buffalo region.

Below is a summary of his results while using Holganix Bio 800⁺ Lawn. For a full description of his results, watch the 27-minute video at the bottom featuring a conversation between Mike, Holganix Sales Manager, Rob McCoy and Holganix Director of Plant and Soil Science, Dr. Robert Neidermyer.

Reducing harvest time by an average of 44%

Lakeside Sod Supply Co reports a 43% reduction in the time to harvest on bentgrass and a 45% reduction in the time to harvest on Bluegrass. On the bentgrass, they applied Holganix Bio 800⁺ Lawn at 10 ounces per 1,000 square feet 3 times throughout the growing season, starting with seeding. On Bluegrass, four applications were made, also starting with seeding.

“Like most sod farms, there comes a time when you need to push your sod to get to harvest faster,” explains Mike. He originally started looking at Holganix products to (1) increase the harvest time and (2) build their soil health to invest in the long-term health of the farm.

Recently, Mike had the opportunity to push his harvest goals to the maximum due to surprise orders placed by two golf courses. “We planted the bentgrass that they needed labor day weekend and by the following April we were harvesting. It was because of the Holganix Bio 800⁺ Lawn that we were able to harvest faster.”

Using Holganix Bio 800⁺ Lawn at Seeding

“We apply Holganix Bio 800⁺ Lawn at 10 ounces per 1,000 square feet at seeding,” explains Mike. “We do get better germination and more consistent germination. It’s not that the speed of germination jumps out of the ground, but it is more uninformed and helps the turf start out right.”   

Reducing Fungicides and Herbicides

“I pull back on our herbicides especially on my bentgrass and I still get really good results,” reports Mike. “I also have some reduction in our fungicides on both turf types and we are seeing really good results with rust and dollar spot.”

Dig in Deeper; Watch The Video

To learn more about Mike’s Holganix experience, including information on his fertilizer program, watch the 27-minute video interview below. It also includes scientific explanations of each result by Holganix Director of Plant and Soil Science, Dr. Robert Neidermyer. If you are reading this blog via email, click here to access the video.

This is a special blog written by Holganix Founder & CEO, Barrett Ersek

In 2013 Jonathan Rigsbee reached out to tell me about test results with Holganix Tree & Shrub (A Bio 800⁺ product). Jonathan - Owner and CEO of GrowinGreen Lawn Care and Tommy Cowett -  horticulturist, were testing over 30 products to see which products would help them strengthen evergreens hit by imprelis damage earlier that year.

Imprelis was a DuPont manufactured herbicide that had the adverse effect of doing serious damage to evergreens across the USA. Jonathan’s company, like many at the time, were hit hard by damages.

According to Jonathan, those Holganix tests had “brought trees back from the brink for us.”  

Jonathan has been a customer ever since, using Holganix products in both his tree and shrub program and lawn program; he’s also become a friend of mine.

I’ve had the opportunity to watch him grow his business over the years. Jonathan is passionate about running lean, efficient businesses. He believes in empowering his technicians to own the route, make agronomic decisions and get to know customers. He invests in his employees to the point where most technicians have been with the company for over five years.

There’s a lot our industry can learn from Jonathan.

I had the opportunity to interview him in a webinar last week about his results with Holganix products and also his philosophy on running his business.

Below are my three key take-aways from the interview. For the full version of the webinar click here.

GrowinGreen Reduces Nitrogen and Increase Root Mass 

I once heard Jonathan say, “You can spot a GrowinGreen Lawn because it has Holganix on it.” Jonathan reports that he has better, more consistent color on his turf compared to competing companies, and he has reduced his fertilizer inputs by 50-to-70% depending on the lawn.

Check out the 12-minute video above for a story about how GrowinGreen went up against a National Competitor on color and won. If you're reading this blog via email, click here to access the video.

GrowinGreen Reports Healthier Trees and Shrubs 

Aside from the Imprelis story, GrowinGreen has utilized Holganix Tree & Shrub to improve overall plant health and to ensure they don’t get “Flare Ups” from insect or disease damage.

Check out the 11.5-minute video above for Jonathan’s experience with trees and shrubs. If you're reading this blog via email, click here to access the video.

Jonathan On Building A Lean, Efficient Lawn Care Business

“We are all facing the same challenges with a tight labor market and that’s not going to change anytime soon,” explains Jonathan. “A few years ago, we changed our mindset to how can we get more out of what we have?”  

