Happy Earth Day! As I sit and write this, I am thinking, what the heck happened this Spring? It has been crazy. The weather has been like a roller coaster and it is so dry. We wrestled with getting our crabgrass preM products down and broadleaf weeds germinated all at once. Now the dreaded change of color in turf has us all wondering if drought will affect us and so early.

So with all of this said, remember, our industry is a science, never exact, and always possible to change. Your turf programs should adjust as well, if you can. Where traditional five step programs were effective in the past, it may need a tweaking this year.

With so many effective control products available to us, these adjustments are not that difficult, no matter if you have a spray or granular program. Try to get some soil tests done on your difficult properties. Set yourself above by doing things better and more efficiently.

Try something new this year and you will be surprised with the results. For example, a simple addition of a natural "organic" component to your herbicide applications could surprise you. Adding "supplements" to your program could help your soils and let's face it, the soil is what can make or break your program. If soil structure is off, your applications are wasting your time and your customer's.

There are time tested products still available to you and allowing you to keep your costs down. There are several "old-school" methods available that provide great control of your broadleaf weeds.

Happy 2012 and best of luck this year.

What a season it's been, right? Our Spring came fast and furious, the summer was, well, can't find the right words, and then there was August. Earthquake, record-breaking rains, hurricanes and in some neighborhoods, tornadoes. It makes you wonder what comes next, doesn't it?

The season hasn't come without it's challenges either and if you're scratching your head wondering what needs to be done differently, come talk with us. We have spent innumerable hours trying to better our turf program options, seed selections and fertilizer choices.

We aren't spending our time and monies on marketing materials offering seed cultivars from years ago, we are offering the newest NTEP options from quality blenders. Watch your seed choices this year....there's plenty of apples and oranges out there!

We have been spending many hours offering help to be sure your business grows properly.....you should ask us about the new network opportunities. we are NOT just a turf product supplier, we are here to help your business grow!

We look forward to being a partner and am happy to offer some great products for the Fall and Winter seasons. We have some great things going on for the remainder of 2011 and 2012 and look forward to talking with everyone. If there's anything we can do, let us know!

It feels like the time keeps flying by and now it's mid-July....this season is providing it's unique challenges just as every year. Be on the lookout for Japanese Beetles. It's been quite some time, but in our store areas, we are seeing adult beetles again.

There's amazing amounts of ornamental issues going on this year, but don't be too quick with judgment. Remember, droughts from past years play a big role in a tree's health this year and for years to come. Not to say there isn't something going on, but if your not sure, ask a certified aborist or, go to your local extension office.

Some quick info....Fall Seed prices are going to be up from what you have seen in the past few seasons. Start planning now or ask your sales rep about the seed industry. A lot is going on and we are planning and stocking up, but don't get caught off guard.

The Warminster location is having a Customer Appreciation Day and Short Seminar on August 17th, 2011. FREE LUNCH and very casual, brief conversations from some vendors will occur. There will be credits provided and some info on new products and equipment offered. Tri-State is dedicated to providing quality products and have added some great vendors to our list of resources. Mark the date and plan to join us. There will be postcards mailed out and special promos on the postcards, only good if you bring the postcard on the date!!!!

We look forward to seeing you all and if there's anything we can do, please let us know.

As if Summer doesn't bring enough challenges year after year....this season is no different. There are a multitude of issues out there and some proper planning can make a BIG difference.

For your turf, educate you customers about proper watering techniques. Plan your fertilizer applications to assist the turf plant through these tough periods. There has been such a shift in available products and if you have an option to spray, we can provide some VERY cost-effective ORGANIC products that will assist the plant.

For your ornamentals, there are a few BIG issues:
1) numerous samples of sun scorch are coming into the office. Again, proper watering techniques are crucial. Some samples have come in showing TOO MUCH water and others are in dire need. If you need some literature, stop in and let us know, we are happy to provide something you can add your company name to and provide to your customers.

2) Insect damage will start to appear and overuse of pesticides or inappropriate choice can make your problem MUCH worse. If you need assistance, please ask or stop in to your local extension office.

Lastly, there is a lot of damage out there to Norway Spruce, White Pine and other evergreen species. There is a lot of conversation as to the cause of this damage. If you see this damage or need confirmation of this particular damage, please call us immediately or again, your location extension office.

As always, the Tri-State reps are here to assist you and help with your needs. We are working very hard to keep on top of many of the problems this year and look forward to providing cost-effective and SAFE spproaches to turf and ornamental care. We will NEVER suggest a product in which we don't believe.

Our Newark, DE location is hosting an Open House on June 29 and look for other dates for the other locations in July. We also are planning some pesticide registered technician training soon.

We hope your season is going well and if there's anything you need, we're here to help you!!! Thanks so much for your business!

Welcome to the Tri-State Blog page...we are looking to create a community of professionals willing to share our "real" experiences in our neck of the woods. Everyday, our customers share valuable information that we can all benefit from and we thought this would be a good way for us to all work together to benefit our industry. So share what's going on out there and what you're seeing. If you have a question, ask it here and our reps can help, too. Let this become the mecca of information for our area. We can create a network of business professionals who have found tools to make our businesses successful as well. So blog away and look frequently, you never know if there will be a special promo deal only found here. Here's to a successful 2011 and thank you for helping Tri-State grow.