Smart Nitrogen Slow Release Liquid Fertilizer, Chelated Micronutrients, and Natural Organic Products including Companion a Biological Fungicide
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Frequently Asked Questions
Product & Problem-Solving Questions
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  • Aren't all fertilizers the same?
    • Actually, there are big differences between the fertilizers currently on the market. Efficacy, quality of raw materials, nutrient release rates, salt index and burn potential, and ease of use are just a few of the things that differentiate them. Make sure you always read labels carefully to find out which materials were used to create the product.
  • I have heard about Smart Nitrogen™, but can't find it on your product list or catalogue. What's the story?
    • Smart Nitrogen™ isn't a product per se, but is a special nitrogen-containing molecule known as methylene urea. This "Smart Nitrogen" molecule isn't sold separately, but is found in varying amounts in all of Growth Products' nitrogen-containing fertilizers. For example, our Nitro-30 30-0-0 contains 85% Smart Nitrogen™, while our AMMOS™ 20-0-0 contains 40% Smart Nitrogen™. Smart Nitrogen™ is a slow release nitrogen (SRN) with an exceptionally long and smooth nitrogen release curve. When applied as a foliar spray, Smart Nitrogen™ coats the leaf tissue with a clear film where its strong methylene bond slowly breaks down, evenly releasing nitrogen over a period of several weeks. With Smart Nitrogen™ you can spray less often, lowering labor costs, and get superior results because you are not putting your plants on a feast-then-famine diet.
  • How do chelated micronutrients differ from non-chelated, and what is their advantage?
    • Chelated ("key'-lated") micronutrients are inorganic micronutrients that have been enclosed by an organic molecule. Chelation increases the availability and mobility of plant micronutrients, reduces micronutrient leaching, and prevents certain micronutrients from being locked-up by inhospitable soil pH levels. When applied as a foliar spray, chelated micros penetrate a leaf's waxy coating and enter into the plant tissue, where they quickly correct any deficiencies. In contrast, non-chelated micronutrients are not immediately available to plants and take a long time to work. Pound for pound, chelated micros may be more expensive than non-chelated micros, but when it comes to effectiveness they are worth their weight in gold!
  • Are your organic products certified?
    • Yes! Essential™ Plus and Companion™ are OMRI Listed™ by the Organic Materials Review Institute and are approved for use by NOFA-NY Certified Organic Farms. For questions about local organic certification, contact your local certifier.
  • Do you sell granular products?
    • Growth Products is often called the Liquid Solutions company - thanks to our many liquid fertilizers, micronutrients, and organic amendments - but we also have a great line of granulars! Our dry granular products include Companion™ Dry Concentrate Biological Fungicide; Landscaper's Companion™; Grower's Companion; and Repair Plus. These products can be either used alone or mixed with suitable carriers such as soilless media, topdressing or construction mixes.
  • Are Growth Products compatible with herbicides, pesticides, and other technical materials?
    • Absolutely. Almost all our products are highly compatible, and may be tank mixed with most other products on the market, saving you valuable time and labor costs. However, before combining, always read the product labels of any products that you intend to mix together. Note that products that are bactericides, including most copper, hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen di-oxide products, will harm beneficial bacteria as well as pathogenic bacteria, and should not be mixed with Companion™.
  • What does the T in Growth Products' logo stand for?
    • It's really just part of the logo design, but we like to think it stands for "Terrific!"
  • Can my children or my dogs play on the grass after I have treated it with one of your liquid fertilizers, or with Companion™ or Essential™? What about horses and cattle entering a recently sprayed field?
    • Although the products you mention are safe and non-toxic, it is always best to wait until the product has dried before letting animals or kids enter the area.
  • What happens if it rains after I spray one of your liquid fertilizers?
    • If it rains immediately after you spray, while the product is still wet, the fertilizer will simply wash off the leaves and into the soil, where it will be absorbed through the plant roots.
  • Do your iron products stain sidewalks, walkways, golf cart paths, etc.?
    • All iron products have the ability to stain certain items such as concrete walkways or the stucco on a house. However, Growth Products' chelated micronutrients are limited in staining due to the source of the raw material and the chelation process utilized. Always be careful when applying iron products.
  • Can I keep leftover Growth Products solutions for later use?
    • Once you open a bottle, it is best to use its contents within two years of purchase. Be sure to close the container between uses, for maximum freshness. Once you have mixed a product with water, it is best to use the mixture within 24 hours. If mixing with other technical materials such as fungicides or herbicides, follow the directions listed on the product labels which may have more stringent time limits for application.
  • I just opened a bottle of 15-8-4 Arbor Care and it smells more like ammonia than it usually does. Is that bad?
    • No. When a fertilizer sits in the sealed container for a long period of time, the ammonia smell gets stronger. Free urea turns into ammonia over time, and while the container is there is no escape for the gas.
  • What is the shelf life of your products?
    • All of our products have a guaranteed shelf life of more than two years.
  • What is the difference between the Bacillus subtilis that is in Companion™ and mycorrhizae? Can I use both types of products at the same time? Is one better than the other?
    • Companion™ is an EPA-registered biological fungicide that protects plants from diseases, enhances root growth, and aids in plant nutrient uptake. Mycorrhizae is not a registered fungicide but does aid in nutrient uptake into the plant. Both products can be used with each other without harm to either. However, if you are using Companion™ there's no need to add mycorrhizal products, since Companion™ already provides the same benefits to all plants.
  • What should I do to prevent the mini-ring problem I'm having on my golf course?
    • Research has shown that adequate amounts of manganese and humic acid help prevent this turf disease. For prevention or suppression, you can use Growth Products' Essential™ Plus or Restore Plus to add humic acid. To add MN, turn to GP's Manganese Chelate 5%, or one of our broader micronutrient packages such as Micrel Total.
  • What can I do to correct thatch build-up on turf?
    • Growth Products' Control De-Thatcher is an organic concentrate specifically developed to assist in the breakdown of thatch. You can read more about controlling and preventing thatch in our archived News As It Happens, Say Goodbye to Thatch Buildup.
  • Can I use 6-12-12 Autumn Care on my golf greens?
    • Yes. Autumn Care 6-12-12 can be used on greens even if it is recommended for tree care. Contact your local Growth Products representative for the appropriate rate before application, or calculate the desired amount of nutrient on your own.
  • What does N-P-K mean on a fertilizer label?
    • All fertilizers must list the percentages of N (nitrogen), P (phosphorus) and K (potassium) they contain. These three elements are the ones used in the highest quantities by plants, and are therefore known as macro-nutrients. Each works in myriad ways to promote plant growth and health. A quick (and incomplete!) summary is that nitrogen primarily promotes foliage growth; phosphorus primarily promotes the development of roots, blossoms and fruits; and potassium helps in root development, photosynthesis, and cold and heat tolerance. One way to learn more about fertilizers, and the many roles that each ingredient plays in plant nutrition, is to refer to the website of your state's cooperative extension agency. Note also that the numbers on a fertilizer label are percentages. Thus, a fertilizer labeled 10-10-10 has 10% N, 10% P, and 10% K, while a fertilizer labeled 16-4-10 has 16% N, 4% P, and 10% K.
  • What kind of equipment do I need to apply your products?
    • For our liquid products, you can use anything from a simple hose-end sprayer to the most advanced irrigation system, depending upon your individual needs. Our dry granular products require no special equipment.
Purchasing Questions

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