For Jonathan that meant investing in the people (specifically his technicians) to empower them to make decisions about their route. As a result, most technicians have been with GrowinGreen for over 5 years. It also meant organizing better routing, investing in better trucks and equipment and working on educating his technicians.

In addition to lowering tech-turnover, Jonathan says he’s reduced his customer cancel rate from 19%-to-15%, while increasing his revenue per truck by 60%.

Watch the 7.5-minute video above for additional advice on running a lean, efficient lawn care business. If you're reading this blog via email, click here to access the video.

Want to learn more?

If you want to learn more about GrowinGreen Lawn Care, how they have grown their business and the results they have seen with Holganix products, click the button below to watch the full 51-minute webinar recording.

How can you start implementing Holganix products into your lawn care or tree and shrub program?

If you’re interested in implementing Holganix products into your lawn care program, I recommend downloading your region’s Holganix Soil Smart Program. Holganix Soil Smart Programs are turn-key and consist of all the products needed for a fertilization program including fertilizer, herbicides and of course, your Holganix plant probiotics. However, unlike a traditional fertilizer program, the Holganix Soil Smart Program requires fewer fertilizers and pesticides to create a green, weed-free lawn.

If you have any questions about designing your fertilizer program, or if you want to build a tree and shrub program with Holganix products, feel free to speak with one of our local experts at Holganix. You can schedule a meeting with a Holganix expert by clicking the button below.

Shannon Easter, Director of Sustainability and Golf Maintenance at Broken Sound Golf Club has been using Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf for 5 years now. According to Shannon, Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf has served as a tool to meet his sustainability, soil health and agronomic goals at the two courses he manages at Broken Sound.

In this blog we’ll explore the results Shannon has seen with Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf over the years with a reflection by Holganix Director of Soil & Plant Science, Dr. Robert Neidermyer on the science behind those results.

Both a written section and video clips are provided from the interview for your use. If you are reading this blog via email, click here to access a copy of the article that contains videos.

What is Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf? Holganix Golf is a member of the Bio 800⁺ family of products. It harnesses the power of over 800 species of soil microbes to build soil health, stimulate root growth and grow stronger plants that require fewer fertilizers and pesticides to be healthy.

Meeting Sustainability Goals at Broken Sound with Reductions in Fertilizer, Fungicide and Irrigation

Broken Sound Golf Club isn’t new to the world of sustainability. In fact, the exclusive, award winning country club was “the second golf facility in the US and the 14th in the world to be GEO certified - the sustainability assurance of the international non-profit Golf Environment Organization.” Broken Sound has also received Audubon Sanctuary Certification for both of their golf courses and established the first industrial composting project in Florida. In addition, Broken Sound has been recognized for recycling 96% of its solid waste. “In the state of Florida, we are the second largest recycler - just behind Waste Management,” says Shannon Easter.

In 2016, Shannon accepted the coveted Environmental Leaders in Golf Award (ELGA), presented annually by GCSAA and Golf Digest in partnership with Syngenta and Rain Bird’s Golf Division.

Holganix: Shannon, can you comment about how you use Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf to reduce your fungicide, fertilizer and irrigation needs on both courses?

Shannon: Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf allows us to maximize the fertility in the soil and make it available. Overall, we have reduced our fungicide inputs by 30% and our use of nitrogen by 20%. Our irrigation has also been reduced by 12%; that’s because Holganix Golf has allowed us to grow a deeper, more web-like root system.

We create tailored programs for each course because of their different soil types. For example, the old course is predominantly sandy soils and the new course has richer soils. In the old course we apply 4 applications via fertigation and on the new course we apply just 3 applications.

We haven’t just backed off rates on our turf, but also on our annuals. We mix the Holganix Golf with our compost and use it when planting annuals. Over the past 3 years we haven’t needed a single fungicide application on our annuals and I attribute that to Holganix Golf.  

Holganix: Dr. Bob, can you tell us about the science behind Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf and why Shannon has been able to reduce his inputs?

Dr. Bob: The microbes contained in Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf are going to conduct three core activities in order to help maximize Shannon’s use of fertilizer, fungicides and irrigation.

1. Microbes in Holganix Golf promote root development which will allows roots to better access nutrients and water in the soil. A class of microbes known as Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) form a synergistic relationship with the plant to build plant roots. PGPB stimulate direct root growth of the primary roots - those roots that grow down into the soil, others stimulate root growth of the secondary roots - those roots that grow laterally or horizontally in the soil.

