What fert to use now (Ohio- getting hot and dry)??

[PTOhioMower]

My gramma had you know who ferting her lawn. She got tired of them bugging her all the time so she fired them. Anyway, her lawn has only been ferted once early this year and it needs it badly. It is getting hot and dry around here ( Central Ohio) and I am not sure what is best to use that wont burn her lawn. I have always done my own ferting on my own lawn and have always used Scotts products. I found a Lesco dealer close to me and Im curious if I will get better results with their products. They seem to have a very wide selection of chems.

So what are my options?? I should note that her lawn is almost weed free, but it is starting to become green free!

[Victor]

I'd recommend that you use a good, slow-release fertilizer, with 2, to 3% iron. The slow-release nature will give a controlled source of nutrients to her lawn, while reducing the chances of you burning her lawn (since you're new to this). The iron will give her lawn a nice, green color, that tends to be going away this time of year. I'm in Columbus too. If you need more info P.M. me and I'll help you if I can.

Vic

[indyturf]

I would go with the lesco over Scott's. I'm using 30-3-10 with 50% slow release plus 2% FE. I'm applying at 3 lbs per k to give me 1/2 lb N.

[PTOhioMower]

I'd recommend that you use a good, slow-release fertilizer, with 2, to 3% iron. The slow-release nature will give a controlled source of nutrients to her lawn, while reducing the chances of you burning her lawn (since you're new to this). The iron will give her lawn a nice, green color, that tends to be going away this time of year. I'm in Columbus too. If you need more info P.M. me and I'll help you if I can.

Vic

Thanks Vic.

I dont plan on getting into the fert stuff anytime soon, if ever. But since I have done mine and havent done any damage that I can see, I figured I would help gramma save some money by me doing it for her, free of charge of course.

I will probably go to the Lesco place and see what they tell me to use, but I wanted to see what the real pros from lawnsite suggest first.

By the way Vic, my buddy bought your Lazer Z Hp from you awhile back, and he just loves that thing. I may have to get your number from you and pass it along to my homeowners, several of them are not satisfied with thier fert company. They need someone that is reliable and affordable.

Thanks again for your suggestion.

[PTOhioMower]

I would go with the lesco over Scott's. I'm using 30-3-10 with 50% slow release plus 2% FE. I'm applying at 3 lbs per k to give me 1/2 lb N.

So I am guessing I am going to have to do some math to figure how much to apply? Does Lesco not have a "spreader setting number" on the bag like Scotts? Sorry for the stupid question, but like I said I am doing this for gramma and myself only.

[kootoomootoo]

2-3% iron doesn't do a thing ...especially to a stressed lawn. Wait for some rain and put down 1/2 -1lb lb of N

[Grassmechanic]

As Kootoomootoo said, water the lawn and get it out of drought stress first! Applying any fert to a drought stressed lawn is a good way to further damage it!

[indyturf]

2-3% iron doesn't do a thing ...especially to a stressed lawn. Wait for some rain and put down 1/2 -1lb lb of N
2% iron is pretty much standard in granular fert and I have alway had good results with it.

[indyturf]

2-3% iron doesn't do a thing ...especially to a stressed lawn. Wait for some rain and put down 1/2 -1lb lb of N
2% fe is pretty much the standard for granular fertilizer, I have had great results using it.

[indyturf]

So I am guessing I am going to have to do some math to figure how much to apply? Does Lesco not have a "spreader setting number" on the bag like Scotts? Sorry for the stupid question, but like I said I am doing this for gramma and myself only.
lesco bags should have the spreader setting on the bag, I'm doing apps at 1/2 the rate for the summer so I will get 30k from a 50 lb bag and apply .5 lbs of N per K. You could go heavier since the lawn is under fertilized or even better do 2 separate apps about 4 weeks apart. if it has been dry just plan on watering a couple times heavily after the applications. also if lesco doesn't give you a good price since you dont buy a lot of fert you can get lesco fert at Home Depot. I would just spot spray any weeds that may pop up and blanket the lawn this fall with weed control.

[BUCKEYE MOWING]

Vic, Where in Columbus ? Why not stick with Scotts brand products.....

[lilmarvin4064]

see if you can find some 14-0-27. If not then 21-3-21.

Um, 30-3-10 applied at 3#/M will give you 0.9 #N/M not 0.5# (.3 x 3 = .9)

[Victor]

I'm glad your buddy likes that Lazer I sold him. Just so you know. My 60" Lazer will up for sale this Fall. It's only got 210 hours on it.

Buckeye, I'm out by Canal Winchester. How about you? I don't use Lesco products. I use Anderson's brand. This time of year, I put down Advanced Turf Solutions 22-3-11 with 3% FE. I get great results from it.

Vic

[turfsurfer]

First of all 3 lbs per 1000 of 30-3-10 will net you .90 lbs N per 1000, not 1/2 pound, and yes you will have to do a little math. My Summer round will be Lescos 18-0-18 at 4 lbs/1000, 50% slow release and 4% iron yeilding a little under 3/4 lb N per 1000. We are not under that much drought stress yet, and telling a guy to put down 1 lb of N in Summer without specifying the percentage if any of slow release is not good advice in my opinion. Slow release fert. will NOT stress the lawn any further, it will just lay there and slowly feed it as we get rain events, helping relieve summer problems such as dollar spot disease. Iron will help maintain green color without pushing too much growth. Which Lesco are you going to? Maybe I can suggest who to talk to there.
By the way Vic, I tried to call you the other day to see how things were going and how you were liking that new sprayer. Got your voice mail and didn't leave a message. Will try again sometime. Have a good one.

