Saving water by using a turf colorant that is safe and long lasting is gaining acceptance in the lawn care business.

It started in Southern California during a down housing market and is now moving to Texas where the grass has turned brown from the extended drought and water restrictions.

Lawn care entrepreneurs are using golf course solutions to help residential customers. Turf colorants, whether a darker bluegrass tint or a grayer bermudagrass tint, are being applied to lawns to reduce the use of water while maintaining a greener looking yard.

The San Antonia TV station KSAT reported that Dan Agold, owner Texas Green Grass, Inc., has been applying the turf dye at about $0.18 per square foot which lasts about 3 months unless it is mowed off.

Tru Mark starting marketing comparable turf colorant products several years ago, SwitchBack Kameelyan Blue Turf Colorant and SwitchBack Kameelyan Bermuda Turf Colorant.

These turf colorants have been successfully tested on evergreen trees as well.

There are no metals, salts nor EPA restricted materials in these turf colorants. You can change the tint by reducing or increasing the dilution ratios using water. The turf colorants have been tested from 9 parts water to 1 part colorant to 19 parts water to 1 part colorant with excellent color holding performance over a 2-3 month period.

Sports Turf Managers Association (STMA) conference members from golf facilities are reporting they are typically applying the turf colorant in the late fall before the grass turns dormant (still has some green color) and again late winter just as the grass is coming out of dormancy. The STMA members stated that the fall application helps maintain a green color longer. They believed there was less absorption by the leaf with more colorant staying on the leaf surface. Also with the late winter early spring application the STMA members felt that the growing process was accelerated with more of the suns energy being absorbed by the leaf due to the darker color.

A recent article was posted in the Superintendent golf course magazine (July 2011 issue) on the topic of turf colorants and industry suppliers reporting on the improved products coming to the marketplace.