2. Microbes in Holganix Golf unlock primary and secondary nutrients already in the soil.

3. Microbes in Holganix Golf trigger the plant’s natural defense system called Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) and Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) that combats pathogens or allows the plant to better handle situations like a drought or dealing with an abundance of water. What happens between the plant and the microbes is a kind of chemical dialogue. Microbes also help through competitive displacement by occupying space around and on the plant that might have allowed pathogens close to the plant.

50% Increase in Root Mass Leads To Healthier Turf That Requires Less Irrigation

Holganix: Shannon, you alluded to the fact that you were able to reduce your irrigation because of the root mass. Can you talk to us about what you have seen with Holganix Golf and roots? I know you were our 2015 Holganix Roots For You winner for having the most impressive root mass in the golf industry.

Shannon: Take a look at the two pictures below.

The one on the left is with celebration turf on the new course. The turf is just 4 weeks old in that picture and it is growing in sandy soils. Those roots wound up being 22 inches long! It is pretty impressive.

The picture on the right is from turf just 11 days old. That area received a second application of Holganix Golf, so it really shows the potential if you can double up your application rate.

Holganix: Dr. Bob, can you tell us what about Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf that allows Shannon and other turf professionals to get such a deep root mass?

Dr. Bob: It comes back to the PGPB and the plant growth hormones they release to grow primary and secondary roots.

Enhancing Soil Health Means Big PayOffs in Turf Performance

Holganix: You had sent us a bunch of data regarding a bump in soil health with Holganix Golf. In specific, you pointed out an increase in your cation exchange capacity (CEC) and a decrease in your soil organic matter. Can you tell us a little about those results?

Shannon: CEC is the soil’s ability to hold onto nutrients in the soil and make them available to the plant. So, the higher I can get my CEC the easier it is for my turf to access nutrients. The data below demonstrates these results, showing a 13% average increase in CEC on fairways and a 27% average increase on greens.

Our Soil Organic Matter (SOM) also decreased with the use of Holganix Golf on our greens. That means the thatch is being minimized and allows us to go longer in between renovations. Overall we saw a 29.55% average decrease in our SOM on the new courses’ greens and tees.

Bland Cooper who was our PGA Tour agronomist took a pressure test of our greens. It was the first time he got 10 pounds on greens that are over 12 years old. That just shows you how incredible it was to reduce our thatch and increase CECs.  

Holganix: Dr. Bob can you tell us a little bit about why Holganix Golf would be able to provide such a considerable boost in soil health?

Dr Bob: Microbes in Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf contribute to soil health because it’s microbes nature to break down organic matter. A healthy soil is dependent upon the soil’s ability to break down organic matter into humus. If organic matter doesn’t break down, disease occurs in the soil. Ultimately, this process leads to improved soil structure which leads to an increase in CEC, moisture movement and soil atmosphere movement.

Shortening the Grow In Period During Renovations

Holganix: Shannon, you used Holganix during renovations in 2014 and 2018. Can you tell us about the results you saw?

Shannon: We really saw an increase in the speed that the turf was growing in at. Specifically, in the 2014 renovations we were able to open one course six weeks early and the other eight weeks early. One of the reasons why the courses opened early was because Holganix Golf allowed us to increase our grow in speed.

Holganix: Dr. Bob, can you tell us how Holganix Bio 800⁺ Golf can help other courses during a renovation?

Dr. Bob: For renovations it comes down to roots. When establishing a new turf - whether it be a lawn or a golf green - success is critically reliant on developing a strong root system. Microbes in Holganix Golf that contribute to root growth include but are not limited to PGPB, Mycorrhizae and Trichoderma.

Additional Conversations with Shannon @ Broken Sound Club

If you want to learn more about Shannon’s results with Holganix Golf, check out the below video and article topics.

1. Nematodes - Shannon discusses results he has seen with an unnamed Holganix Technology and nematode reductions.

2. Soil Health - Shannon digs deeper into results on CEC and Soil Organic Matter (SOM).

3. Plant Installations - Shannon discusses how he uses Holganix Golf when planting annuals and on trees and shrubs to ensure survival at planting and to build overall plant strength.

4. Golf Trends - Shannon goes into two key trends he is seeing in the golf industry that he feels superintendents should be aware of.

