Weed Control News

February 9th, 2012

ALL-ORGANIC GOLF COURSE TO IMPLEMENT FROSTBITE™ WEED CONTROL SYSTEM

Frostbite System uses man-made frost to eliminate weeds naturally without the use of chemicals or herbicides.

Winston-Salem, NC (February 9, 2012) — Jeff Carlson, golf superintendent of the Vineyard Golf Club in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, introduced a new green alternative for weed control to the golf and turf industry at the Western Canada Turfgrass Association’s (WCTA) 49th Annual Conference in Victoria, British Columbia.

Carlson, who oversees the only truly organic golf course in the United States, is not permitted to use pesticides or synthetic chemical treatments of any kind to maintain the exclusive 18-hole golf course, which is hailed as the most environmentally sensitive in the country. At the recent WCTA meeting, Carlson outlined his plans to test the Frostbite™ Weed Control System, developed by Arctic, Inc., to provide selective post-emergent control for annual bluegrass (poa annua), crabgrass, dandelion and other major weeds for the Vineyard Golf Club in 2012.
“Using frost to kill weeds just makes so much sense,” said Carlson. “We don’t have any other broad-spectrum, post-emergent weed control for organic use.”

Frostbite uses man-made frost to control weeds without traditional chemical herbicides. Through the controlled expansion of compressed air, the system kills any frost-susceptible weeds while leaving cool-season grasses unharmed. Frostbite is effective with a single application and can be used in hot (>85°F) or cold temperatures and in wet or rainy conditions.

Rob Howerton, professional landscaper, Chief Operating Officer of Arctic and inventor of Frostbite, says, “Our system uses captured carbon dioxide to create a frost that kills weeds by turning nature against itself. It’s effective and cost-competitive for controlling summer weeds like crabgrass, dandelion, seedling white clover and goosegrass. It’s also great for cooler season weeds like chickweed and henbit, especially when the weather is too cold for systemic herbicide to be effective.”

About Arctic, Inc.

Arctic, Inc., based in North Carolina, developed the patent-pending Frostbite Weed Control System with support from multiple grant sources, including the National Science Foundation and the North Carolina Board of Science and Technology. The product is commercially available in the U.S. and Canada.

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