When it comes to putting down roots, Cranberry’s turfgrass team, under the leadership of Grounds Maintenance Manager Rebecca Auchter, takes the prize. Literally. In a recent “Roots for You!” competition organized by Holganix – an eastern Pennsylvania-based producer of plant nutrients – Cranberry’s entry was chosen as the winning submission. The criteria for judgment centered around the depth and density of grass roots grown using the company’s products. Until two years ago, Auchter’s team had trouble getting playing field grass roots to grow any deeper than two or three inches – a significant problem for fields as heavily used as Cranberry’s. But after two years of applying the company’s products, which use natural microorganisms instead of chemicals, the roots measured more than five inches in depth. The resulting field care program allowed her crew to cut back on the volume of nitrogen used by 28%, reducing both maintenance cost and environmental impact. A $500 cash award which was received as part of the award will be used to purchase new AED units in the parks.