The Holganix Blog

“I can’t believe I’m getting this kind of result!” is something Mark Tavares, Sales Representative for Aquarius Supply, a Holganix Distributor, hears frequently when discussing Holganix Bio 800⁺ with lawn care companies.

“By switching to a Hybrid organic lawn care program (50% chemicals, 50% Holganix Bio 800⁺), and marketing it as a company differentiator, I’ve had customers that have grown their customer base by 30% by switching to Holganix Bio 800⁺.

At the end of the day, when you present the information clearly, the homeowner can’t say no. Utilizing a lawn care company that uses Bio 800⁺ is a win-win-win for the homeowner, the lawn and the environment.”  

 After receiving his associate degree in turf grass management from Virginia Tech, Mark went to work as a manager for a landscape company’s lawn fertilization division. Today, he’s utilizing his past experience in lawn care and his educational background to better serve Aquarius customers. “I love my job. I love being able to talk to people who share a passion for turf and I love educating people about sustainable practices and soil health.”

When it comes to organic based products, Mark has experimented with many. “From biosolids to milorganite, over the past eight years I’ve used every organic based product I can think of,” states Mark. “The key reason why I started looking at organics is because it builds a healthy soil, boosting active biology and ultimately a healthier plant.” However, the aspect that turned Mark on to Holganix Bio 800⁺ specifically was when he compared it to other products on the market. Holganix Bio 800⁺ has “all the ingredients in one jug - including the living microbes. That makes it a no brainer.”

How are the results?

One of Mark’s favorite results has been the quick bounce back after a hot summer or cold winter. “The lawns just come out of dormancy faster.” He also reports that customers have seen better coloration and have reduced inputs on average by 50% for synthetic fertilizers and 30% for herbicides.

How can Holganix Bio 800⁺ help you reduce the need for herbicides? 

Holganix Bio 800⁺ products build functioning soils that result in resilient turf with deeper, thicker root systems. In fact, by having more resilient plants with a better root system, these plants are able to compete with weeds. The result is that you can often reduce your control of broadleaf and grassy weeds by up to 75%. 

At the end of the day, Mark’s customers are loving their experience with Holganix Bio 800⁺. “It’s boosting soil and plant health, improving their lawn care business and reducing their environmental footprint. How can you not say yes?”

The infamous California drought, “now on its fouth year, has taken its toll on water supplies and a reduction of 25 percent is now mandated,” says Denne Goldstein, publisher of Irrigation and Green Industry Magazine.

And, in Texas, water restrictions resulted in hundreds of thousands of lost trees.

But California and Texas aren’t the only drought victims, “56 percent of the entire United States, from California to New England, is experiencing drought conditions and water-related challenges,” confirms Judith Guido, contributor for IGIN Magazine.

Lucky for you there is a weapon in your turf management kit to help you combat drought - Holganix.

In fact, Holganix can help in times of drought and extreme heat in three key ways: 1) stimulating uptake of nutrients and moisture, 2) providing natural wetting agents and 3) enhancing root growth.

1.    Stimulating uptake of nutrients and moisture

Mycorrhizae and kelp extract are two examples of ingredients within Holganix that stimulate uptake of nutrients and moisture by the plant, ultimately aiding in drought tolerance.

Mycorrhizae are fungi that live in direct symbiotic association with plant roots. In this symbiotic relationship, the plant excretes energy sources (sugars, amino acids and other plant acids) to the fungi (from the plant roots to the soil for uptake by the fungi).

The fungi use this energy to grow long mycelium (filaments) that extend well beyond the length and width of the plant roots. The mycelium transport water, minerals and nutrients to the roots. In this way, fungi facilitate the uptake of water and nutrients by plant roots.

This is a mutually beneficial relationship in that both the plant and the mycorrhizae receive benefits that they cannot receive independently.

During droughts the plant limits growth or stops growing altogether, ultimately reducing photosynthesis (the process that creates the sugars for the mycorrhizae). Thanks to evolution, the mycorrhizae have learned to minimize the droughts effects on the plant in these distinct ways:

1.  By adding their own expansive network of mycelia, they are able to reach deeper into the soil for water and nutrients outside the reach of plant roots.

2.  By helping the plant better seal up their pores/stomata, the plant conserves moisture. Instead of wilting in the drought, a well hydrated plant keeps stomata closed (the guard cells of the stomata swell). As a result, they close the open space that allows evaporation.