Download Our Ingredient List

Want to learn more about the Holganix Golf product, download our ingredient list using the link below and be sure to give us a call at 866-56-EARTH to get in touch with one of our representatives!

“I would recommend the Holganix product line to others because it builds a healthier, stronger plant and... during installs the plants don't just survive, they thrive.” - Chris Uhland, PCH, Harmony Hill Nursery LLC

Chris Uhland, PCH is the COO and Co-Founder of Harmony Hill Nursery LLC, located in Downingtown, PA. Harmony Hill focuses on growing strong trees and shrubs for landscape contractors in the surrounding area.

In this blog, we’ll explore the results Chris has seen with Holganix Bio 800⁺ Tree & Shrub over the years with a reflection by Holganix Director of Soil & Plant Science, Dr. Robert Neidermyer on the science behind those results.

What is Holganix Bio 800⁺ Tree & Shrub? Holganix Tree & Shrub is a member of the Bio 800⁺ family of products. It harnesses the power of over 800 species of soil microbes to build soil health, stimulate root growth and grow stronger plants that require fewer fertilizers and pesticides to be healthy. It also allows freshly installed plants to better root into their new home so plants don’t just survive, they thrive.

If you are reading this blog via email, please click here so you have access to the video portions of this blog.

Discussing Results At Planting

Holganix: Chris, can you tell us the results you have seen with Holganix Bio 800⁺ Tree & Shrub when planting your liners?

Chris Uhland, PHC: When I was growing up working at my father’s farm, we would take our liners plant them and water them in. That’s how much of the industry operates. At Harmony Hill, we take it an extra step by root dipping the plant material into a 300 gallon slurry of Holganix Tree & Shrub and water for 20-to-30 minutes before it’s installed into our fields. The whole process of root dipping and installation takes us about 45 minutes. Taking the time to root dip, allows the plant to get rooted into and and adapted to its native soils faster. As a result, the plant is able to manage seasonal stresses, like a spring dry spell, much easier.

Holganix: Dr. Bob can you tell us what’s going on scientifically when we use Holganix Bio 800⁺ Tree & Shrub at planting? And, why we get the results we do?

Dr. Bob: When it comes to installing new plant material, stimulating root growth is your number one prerogative. There are several microbes in Holganix Tree & Shrub that contribute to root development but one of the most important classes is Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria (PGPB).

PGPB are bacteria, fungi and protozoa that live in a close and mutually beneficial relationship with roots. Roots secrete sugars and in response, PGPB produce plant hormones that do all kinds of things like stimulating root growth.

Having a thick, web-like root system early after planting ensures the plant has a better chance at survival when going through seasonal stresses. It also allows roots to more easily find nutrients and water in the soil to strengthen the plant.

Holganix: Dr. Bob can you tell us what you recommend for nurseries and landscape contractors looking to use Holganix Tree & Shrub when installing new plants?

Dr. Bob: Because the production needs for a nursery and a landscape contractor are different, there is really two sets of directions. If you’re a landscape contractor installing a new landscape, we recommend simply watering the plant in with Holganix Tree & Shrub or Holganix Bloom after install. If you’re a nursery installing new plants, consider mirroring Chris’ practice of creating a slurry to soak the roots in before planting, then watering it in with Tree & Shrub after install.

Download Your Holganix Directions!

If you’re a landscaper looking to use Holganix Tree & Shrub at planting, download our Holganix Plant Start directions here. If you’re a nursery looking to use Holganix Tree & Shrub, watch our short video demonstration of a root dip at Muirfield Golf Club.

Shortening Time to Harvest

Holganix: Chris, can you tell us how Holganix Bio 800⁺ Tree & Shrub has allowed you to shorten your time to harvest?

Chris: In spring of 2017, we had mechanical, labor and weather issues. Normally I have all of my liners planted in early-April, but because of the issues, we planted in mid-May. That's a catastrophe for me because that's my livelihood.

We did Holganix Tree & Shrub applications in June and July. I was hoping our losses would be minimal and was expecting them to come in at about 20%-to- 30%. One year later, our losses came in at 7-to-8%, much less than expected.

Most of our material we line out at planting is 1-to-1.25 inches and we typically try to get a half-inch of growth out of each tree, each year. But, because of the Holganix Tree & Shrub applications, we also saw our trees reach a 2-to-2.25 inch caliber. We were harvesting in less than a year, and under a normal cycle that would be a two year harvest time. Not only did it save us time, and trees from being lost, it made us money by trimming off 1-to-2 years in our production cycle. 

