I was offered the chance to take over the grounds of Fairplex, home to the Los Angles County Fair, in August, 1992. I resigned from my position of 17 years as Lecturer/Nursery Technician for the Department of Ornamental Horticulture at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.

One of the major problem areas I needed to tackle as quickly as possible was to initiate a proper feeding program to the 600+ acres that comprises Fairplex, Los Angles County Fair and Exposition Complex.

We have a fair amount of palms, as do many large areas in Southern California, and most of which were exhibiting classic deficiency symptoms. Yellowing or necrosis of the fronds with age, some with frizzle top. Granular top application were working, but over.under applications were problems, as were fairly often repeat applications. As I had hoped and anticipated, the Spikes have worked quite well on our palms. I am currently planning orders for our second year application.

One grouping of Phoenis canariensis that have been in raised planters for the last 20 years have shown drastic improvements. Archontophoenix cunninghamiana's that were consistently dropping fronds early are now holding heads of 8 to 12 fronds. Drastically up from 4 to 5 fronds from only 8 months ago. It is staggering to see the difference. They work so well that this year all palms are going to be treated with the stakes.

One funny side note. If your palms are in a grass area that is being grown with lower rates of nitrogen to decrease mowing frequency, beware. You will develop nice little circles about 8 inches in diameter above the area where the spike was inserted into the soil. This can be eliminated by general feeding of the lawn area, but you will increase your mowing frequency. But the lawn will look better.

I have also used them successfully in treating some deficiency problems in Sequoia sempervirens and Sequoiadendron gigantia.

Thanks for your follow-up interest in your customers. It is a nice touch in the business world to know that someone really does care.

Donald DeLano
Fairplex, Pomona, CA

In 1987 when Charles Lewison was superintendent at Dunedin C.C, Dunedin, FL., he tried and compared broadcasting, liquid injection and foliar spraying on 395 palms. Each method has major drawbacks, Lewison points out. In broadcasting, the fertilizer has to work its way through grass and thatch. In the process, rain and irrigation cause premature loss. The liquid injection dissipated even faster and foliar spraying required frequent applications.

Hearing of my frustrations, the Lutz Corporation developed their spikes, says Lewison.

In 1989 we used the spikes on 25 palms, and broadcasting and my drill/pour method on 360 palms. The other 10 palms were left untreated for comparison purposes.

The drill/pour and broadcasting took effect slightly sooner, but after 90 to 120 days those palms were again starting to show symptoms of deficiency. The 25 palms fed with Lutz spikes continued to show healthy green-up and top growth, reports Lewison.

To determine why this was happening, Lewison dug down to where the spikes had been placed. We found at least 50% of each spike still available for continued feeding. We were unable to find any trace of the poured fertilizer. This confirms Dr. Hunter’s research that 70% of granular fertilizer is lost after 10 inches of water.

After one year the Lutz/Spiked palms, while showing little if any deficiency symptoms, could probably use a maintenance treatment.

The Lutz spikes not only cut our labor time, but in the process, completely out-performed the other feeding methods. As a result, we have gone 100% to Lutz spikes, Says Lewison.

Charles Lewison
Dunedin C.C., Dunedin, FL

These are my queen palms. We've been using the manganese and palm maintenance spikes to grow these. Thanks for making an awesome product. The results are proof!

Ivan Borjas

I just wanted to tell Mr. Lutz that I have purchased all three spikes to treat my queen Palms in the desert. It has been about three months and ALL 15 of my queen Palms have healthy spikes coming out with new lush green foliage! Amazing! I am telling all of my neighbors about your product. You saved my trees; I was going to cut them down and replace them with Mexican Fans. I will be a client for life.

Benjamin Leaskou
Palm Springs, FL

Your Citrus Tablets are absolutely great. I’m sold on them. Your customer service is super as well. My trees have never looked so good and have more fruit than ever.

Carol Macdonell
Austin, TX

In addition to citrus, Mr. Joseph Powell of Powell’s Nursery in Punta Gorda, Florida has had very good success using our Super Citrus Tablets on hardwoods such as Oak, Holly, Black Olive and Mahogany. On these he recommends using only 2 to 3 tablets per inch of trunk diameter. He tells me he has seen these trees go from a 2" caliper and about 8’ high to 3" caliper and 12’ high in one year. Mr. Powell also tells me that some of his customers report the Citrus Tablets also do an excellent job on peach, apple and pear trees.

Joseph Powell
Powell’s Nursery
Punta Gorda, FL

Because of the chlorosis these trees have had, they would have lost about 65% to 75 % of their leaves by June 1st as they yellow and die off.

Started using Lutz spikes for chlorosis in Spring of 2015 and immediately saw significant improvement in the leaf color and size. I am in year two and you can see the very vigorous growth and healthy stems and leaves due to the feeding with Lutz Spikes. The leaf size is FOUR times what it was just two years ago and a lush green color as well.

Now, to be clear, these images are of two different trees just to show you the huge contrast in what Lutz product has done for me. The weaker birch tree (with the chlorosis veins, yellowing on the leaves, and a little sparse) is on back side and close to the house. The leaching of the mortar into the soil causes the chlorosis to be worse and it will take a bit more time to get back to 100 % health but this time last year about 75 % of the leaves had fallen off and it looked like the end of October on June 1st.

In my second year of treatment, 90 % of my leaves are still on tree and although not perfect, a huge improvement over last year. By next year, I believe all will be great. In the image of the very healthy tree - just 24 months ago - it looked just like the weaker birch tree image - and today - you can see the incredible results of what Lutz spikes can do for your trees. I also have Holly trees that used to have large yellow patches - again, chlorosis - but today they are all healthy and green.

It takes time and best to treat over a period of 2 to 3 years for maximum results. I like to use a combination of the pellets and the spikes to maximize my result but if you will notice the second image you can see the HUGE positive results. I am sold on Lutz products - and my trees are better for it!

Andrew
TN

Thank you for your card of August 31st regarding our experience with your Super Iron Chlorosis Pellets. We use the Pellets on Azaleas and Rhododendrons and have had excellent results using them. We especially like them because they last longer than other iron we have used in the past.

John Munnich
J & M Homes & Gardens
Port Jefferson Station, NY