[Norm Al]

dont put any fert down and you will make $millions!

[PTOhioMower]

First of all 3 lbs per 1000 of 30-3-10 will net you .90 lbs N per 1000, not 1/2 pound, and yes you will have to do a little math. My Summer round will be Lescos 18-0-18 at 4 lbs/1000, 50% slow release and 4% iron yeilding a little under 3/4 lb N per 1000. We are not under that much drought stress yet, and telling a guy to put down 1 lb of N in Summer without specifying the percentage if any of slow release is not good advice in my opinion. Slow release fert. will NOT stress the lawn any further, it will just lay there and slowly feed it as we get rain events, helping relieve summer problems such as dollar spot disease. Iron will help maintain green color without pushing too much growth. Which Lesco are you going to? Maybe I can suggest who to talk to there.
By the way Vic, I tried to call you the other day to see how things were going and how you were liking that new sprayer. Got your voice mail and didn't leave a message. Will try again sometime. Have a good one.


GREAT INFO!!!

So what is the math formula to calculate how much N to put down?

Oh yea, Im going to the Lesco in Gahanna.

[turfsurfer]

The analysis on the bag is the percentage of each nutrient by weight. For example a 50 lb bag of 24-5-11 will consist of 24% nitrogen or 12 lbs. Divide that twelve pounds by the area you will treat (in thousand square feet) to give you how much you are putting down per thousand sq ft. Example 24-5-11 will provide 1 lb of N per 1000 to 12,000 sq ft lawn or 3/4 lb per thousand to a 15,000 sq ft lawn. The coverage listings on the bag usually assume you are applying 1 lb of N per thousand.
Jobey at the Gahanna store has a degree from Ohio State. Scott is the manager. Doug at the new Grove City store used to manage the Gahanna store, has been in the industry for a long time and is pretty knowledgable. Tell them you talked to Rob from Easy Acres. They also refer work to me when the opportunity comes around.

[topsites]

So I am guessing I am going to have to do some math to figure how much to apply? Does Lesco not have a "spreader setting number" on the bag like Scotts? Sorry for the stupid question, but like I said I am doing this for gramma and myself only.

Ok, here's the deal:

First, I don't care what your spreader setting is because I can spread two bags of fertilizer on my 1 acre lot whether the spreader is set to 1 or 6 or 10 or anything in between, it is mostly a matter of how fast you walk. Basically, the faster you walk, the more SPREAD you get per pass and the slower you walk, the more concentrated it is, but the chem flows through the chute at the same rate regardless of how fast you walk, the flow is affected by how far the chute is open.

For starters, I would use an opening between 1/4 to 1/3 way of open, I think 1/2 way might be a bit much, so less than half way open.
And walk normal. But gauge as you go, you may find you need to walk a little faster or slower, you will see what I mean.

Now, on an acre lot, 40-50 pounds of 60 percent nitrogen is a light fertilization while 80-100 pounds of 60 percent nitrogen is heavy fertilization. Being that it is hot and dry, you want a light application.
How light?
Well, if it's too light you can do it again in a couple of weeks.
If it's too heavy, you may burn the lawn.
So, go light.

On an acre:
So, 6 bags of 10-10-10 is light, 12 bags of 10-10-10 is heavy.
2 bags of 34-0-0 is light, 3-4 bags of 34-0-0 is heavy.
1 bag of 100-0-0 is in between, roughly.
40 or 50 pound bags makes about a 20 percent difference, check the weight.

Since you're going light, consider throwing down one bag of lime for every 40 pounds at 10 percent, so 3 bags of lime for 1 bag of 34-0-0, but at least 2 in this example with the 34%. This is because the magnesium in the lime will help boost the effect of the fertililizer without hurting the lawn.

[PTOhioMower]

Ok, here's the deal:

First, I don't care what your spreader setting is because I can spread two bags of fertilizer on my 1 acre lot whether the spreader is set to 1 or 6 or 10 or anything in between, it is mostly a matter of how fast you walk. Basically, the faster you walk, the more SPREAD you get per pass and the slower you walk, the more concentrated it is, but the chem flows through the chute at the same rate regardless of how fast you walk, the flow is affected by how far the chute is open.

For starters, I would use an opening between 1/4 to 1/3 way of open, I think 1/2 way might be a bit much, so less than half way open.
And walk normal. But gauge as you go, you may find you need to walk a little faster or slower, you will see what I mean.

Now, on an acre lot, 40-50 pounds of 60 percent nitrogen is a light fertilization while 80-100 pounds of 60 percent nitrogen is heavy fertilization. Being that it is hot and dry, you want a light application.
How light?
Well, if it's too light you can do it again in a couple of weeks.
If it's too heavy, you may burn the lawn.
So, go light.

On an acre:
So, 6 bags of 10-10-10 is light, 12 bags of 10-10-10 is heavy.
2 bags of 34-0-0 is light, 3-4 bags of 34-0-0 is heavy.
1 bag of 100-0-0 is in between, roughly.
40 or 50 pound bags makes about a 20 percent difference, check the weight.

Since you're going light, consider throwing down one bag of lime for every 40 pounds at 10 percent, so 3 bags of lime for 1 bag of 34-0-0, but at least 2 in this example with the 34%. This is because the magnesium in the lime will help boost the effect of the fertililizer without hurting the lawn.


Topsites, thanks for your; whatever that was.

But I was asking the Professionals.

[rshofcols]

go with what victor says and go with the 22-3-11 3 % fe and your yards will
thank you for it