Knox Fertilizer

What Knox Fertilizer does

Knox Fertilizer Company, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and ice melt products headquartered in Knox, Indiana. Founded in 1950 by Robert and Georgia Shaw and still controlled by their descendants, the company operates a dual-market model spanning a professional turf segment — serving golf course superintendents, sports turf managers, and professional lawn care operators through direct B2B sales under the Shaw's, SurfCote, XRT, and One & Done brands — and a consumer segment distributing Schultz, Twin Pine, and Gro-Fine lawn-and-garden products through retail channels to homeowners. The company also sells ice control products (Knox Ice Melter and Premium Remove Ice Control) for both commercial and residential de-icing use.

The company's core technical platform is its proprietary polymer resin encapsulation technology, branded SurfCote and XRT, in which each fertilizer granule is encased in a durable micro-thin shell. Soil moisture diffuses into the granule and dissolves the urea core; rising temperatures then liquefy the urea, which slowly passes through the polymer membrane to deliver nutrients over a period of up to 90 days. This controlled-release mechanism is integrated into combination products such as One & Done, which pairs SurfCote nitrogen with Acelepryn and Dimension herbicides and insecticides to deliver season-long weed and pest control in a single application.

Knox's revenue model is overwhelmingly product-based: professional customers receive quote-based pricing through a dedicated Quote Engine, while consumer brands flow through retail distribution. The company supplements its in-house R&D with an extensive partner ecosystem spanning nine agrochemical and specialty input suppliers — BASF, Bayer Environmental Science, Corteva Agriscience, FMC Corporation, Gowan Company, Syngenta Professional Products, Nufarm Americas, PBI Gordon Corporation, and KMB Technologies — that contribute active ingredients, complementary technologies, and distribution reach. Geographically, the Northwest Indiana headquarters positions Knox within reach of most major U.S. metropolitan markets between the Appalachians and Rockies, with reported market concentration in the Midwest region.

Name

Knox Fertilizer

Legal name

Knox Fertilizer Company, Inc.

Website

https://knoxfert.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1950

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Knox Fertilizer is a third-generation, family-owned manufacturer of controlled-release fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides serving professional turf managers (golf courses, sports fields) and consumer lawn-and-garden markets through proprietary SurfCote polymer encapsulation technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Turf and Lawn Care Products

NAICS

Fertilizer and Compost Manufacturing (32531), Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253), Fertilizer (Mixing Only) Manufacturing (325314)

SIC

Agricultural Chemicals (2870)

akta.pro primary industry

Controlled-Release & Stabilized Fertilizers (Inhibitors/Coatings) (IMAEAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Turf & Ornamental Specialty Fertilizers (Golf, Sports Turf, Landscaping) (AFABACAM), Liquid Specialty Fertilizers (Suspensions, Solutions, UAN Blends) (AFABACAF), Fertigation-Grade Specialty Fertilizers (Drip/Injector Compatible) (AFABACAE), Foliar Fertilizers & Foliar Nutrition Programs (AFABACAC), Fertilization Programs (Granular & Liquid) (HSAIAGAA)

Keywords

• Professional turf fertilizers
• Controlled-release fertilizers
• Turf herbicides insecticides
• Ice melt products
• Consumer lawn care

Headquarters

HQ city

Knox

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Professional Turf Products: Sale of professional-grade fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and combination products to golf courses, sports turf managers, and lawn care professionals. Includes SurfCote, XRT, Shaw's, and One & Done branded products.
2. Consumer Lawn and Garden Products: Sale of consumer-branded fertilizers and plant foods through retail channels to homeowners. Includes Schultz, Twin Pine, and Gro-Fine branded products.
3. Ice Melt Products: Sale of ice control products including Knox Ice Melter and Remove Premium Ice Control for commercial and residential de-icing applications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Knox Fertilizer Company manufactures and sells a broad line of fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, combination products, and ice-control products for professional turf managers (golf courses, sports fields, lawn-care professionals) and consumer homeowners. Its professional-grade products leverage proprietary SurfCote and XRT polymer-resin-encapsulation controlled-release technologies that extend nutrient release for up to 90 days, while combination products such as One & Done integrate herbicide and insecticide active ingredients with controlled-release nitrogen to reduce application frequency.

Product overview

Knox Fertilizer Company offers a dual-market product portfolio spanning professional turf management and consumer lawn/garden applications. The professional brands include the Shaw's line of fertilizers (containing proprietary SurfCote controlled-release technology extending nutrient release up to 90 days), Shaw's Nutritional Liquids, herbicide/insecticide products, control granules, water soluble fertilizers, and ice control products. The company also offers the One & Done combination herbicide/insecticide product and uses proprietary XRT and SurfCote polymer resin encapsulation technologies. Consumer offerings include Schultz plant food, Twin Pine economy products, and Gro-Fine. The portfolio is organized around controlled-release fertilizer technology as a core differentiator, serving both golf/professional turf managers and residential homeowners.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Shaw's Professional Turf: Premium line of fertilizers for quality lawn and professional turf care products with controlled-release Surfcote technology
• Shaw's Nutritional Liquids
• SurfCote
• One & Done
• XRT
• Economy Knox Ice Melter
• Premium Remove Ice Control