3.  By increasing water pressure in plant tissue, mycorrhizae prevent or delay-wilting, which results in normal cell function and photosynthesis.

Kelp extract found in Holganix also boosts drought resistance.

Minerals and carbohydrates contained in Kelp extract are absorbed and utilized by microorganisms in the soil. Upon death of the microoganisms, minerals are released to the soil, stimulating plant and root growth. A healthy plant with a strong root system has the vigor necessary to support active uptake of water and nutrients.

2.    Natural Wetting Agent

Yucca extract is another important tool against drought that is contained in Holganix. Yucca acts as a natural spreader sticker, wetting agent and soil conditioner.

What does that mean?

Spreader stickers and wetting agents help coverage of product on the plant and slow moisture loss. Similarly, wetting agents help reduce surface tension, allowing product to cover the plant so active ingredients can better penetrate the plant tissue.

Additionally, Yucca extract (acting as a soil conditioner) has the ability to help soils hold water.

These unique functions of yucca extract in Holganix each aid in drought tolerance by keeping moisture in the plant and soil, and by allowing for other products and ingredients to better penetrate plant tissue.

3.   Enhanced Root Growth

By having deeper, more web-like root systems, plants are better able to reach into the soil and take up moisture and nutrients. Tricoderma spp., is an ingredient in Holganix that enhances root and plant growth. Additionally, as discussed previously, mycorrhizae (found in Holganix) can also help expand the reach of plant roots.

Together, Trichoderma spp. and mycorrhizae contribute to a denser and longer root mass that is more efficient in obtaining the water and nutrients plants need.

*Note: If viewing this blog via email, you will need to click on the title and access the blog online to view the above slide share.

1. Organic Fertilizer Isn’t New

The first form of fertilizer was organic. In fact, Egyptians, Native Americans and Romans among other early civilization used some form of minerals, manure or composting to promote healthier crops. 

2. Organic Fertilizer Can Contain Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium

Just because it’s organic, doesn’t mean it contains no NPK. Some organic fertilizers contain natural forms of NPK, directly affecting the plant health. Other types of organic fertilizer like soil amendments do not contain NPK and therefore indirectly affect plant health. Click here for additional information on the difference between synthetic fertilizer, organic fertilizer and soil amendments.

3.  Organic Fertilizers Are Researched-Based and Validated

One common misconception regarding organic fertilizers is that they aren’t researched based. This is far from the truth. Today, many organic fertilizers are supported by university studies and third party field-testing and validation. When searching for organic fertilizers, ask for their research reports. Click here for university testing on Healthy Grow (granular, organic fertilizer) and Holganix (liquid, bionutritional organic fertilizer).

4. Organic Fertilizers Are Cost Effective

Just because it’s organic, doesn’t mean it isn’t cost Effective. Whether you DIY or purchase from an organic fertilizer manufacturer, there are many cost effective products available.

 5. Organic Fertilizer May Or May Not Contain Living Biology

Some organic fertilizers do not contain living biology but may contain food sources, which is still a great benefit. Other organic products contain living, beneficial microorganisms and are designed to set the soil food web back in balance, taking a probiotic approach to plant health. Learn more about the benefits of living microorganisms here. 

“Do you see this turf?” asked Mark Runk. The turf he pointed to was the front lawn of Ewing Irrigation branch number 13 in San Diego, California. The turf was thick and green despite the lack of an irrigation system in place. “It looked awful and yellow before Holganix Bio 800⁺. Then two weeks after the first application, the color change was huge.”

Picture above: Mark Runk (Left), Miguel Arreola (Ewing), Kaitlyn Ersek (Holganix) 

Mark Runk had been hired by Holganix to apply the product to the lawns of several Ewing stores. It was Holganix’s way to show Ewing employees just what Holganix products are capable of. After all, Ewing and the lawn care community it serves have seen plenty of snake oil products in the past and Holganix was insistent on proving themselves differently.

“It comes down to the soil biology,” says Runk of Holganix Bio 800⁺. “When you are contributing to the soil biology like you do with Holganix, you are naturally protecting the plant.” 

