Initial Challenges of Pilot Lawn:
- Unknown Pathogenic Fungus: Professional caretaker has tried to reduce damage from Pathogenic fungus that Extension office cannot identify for sure- appears to be some form of fungus from the ocean that spread to property.
- Severe Lawn Damage: lawn is covered with brown patches and yellow color in the hot summer months. Lawn must be re-seeded each year due to summertime damage.
- High Water Use: Due to hot summer temperatures commonly above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, entire property is watered twice a day at 30-35 minutes per zone.
Scope of Pilot Study
Two areas were selected on opposite sides of the property to avoid incidental exposure to H2Organix and MicroMin. Treated area product dosage: Less than 1 gallon per acre
Treated: Estimated 3,800 square feet on South side of property. Area exposed to full sun and was mostly impacted by pathogenic fungus and poor grass health/color. Worst lawn health of pilot location. Area is watered 2 times a day.
Untreated: Estimated 1,700 square feet on North side of property. Area protected by partial shade in the afternoon and was mostly impacted by pathogenic fungus and poor grass health/color. Second worst lawn health of pilot location. Area is watered 2 times a day.
2022 H2Organix Pilot Results
Within 8 weeks of initial treatment…
- Majority of Pathogenic Fungus is gone: Treated section showed less than 5% damage, pathogen appeared to not be actively damaging the grass, and lawn area showed signs of regrowth. Untreated section showed roughly 40% damage and the pathogen is still actively damaging the grass, and the lawn area is not showing signs of regrowth.
- Damaged Sections are Regrowing: Treated area showed signs of regrowth where pathogen damage occurred. Untreated area is not showing signs of regrowth where pathogen damage occurred. Professional caretaker excited to not have to re-seed treated area because it is much healthier than it historically has been.
- First Time Water Reduction: Treated area health is performing beyond expectation of lawn care specialist. Water has been reduced 50% as of 8/16/2022 for observation over the remaining high temperature days of summer to see if lawn improvement can be maintained for the remainder of the growing season.
H2Organix Data Review
Location
Photos to the right are expanded images of the circled areas on the left identifying Untreated versus treated areas.
Historical Lawn Health
Aerial images from google maps confirms the historic health of treated versus untreated areas.
Untreated Lawn Area
- Lawn health is low, color is yellowed.
- Pathogen impact is noticalbe and very active.
- No regrowth in damaged areas.
- Soil appears to be significantly drier.
Treated Lawn Area
- Lawn Health is high, vibrant green color,
- Pathogen impact hard to notice, not active.
- Regrowth has occurred in most damaged areas.
- Soil appears to retain moisture better.
Professional Caretaker Review
“I have taken care of this property for the past 6 years. Every year we have to water this property two times a day during the hot summer months and every year the lawn health is so bad. Every August, this lawn is usually yellow with large areas that are completely dead and bare dirt. We have had to re-seed this lawn every year and every summer it ends up looking really bad. This is the first year that this lawn has looked green and healthy in August, and we may not have to do any reseeding this fall. I can see the lawn coming back on its own and the lawn looks great. This is the first year that we have been able to cut our water use back on this lawn, and we are currently monitoring a 50% reduction in water use for the rest of the summer. I really hope this works so I can do more to conserve water in my region.”
How Does This Pilot Program Impact Lawn Care?
Bactelife offers a regenerative approach to lawns that allows them to use less fertilizer and chemicals. This in turn can offer citizens and professionals:
- Climate Smart Practices
- Greater resilience in grass varieties.
- Decreased use of water
- Decreased use of toxic chemicals
- Soil Management practices that enhance soil health.
At larger scale, governments of all sizes are searching for options that allow a reduction in water usage and decrease the negative impacts that standard lawncare inflicts upon the environments that we live in. In Utah, Governor Cox recently called for government facilities and state agencies to reduce their water use by 25% by 2026. This was Bactelife’s first government testing site conducted in Washington County Utah. Though under first stages of observation, lawn health allowed professionals to reduce water to treated areas by 50%. 12 additional areas throughout the state of Utah have been selected to expand replication value and validation of product efficacy. Recent national bills that have been passed are focused on reducing the detrimental effects of fertilizer to both the air and soil. Bactelife provides a significant solution that can be used at all levels of society. Currently sourced and manufactured in the USA.