Holganix: Dr. Bob, can you tell us how Holganix Bio 800⁺ Tree & Shrub would allow Chris to shorten the harvest time?

Dr. Bob: It really comes back to supporting a healthy root system with the soil microbes in Holganix Tree & Shrub. If you can promote a healthy root system that root system will be better positioned to care for the plant. The roots will become more efficient in finding nutrients that lead to growth. There are also other microbes in Holganix Tree & Shrub that promote the availability and uptake of nutrients.

Results During Disease and Insect Pressure

Holganix: Chris, can you tell us what kind of results you have seen with Holganix Bio 800+ Tree & Shrub with disease and insect pressure?

Chris: A big thing that I noticed - and I was shocked to see it - was that our insect pressure isn’t as bad as others’ in the region. I attribute that to Holganix Tree & Shrub developing a stronger plant that may be less susceptible to insect pressure. Also, when disease pressure runs high we often need to do an extra fungicide spray applications. We haven’t had to do that once with Holganix Tree & Shrub. 

Holganix: Dr. Bob can you tell us why Chris is seeing less disease and insect pressure with Holganix Bio 800⁺ Tree & Shrub?

Dr. Bob: There are certain microbes that form a synergistic relationship with the plant. Soil microbes will signal to the plant to put up it’s natural defense systems called Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) and Systemic Acquired Resistance (SAR) that combats pathogens. Those natural defense systems also allows the plant to better handle stressful situations like dealing with a drought or an overabundance of water. What happens between the plant and the microbes is a kind of chemical dialogue. Microbes also help through competitive displacement by occupying space around and on the plant that might have allowed pathogens close to the plant.

Additional Conversations with Chris @ Harmony Hill Nursery

If you want to learn more about Chris’ results with Holganix Bio 800⁺ Tree & Shrub, check out the below video topics.

1. Production Methods - Chris describes his application methods and how he uses Holganix Tree & Shrub from harvest to delivery to a customer.

2. Recommendation - Does Chris recommend Holganix Tree & Shrub?

3. Push It To The Limits - Holganix Tree & Shrub helps Chris push it to the limits with an order for a customer.

Download Our Ingredient List

Want to learn more about the Holganix Bio 800⁺ Tree & Shrub product, download our ingredient list using the link below and be sure to give us a call at 866-56-EARTH to get in touch with one of our horticulturists!

“If you have healthy soil, you have healthy plants,” explains grower Mark Ringenberg of Ringenberg Nursery. “Everything about Holganix Bio 800⁺ Agriculture just makes sense to me.”

Mark and his family run Ringenberg Nursery which focuses on growing organic certified blackberries, peppers and several varieties of squashes. As of May, 2017, Mark has utilized Holganix Bio 800⁺ Agriculture to improve crop yield and minimize his need for fertilizers and other products.

In fact, Mark hasn’t applied any fertilizer or pesticides; his program has consisted of Holganix Bio 800⁺ Agriculture in combination with a humic product. He applies the product through drip irrigation and through a sprayer, totaling 1.5 gallons of product over three applications.

“I started using Holganix Agriculture on our peppers and blackberry plants last year and was excited to see the reduced disease pressure,” explains Mark. That’s because Holganix Bio 800⁺ Agriculture is focused on fortifying plant strength and building soil health resulting in reduced disease and insect pressure. “I also noticed the crops taste sweeter which makes me think that it is affecting brix index… something I know Pennsylvania farmers have also been noticing.”

This year, Mark lost his buyer for blackberries so he cut back on the crop drastically. “Since it hasn’t been a focus, I didn’t bother applying Holganix Agriculture this year and you can see the results from this year’s non-Holganix berries compared to last year’s Holganix-treated berries. In fact, the non-Holganix berries are less than half the size and they are definitely not as sweet.”

Mark has applied Holganix Bio 800⁺ Agriculture on his squash plants and peppers this year and “they took off like a jungle! I’ve never seen anything grow like that.” The fruit setting is larger than normal and in specific, the crop yield appears to be about 30% larger than in previous years.”

In addition to applying the product on his own nursery, Mark has recommended it to his neighbors. “I have several grape growers using it and they are all claiming that they see less disease pressure. I also have it on corn, hayfields and winter wheat. We harvested the winter wheat and it was clearly healthier looking. I’m excited to hear about the yield report and how Holganix Bio 800⁺ Agriculture helped improve it.”