Runk certainly knows his way around the turf industry. His grandfather was a landscape contractor in the 1950’s and Runk would tag along on jobs as a child. In the 1970’s Runk had built his own lawn care company and had been using lots of synthetics. However, “chemical fertilizer just stopped responding after a while,” says Runk. “So, I started doing some research.” Runk discovered that turf and plant health originate from the health of the soil. “I switched to organics and compost teas. Everyone looked at me like I was a tree hugger or crazy,” admits Runk.

Runk has been brewing his own teas for several years but loves that Holganix Bio 800⁺ combines in one jug all of the ingredients (plus some) that he would typically use. Runk still likes to experiment using Holganix Bio 800⁺ in conjunction with some of his other favorite organic options like Eden’s BioChar.

One of Runk’s favorite success stories has been using Holganix Bloom (A Holganix Bio 800⁺ product) with pansies ad snapdragons. “I soaked each root ball before planting. Overall, the flowers have stayed fuller and healthier longer.” 

Overall, Runk has been excited with the results he’s seen with Holganix Bio 800⁺. “I use Holganix Bio 800⁺ on everything!” says Runk. “And I’m excited to see how the plants continue to improve with additional applications.”

We have released our latest technological development: Healthy Grow Infused with Holganix . It combines the beneficial, living biology aspect of Holganix with the might of a high quality, carbon filled, organic poultry manure. Together, they do wonderful things for the turf and plants! Watch the video below for more information on this exciting new product that has everyone talking!

Organic fertilizers are in “vogue” in turf management, especially for lawn care professionals. However, is organic fertilizer the right option for your lawn care company? Check out the below three questions to determine whether “going organic” is the path for you.

1. Do you have poor soil?

If your region is faced with poor soil conditions, adding a soil amendment or organic fertilizer can help invigorate the soil, contributing to better quality results. Because of the organic matter and the beneficial living micoorganisms, this is especially relevant if you are utilizing composts or products with a compost base. Organic matter and micoorganisms help balance the soil biology and nurture a stronger plant that can better defend against disease, insects and weather stress (think drought and winter injury) naturally.

2. Do you have a hard time differentiating yourself from the national lawn care companies?

Often, national lawn care companies will try to undersell you on price. Competing with the “big guys” solely on price is a dangerous game! Consider how you can differentiate your lawn care business in other ways. At the end of the day, if you can show your customers that you are different and are providing a better more valuable service, you can compete without cutting into margins. At Holganix, we love marketing guru Seth Godin’s idea of becoming a “Purple Cow”. Purple Cows are companies that stand out among a sea of non-descript, boring companies. Customers can’t help but pay attention to unique, out-of-the-box-thinking companies. How can you become a Purple Cow? Offering organic lawn care applications, could be a great way to differentiate your company.  

3. Is your region facing fertilizer regulations?

Throughout much of the United States, fertilizer regulations requiring lawn care professionals to cut back on their use of synthetics are increasing on both the state and federal level. This is especially true if your lawn care business is located near a major body of water like The Chesapeake Bay, The Great Lakes and The Gulf of Mexico among other water sources. In general, state and federal government officials and many of their constituents are concerned with the effect nitrogen and phosphorus (two of the key nutrients found in synthetic fertilizers) have on marine life and water health at large. Some of these effects include dead zones (areas of water where marine life can no longer exist) or contaminated water as seen in the Toledo, Ohio water crises in the summer of 2014. These effects have not only led to an increase in fertilizer regulations but have made consumers/homeowners concerned about utilizing synthetic fertilizers and therefore has provided interest in organic options.

By utilizing organic fertilizers or soil amendments, your lawn care business can reduce the amount of synthetic fertilizer needed to achieve a healthy, green lawn. This not only allows you to ease the minds of your nervous homeowners, but also serves as a tool for complying with government regulations. 

Healthy Grow Infused with Holganix: A carbon based fertility option

Something special happens every time Holganix joins forces with another amazing turf care product. This is especially true when you introduce living, breathing Holganix with the organic matter- filled Healthy Grow by Pearl Valley Farms.

Over the past 18 years, Pearl Valley Farms has perfected the art and science of composting and manufacturing Healthy Grow by adopting the philosophy, “The Way It’s Made Matters.”

That’s why Holganix has partnered with Pearl Valley Farms to produce Healthy Grow Infused with Holganix. This granular fertilizer comes in several different analysis and can be fully organic or a hybrid (organic with some synthetic nutrients) depending on the analysis.

What is Healthy Grow?