Products and services

• Shaw's Professional Turf Fertilizers Premium line of fertilizers for quality lawn and professional turf care products containing SurfCote controlled-release technology that extends nutrient release by up to 90 days, targeted at professional turf managers.
• Shaw's Professional Turf Herbicides Premium turf herbicides containing branded active ingredients to control pre- and post-emergent weed problems on professional turf.
• Shaw's Professional Turf Insecticides Insecticide combination fertilizers with sufficient residual activity for application preceding egg-laying activity of target pests on professional turf.
• One & Done Herbicide/Insecticide Combination Combination product pairing controlled-release nitrogen technology with Acelepryn and Dimension to control insects and crabgrass all season long, reducing the number of applications needed on professional golf turf.
• Shaw's Control Granules (Treflan 500) Pre-emergence herbicide in granule form providing long-lasting control of annual grasses and broadleaf weeds for ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers.
• Shaw's Nutritional Liquids Selection of traditionally utilized liquid fertilizers and proprietary liquid solutions offered at competitive price points for professional turf and lawn care customers.
• Shaw's Water Soluble Fertilizers Fertilizers capable of being dissolved in water, making minerals and nutrients available for plant and turf absorption in various formula configurations.
• SurfCote Controlled Release Fertilizers Advanced controlled-release fertilizer technology using polymer resin encapsulation with sustained release; each granule is encased in a durable micro-thin shell that allows soil moisture to gradually diffuse and dissolve urea, with rising temperatures liquefying urea for consistent nutrient delivery over up to 90 days on golf turf.
• XRT Controlled Release Technology Fertilizers Controlled-release fertilizer technology extending nutrient release by up to 90 days, keeping turf and crops healthy by delivering nutrients when plants need them.
• Platinum Golf Fertilizers Micronized, dust-free pellets with patented technology providing season-long release delivering more usable nitrogen; each uniform pellet contains a complete range of essential plant nutrients released slowly and consistently on golf turf.
• Premium Remove Ice Control Premium ice melt blend specially formulated to melt faster and longer than competitors, penetrating ice quickly and working effectively at below-zero temperatures for commercial and residential de-icing.
• Economy Knox Ice Melter Blended ice melter for de-icing sidewalks, steps, driveways, and parking lots; safe to use with no messy residue, cost efficient and value priced.
• Schultz Plant Food Consumer lawn and garden plant food brand sold to homeowners through retail channels.
• Twin Pine Economy consumer lawn and garden brand sold to homeowners through retail channels.
• Gro-Fine Consumer brand lawn and garden product line sold to homeowners through retail channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• Extends nutrient release by up to 90 days

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• LebanonTurf: LebanonTurf is a leading manufacturer of professional turf fertilizers, combination products, and specialty products for golf courses, sports fields, and lawn care operators. It competes head-to-head with Knox's Shaw's and SurfCote lines via its own Country Club MD, Emerald Isle, and EXPO brands, making it the closest direct peer in controlled-release and turf nutrition.
• The Andersons (Professional Products): The Andersons' lawn and professional turf division (under Andersons Lawn) and its Plant Food Group (NutriDG, XF, etc.) sell controlled-release fertilizers, herbicides, and combination products to golf courses, sports turf, and lawn care operators - a direct overlap with Knox's SurfCote, XRT, and One & Done portfolio on technology and customer profile.
• Harrell's LLC: Harrell's is a vertically integrated formulator and distributor of fertilizers, pesticides, and specialty turf products sold primarily to golf course superintendents and sports turf managers in the Southeast US. Its formulation, packaging, and direct-to-superintendent sales model mirrors Knox's professional brands motion.
• Brandt Consolidated: Brandt is a specialty formulation company producing foliar nutrients, micronutrients, and plant growth products for agriculture and turf markets. Brandt's specialty liquid and foliar product lines overlap with Knox's Shaw's Nutritional Liquids and SurfCote offerings in target use cases and formulations.

Broad incumbents

• ICL Specialty Fertilizers (Everris): ICL Specialty Fertilizers (formerly Everris) is a global leader in controlled-release fertilizers (Osmocote, Sierrablen, Sportsmaster) serving turf, horticulture, and ornamentals. It is a much larger competitor of Knox in the controlled-release professional turf segment with international scale Knox lacks.
• Scotts Miracle-Gro: Scotts Miracle-Gro is the dominant US consumer lawn and garden fertilizer brand (Scotts, Turf Builder) and also owns prosumer/professional turf assets. Its consumer footprint overlaps Knox's Schultz, Twin Pine, and Gro-Fine brands in DIY lawn fertilizer retail.
• Lebanon Seaboard (parent of LebanonTurf): Lebanon Seaboard Corporation is the diversified parent of LebanonTurf and Pro Division, producing both consumer and professional turf fertilizer lines plus animal/paddock products. The Pro Division is a direct peer of Knox in professional turf, while the broader portfolio competes for shelf in consumer channels.

Emerging players

• Nufarm Americas: Nufarm is a global crop protection and seed treatment company with a US turf-and-ornamentals business that competes in the same golf and lawn care segments as Knox, particularly on herbicides and combination products. Nufarm is also a stated partner of Knox, indicating overlap in distribution as well as formulation lines.
• CPRL/Central Marketing / Helena Agri-Enterprises: Helena Agri-Enterprises distributes specialty fertilizers, crop protection, and turf inputs across the Midwest and Southeast, often blending and formulating with custom chemistry. Its distribution-adjacent model and Midwest footprint place it in direct competition with Knox on regional golf and lawn care accounts.
• Quali-Pro / Control Solutions Inc. Control Solutions Inc. (CSI) and its Quali-Pro brand produce post-patent and branded turf and ornamental pesticides, fertilizers, and combination products targeting golf, lawn care, and pest management operators. Its combination-product approach mirrors Knox's One & Done strategy at generally lower price points.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Knox Fertilizer