“I’m a 100% believer of Holganix Bio 800⁺ Agriculture, especially when I combine it with my humic product.” Over all, according to Mark, “it is definitely an inexpensive way of producing healthy plants.”

About Holganix Bio 800⁺ Agriculture

Holganix Agriculture is a 100% organic plant probiotic that provides over 800 species of beneficial soil microbes, microbe food and nutrient enhancers to grow healthy, resilient crops. In fact, Holganix Bio 800⁺ Agriculture contains the most complete and diverse blend of beneficial microbes available on the market!

Holganix Agriculture promotes strong, extensive root systems, resulting in plants that are better able to find and use nutrients, minerals and water in your soil. By nurturing healthy plants, Holganix Agriculture helps maximize yield potential while ensuring your crop is better prepared to fight off and recover from seasonal stress.

“Mike and I met over a bed of azaleas,” explains Stephanie Whitehead referring to her husband and co-founder of the Shrubbery Specialist in Huntsville, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Whitehead have been in business together since 1995, dedicating their careers to caring for trees, shrubs and ornamentals at some of Huntsville’s most beautiful estates and neighborhoods. They oversee 300 properties and in many cases, they have been taking care of the same plants for 20 to 25 years.

One year earlier, the Whiteheads started using Holganix Tree & Shrub – a Bio 800⁺ product teeming with over 800 species of beneficial soil microbes. According to the Whiteheads, they have seen increased flower production, improved plant strength and a dramatic reduction in the need for chemical inputs including fertilizers, fungicides and insecticides.

To learn more about the results Stephanie and Mike Whitehead experienced with Holganix Tree & Shrub, check out our infographic and read our interview with Stephanie below.

Holganix: How did you hear about Holganix Tree & Shrub and why did you decide to try it?

Stephanie: I was attending a two-day educational seminar for pesticide credits when a student started telling the class about his experience using Holganix products. He said he was able to reduce a lot of his chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides. I was incredibly skeptical but also intrigued and my husband Mike and I began pouring over the research. It sounded too good to be true, but we hoped that this would be our way of distancing ourselves and our customers from harsh chemicals.

Holganix: What results have you seen so far?

Stephanie: We put the product through the ringer! We decided to use Holganix Tree & Shrub as a stand-alone product and only treat with fungicides, insecticides and other products if we saw any problems occur. Surprisingly, our chemical inputs on several types of trees and shrubs dramatically decreased compared to previous years.

Holganix: What results did you see on roses?

Stephanie: We care for several rose gardens, some of which have been part of our portfolio for several years. This year the roses in our portfolio were healthier than in years past, and issues with disease and pests we dramatically reduced. In addition, the roses were 25 to 30% larger than in previous years and only started do drop leaves in November while the neighboring rose gardens lost leaves long before.

Check out some of the images below featuring some of the roses, boxwoods, petunias and other plants we care for.  

Holganix: What results have you seen on boxwoods?

Boxwoods are known as man’s earliest garden ornamental and were first planted in ancient Egypt as early as 4,000 BC. A new disease in the USA, boxwood blight, was first sited in the USA in Connecticut in 2011. Since then, this destructive disease caused by a fungus, has spread to Alabama

Stephanie: We care for a lot of boxwoods, some of which exceed 200 years old. Many boxwoods in our area have been struck by blight. Our goal is to keep the boxwoods as healthy as possible and to keep the blight from spreading to other boxwoods; Holganix Tree & Shrub has been a tool to help us do that. By boosting the plants’ strength and improving the soil health, Holganix Tree & Shrub has kept the boxwood at peak performance and has helped them resist the blight.

How has Holganix changed the way you care for plants?

Stephanie: Holganix has really changed the way we make our living, how we eat and how we care for our clients’ properties as well as our own. I don’t have to worry about harming animals or pollinators. We can use Holganix Tree & Shrub without fear. To sum it up, we are passionate about Holganix and after the thorough testing we conducted on the product; we know it’s awesome.

Want to learn more about Holganix Tree & Shrub? Attend our webinar!

• How Holganix products help contractors create thriving plants
• Results from contractors using Holganix products in the field
• How do you use the products with trees, shrubs and flowers
• Open Q&A between the hosts and the audience

Lawn and landscape company owners are raving about their experience with Holganix Bio 800⁺ products. Designed to build plant strength and reduce the need for chemical inputs, Holganix Bio 800⁺ products are teeming with over 800 species of soil microbes, among other ingredients.