Healthy Grow is a granular, organic based fertilizer created from egg laying poultry manure. H

ealthy Grow has an ACCM (Aerobically Composted Chicken Manure) base, which means the manure is aerobically composted over a 45 – 60 day period. After composting, it is further processed with other organic and traditional ingredients to create a nutrient rich, biological, and user-friendly fertilizer. Ultimately, this means Healthy Grow isn’t pasteurized (doesn’t inhibit living biology) and the smell associated with manure-based fertilizers is kept in check.

What else is so special about Healthy Grow? Healthy Grow is packed with organic matter containing carbon sources.

Organic matter contains carbon and other nutrients

Organic matter is dead and decomposing plant and animal matter within the soil.

When in excess, organic matter produces thatch layers that hinder growth at the surface and black layers that strangle and limit root growth below the surface. Yet, because organic matter contains a carbon source, it remains critical in helping to produce a vibrant soil ecosystem. Organic matter and soil contain nutrients and micronutrients important to plant health, but are often locked in a form that can’t be utilized by the plant. Carbon is a food source for microorganisms.

Ultimately, the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, etc…) eat the carbon, which allows them to convert nitrogen and other nutrients locked in organic matter and elsewhere in the soil, to plant-useable forms. 

Take nitrogen as an example of a locked nutrient found in organic matter. Aerobic, heterotrophic bacteria are responsible for decomposition and mineralization. These bacteria help to decompose the plant remains and turn nitrogen that was locked within the organic matter into ammonium (N_H4⁺), which is a plant-usable form of nitrogen.

The same can be said for phosphorus (PO₄^2-), potassium (K⁺), as well as every other plant-usable form of nutrients necessary for plant growth.

Often when we look at our turf programs, we focus on nitrogen as a key element.

While nitrogen is crucial, the key question is: How much urea do we need to put down to make the grass green while still being cost effective? 

The thing to keep in mind is that nitrogen is just one piece of the puzzle. Phosphorus, potassium, calcium and certain other micronutrients are also pieces of the puzzle.

However, because the microbiology within the soil is able to eat the carbon found in organic matter and then unlock nutrients, carbon supplies many different pieces of the soil environment puzzle, not just one.

Healthy Grow contains all the wonderful aspects obtained from having an organic matter and carbon source base. At the same time, the poultry base contains small doses of naturally occurring NPK!

What happens when Healthy Grow meets Holganix?

Holganix is a 100% organic, bionutritional product teeming with living microorganisms whose job is to naturally promote plant health. Other ingredients contained within Holganix include but are not limited to: endo and ecto mycorrhizae, beneficial nematodes, meleluca oil, yucca and kelp extract as well as humic and fulvic acids.

With Holganix, plants grow beneath the soil in addition to above it.

“Highway” systems of roots dig deeper and weave between one another, creating the perfect support system for the plant. With healthier root systems, plants are better able to uptake moisture and withstand environmental stresses like drought and winter injury.

At the same time, with Holganix you’re feeding the plant and the soil, because when you have a healthy soil environment you have a healthy plant. That means your plants need up to 75% less nitrogen fertilizers and 25% less pesticides than through traditional synthetic programs.

When you combine Holganix with Healthy Grow, it’s like giving Healthy Grow Red Bull and as the saying goes, Healthy Grow “gets wings” and results are amplified.

Not only do you get the benefit of adding a carbon source to your roster of turf products, but you also get all the holistic benefits contained in a jug of Holganix.

Healthy Grow provides the carbon sources (food sources) to the living biology within Holganix. The beneficial microorganisms then go to work converting locked nutrients in the soil and organic matter into plant useable forms.

What does Healthy Grow Infused with Holganix mean for you?

At the end of the day, it all comes down to achieving an effective and sustainable way to manage turf grass. The Healthy Grow Infused with Holganix program can be marketed as an organic based program.

Furthermore, because Healthy Grow Infused with Holganix has 180 and 90 SGN options, it won’t affect play on fairways, approaches or putting greens.

Overall, a carbon-based, living bionutritional fertility program allows professionals to return nature back to their properties and provides a more sustainable solution for the unpredictable future of the green industry. 

“Organics are a big deal to our clients,” says Tony Kacinas, Assistant Manager of the Soil and Turf Department at Chalet Nursery. Chalet is located on the Illinois side of Lake Michigan, so it is no wonder homeowners are concerned with synthetic fertilizer use and lake health. That’s one of the reasons why Chalet is looking at incorporating Holganix into their fertility program.