Over the last month, we’ve conducted several video interviews with Holganix customers to capture their thoughts on the results they are seeing in the field. Read (and watch) their interviews below as they discuss how they use three core Holganix Bio 800⁺ products: Holganix Lawn, Holganix Bloom and Holganix Tree & Shrub. If you are reading this video via email, click here to access the videos.

New South Lawn & Landscape - Charlotte, NC 

“I’ve been using Holganix Lawn for three seasons now,” says Will Dixon from New South Lawn and Landscape in Charlotte, NC. According to Will, the biggest result he has seen is reductions in chemical inputs. “We’ve reduced down to 60%,” states Will. “We’ve had a great experience with [Holganix Lawn].”

Holganix Lawn is often used by contractors as part of a Soil Smart fertilizer program, designed to reduce the use of chemicals and provide predictable green, weed-free results. Holganix Lawn increases rooting, reduces the need for chemical inputs like fertilizer and herbicides and increases plant resilience during stressful conditions. Holganix Lawn is part of the Bio 800⁺ family of products.

Download your region’s Soil Smart Program, containing Holganix Lawn, here.

Summers Maintenance - Augusta, GA

Summers Maintenance has been using Holganix Bloom for two years and reports that their flowers are the “biggest and most robust they have ever seen”. According to owner Kevin Summers, Bloom is increasing plant strength and that has led to lower pest pressure. “The healthier the plant, the less the pest wants to mess with it,” explains Kevin. “Truly, if you want to give your flowers a giant boom, I would definitely use [Holganix Bloom].”

Holganix Bloom is part of the Bio 800⁺ family of products and is designed to build stronger, more colorful flowers. Contractors often use Holganix Bloom when installing new plant material to help the plant take root and thrive in its new habitat.

SummYou can learn more about Holganix Bloom here.

Matthew Ward Landscapes - Summerville, SC 

According to Adam from Matthew Ward Landscapes, “we love using Holganix Tree & Shrub because of what it does to the soil.”  According to Adam, Summerville, South Carolina has poor clay soils and by adding the biology from Holganix Tree & Shrub to the soils, he is able to improve those conditions which improves plant performance.

Holganix Tree & Shrub is part of the Bio 800⁺ family of products and is designed to improve vigor in ornamentals, reduce the need for chemical inputs and increase the plant’s resilience to stressful conditions. Holganix Tree & Shrub is often used during installs and during maintenance applications.

You can learn more about Holganix Tree and Shrub here.

With the lawn care season just around the corner, UltraGreen Lawn Care based out of Little Rock, Arkansas and Michael Hatcher & Associates based out of Olive Branch, Mississippi are gearing and making sure that Holganix products are part of their program. Watch their videos below to learn why they consider Holganix product to be such an influential piece of their lawn care fertilization program. If you are reading this blog via email, click here to have access to the videos.

UltraGreen Lawn Care

Co-Founders Caleb Ault and Josh Bryan started UltraGreen Lawn Care in 2012 after working for a national lawn care company in the Little Rock, Arkansas area. Three years ago, they brought on Holganix products to help them achieve their agronomic goals, but they also have utilized the products as a marketing and sales tool to better communicate what makes UltraGreen unique. Watch the video below for their full story.

Michael Hatcher & Associates

Michael Hatcher & Associates is a full lawn and landscape service company based out of the Memphis, Tennessee area. They’ve been using Holganix Bio 800⁺ during plant and sod installations in addition to using it in their lawn fertilization program. Watch their video below to hear a snippet from Joey at Michael Hatcher & Associates.

Download Your Soil Smart Program and Begin Using Holganix Products

Interested in using Holganix products but not sure how to fit them into a lawn fertilization program? Download a copy of your region’s Soil Smart Program - a turnkey lawn fertilization program containing all the inputs needed in order to achieve a green, weed-free lawn.

This blog contains an update on university and commercial trial results on several crops from 2017.  

What is Holganix Agriculture? A Bio 800⁺ product

Holganix Agriculture promotes strong, extensive root systems, resulting in plants that are better able to find and use nutrients, minerals and water in your soil. By nurturing healthy plants, Holganix Agriculture helps maximize yield potential while ensuring your crop is better prepared to fight off and recover from seasonal stress.

Holganix Agriculture is an organic plant probiotic that provides over 800 species of beneficial soil microbes, microbe food and nutrient enhancers to grow healthy, resilient crops. In fact, Holganix Agriculture contains the most complete and diverse blend of beneficial microbes available on the market!

Over the past three years we have been compiling data on several different crops in different geographic zones to deepen our understanding of how Holganix Agriculture can help farmers achieve higher yields. Below is a sample from our 2017 collection.

For a more in depth understanding, watch our video featuring an explanation by Holganix President of Agriculture David Stark P.h.D.. If you're reading this blog via email, click here for access to the video.

Higher weight per acre on potatoes

Idaho-based potato growers added Holganix Agriculture with their standard fertilizer rate and saw a 10 - 16% higher weight per acre allowing them to earn an extra $330 to $440 per acre.

Washington State University tested Holganix Agriculture with 20% less fertilizer and achieved a higher marketable yield than those potatoes just using the standard fertilizer rate. The higher marketable yield and decreased fertilizer use translates to an additional $200 per acre if the study were conducted at a commercial farm.

Increased corn yields

An Illinois researcher tested Holganix Agriculture in three different ways on his corn fields. It’s important to note that before even applying Holganix Agriculture, his soil was extremely healthy because the field had previously been planted with soybeans - a crop that puts nitrogen back into the soil.

1. For the first test, the farmer used no fertilizer, and by only applying Holganix Agriculture he produced 224 bushels per acre against the national average of 169 bushels.

2. For the second test, he reduced his standard rate of fertilizer by 20% and reached 236 bushels per acre with Holganix Agriculture.

3. On the third test, he applied his typical fertilizer rate with Holganix Agriculture and reached 247 bushels in yield.

Studies conducted at a research farm in Missouri showed a 14.8% increased yield on corn treated with Holganix Agriculture. According to the researchers, they saw a 163.1 bushel per acre yield on corn treated with 1 gallon of Holganix Agriculture infurrowin furrow at planting compared to the control which saw a 142 bushel per acre yield.

$3,000 per acre yield increase on strawberries

In Ventura county, California, a researcher used Holganix Agriculture on a commercial field through their drip irrigation system, applying once per month. He achieved a $3,000 per acre higher yield in the strawberries and was able to harvest earlier than other growers.

Less fertilizer needed with hot peppers

According to Florida-based Datil Pepper grower, Eddie Lambert, “My only problem is that I didn’t use Holganix on my whole farm because it’s the best crop I have had yet.” Eddie applied Holganix Agriculture through a drip irrigation system, making applications every other week with 50% less fertilizer.

Higher payable yield on cucumbers

A cucumber farmer in Northern Kentucky used Holganix Agriculture on a portion of his crop, leaving the remaining crop the control. The rows treated with Holganix Agriculture had more, large cucumbers than the control. He was also able to harvest the Holganix treated crop a week earlier when prices were higher.

Curbing nematode pressure

While research is still ongoing, preliminary results conducted in a lab setting by Dr. Lambert at the University of Illinois are promising for nematode control using an unnamed Holganix technology. After the first year of studying the product, the team saw a 75% reduction in pathogenic nematodes in the lab and an 80% reduction in the field. 

“It’s complex,” explains Dr. Lambert of the Holganix technology. “There’s a lot of things going on in the jug and it is difficult to state with certainty why the Holganix technology is producing results.” However, Dr. Lambert does have three theories.

1. Affecting migration to the roots - Holganix technology appears to confuse or incapacitates the nematode so it can’t migrate to the plant and cause harm.

2. Inhibiting eggs from hatching - Holganix technology may be inhibiting soybean cyst nematode eggs from hatching.

3. Targeting pathogenic nematodes - Microbes in Holganix technology may be attacking pathogenic nematodes.

“We are taking a two-pronged approach to studying the Holganix technology,” explains Dr. Lambert. “In 2016, we studied Holganix technology in a lab. This year, we are continuing lab testing but we are also studying it in the field.”

>>For additional information on our nematode research, visit this blog.

Increased brix index

Several farmers have also reported a higher brix (a measurement of flavor) on fruits and vegetables treated with Holganix Agriculture. Academic research also shows that brix can lead to reduced insect pressure on plants although we have not yet conducted supporting Holganix Agriculture research on insect pressure to date.

See below for a chart demonstrating the increased brix on crops treated with Holganix Agriculture as compared to their controls.