“There’s going to be a turning point in the lawn care industry soon,” says Kacinas as he reflects upon changes in the market and in government regulation surrounding synthetic fertilizers. “On the one hand, we are going to need an alternative to the usual way we do business [synthetics].” This alternative would have to face strict government regulations around NPK use, making bionutritional products like Holganix a great resource. “On the other, we want to make sure we are staying ahead of the competition on the green movement.”

Chalet has been testing Holganix for over a year now, evaluating its performance under numerous circumstances. So far, results look positive. “We’ve been able to cut back on Nature Safe by 50%,” says Kacinas. “All while maintaining the same turf color.” Kacinas also reports a lack in surge growth, which he attributes to the fact that the turf is getting nutrients on an as need basis with Holganix.

“We tested Holganix under the worst possible conditions,” admits Kacinas. One of those test properties has historically suffered from 2.5 inches of thatch. Kacinas has reported that he’s been able to reduce thatch by .75 inches with Holganix. “That’s phenomenal!” says Kacinas. “The microbes are clearly working. They are breaking down all that thatch.”

Kacinas also reports seeing an increase in root size- some as long as 14.5 inches in length. Those turf roots got Kacinas the first place prize at Holganix’s annual Roots For You Competition to discover the best roots in America. “We were really excited to be recognized in Holganix’s root competition.”

As the first place winner for the lawn care category in the Holganix Roots For You competition, Chalet received a $500 cash prize and a $500 donation made in their name to PLANET. Sports turf and golf course winners will be announced this winter. For more information regarding the Holganix root competition, click here.

By year-end of 2013, Nathan Brandon called it quits and asked his then business partner to purchase his stake in their full service lawn care company. In 2014, Brandon began the next chapter in his turf career and started his new lawn care company: Pure Green. He invested the money earned from selling his stake in his previous company into his sales and marketing budget and also in capital expenditures. By December of 2014, Brandon had 488 customers in his books! And in 2015, he plans to grow by 500 new customers.

When he started Pure Green, Brandon knew he wanted to do things differently than at his previous company. While previously in the full service business, “with Pure Green, I just wanted to focus on fertility,” says Brandon. “I also really wanted to embrace a greener solution to lawn care.” For Brandon that didn’t just mean incorporating Holganix, it also meant using the Gregson Clark ECO 505 sprayer units and even going paperless. “Over the last decade or so, I’ve really noticed that more and more of my customers are moving towards requesting organic services.”

The first thing Brandon did to reel in sales was to offer a killer pre-pay letter to his list of potential customers. He looked at his competitors and decided to go big or go home. He offered a 20% pre-pay discount to any customer willing to sign up for the year by a certain time, which was something no other lawn care company was doing. “I was willing to offer such a huge discount because obtaining new customers fast was a huge priority for me,” says Brandon. He was then able to use portions of the cash generated from pre-pays to help fund additional marketing and sales expenses to further grow his company. Today, 80-85% of his business is either pre-pay or auto-pay, with pre-pay capturing 60%.

But life wasn’t all roses at Pure Green. Brandon ran into plenty of start up hurdles. For example, funding was an issue. “Even though I had 15 years in the industry, no one wanted to give me an operating line without any revenue to stand by it,” explains Brandon.

Another big challenge he faced was weather. “Spring was late and sales were slow because of it,” says Brandon. “It was discouraging.”

Ultimately, Brandon attributes some of his fast growth to his focus on… focus! “I picked my top things in sales and marketing to focus and stuck with them. I avoided chasing the ‘shiny things.’” For example, Brandon is a huge believer in direct mail. In order to do direct mail right, Brandon hit customers on the head with the same or similar direct mail pieces nine times throughout the year. “It’s all about getting the marketing wheel moving,” explains Brandon, referring to something he’s learned from a marketing webinar presented by Nicole Wise, Holganix’s Head of Marketing.

And the end of the day, “I’m really proud of the fact that I’m self-funded,” says Brandon. And with 488 new customers on the books, and a bright 2015 ahead of him it’s no wonder he’s so excited about Pure Green. Stay tuned for part two of Brandon’s case study to be released next week where we’ll explore some of the marketing tactics he used to grow his business.