View Full Version : Anyone currently/used to run only granular fertilizer???
MacLawnCo
10-15-2002, 07:11 PM
I went to lesco today to find out some info on fert pricing. I had the rep work up figures for doing all my fert, herbiscides, and insectisides using only granular form. Have any of you used this sort of a program before? I am going this way because i dont want the cost of a skid spray unit, less likelyhood of burning, less initial investement and ease of application. Let me know if you think that I am missing something. I would also like to know if you have had good success with a system using only pellets.
have you ever done applications before?
MacLawnCo
10-15-2002, 07:38 PM
no, how come?
" Let me know if you think that I am missing something.
nuff said
do you think it is easier to pull a hose or push a spreader filled with 30#'s or more?
what will you use for weed control?
are you using it because a sales rep said it would work?
are you planning on just applying fert?
dlandscaping
10-15-2002, 08:33 PM
After getting little to no results with granular herbicides i have switched to liquid. Although right now i am only spot spraying with confront which works wonders, the $30a bag for momentum didnt give me any i mean ANY results.
Green Pastures
10-15-2002, 09:18 PM
I use granular for only fert and pre emergent+fert. Weed control is best applied in a liquid form. I've had good success with insecticides using granular though. I swear by liquid weed control.
Scott
MacLawnCo
10-15-2002, 09:28 PM
When you guys do your liquid weed control(post em corect?), do you spot spray or do you do a blanket spray? Thanks for steering me in the right direction.
dlandscaping
10-15-2002, 10:24 PM
If you have the $$ invested in a truck mount spreader then spray the whole lawn or have a spraying unit on a ztr like LGF then spray the whole are otherwise be like me and spot spray for now.
MacLawnCo
10-15-2002, 10:50 PM
DL,
you understand exactly why im trying to get away with just granular. I can budget a skid spray unit into my expenses, but I wanted to try and get away without it. Is it practical to spot spray? The rep mentioned that option, but it seemed like it would be a hassle if there were alot of weeds. I will take your advice and consider getting a spray tank unit. I had talked to LGF about getting a mounted unit, but i did not think that it would be practical to have to mount and take it off alot. I dont have an extra z to spare for fert. Thanks for your testimony about momentum.
greenman
10-16-2002, 12:22 AM
Yeah you can use the granular, for fert. I dont use granular form of post m, only pre m. The herbicide needs to have contact on the foilage. The liquid will wet the leaves and make contact. When using granular, only part of it seems to actually stay on the leaves. You will have results with the granular form, but not too good.
KLMlawn
10-16-2002, 02:02 AM
For most all fert applications, pre-m, many insecticides, and even Balyton (fung.) a spreader will do fine, but for the weeds, crab and many fungicides, spraying is the only way to go.
MOW ED
10-16-2002, 07:37 AM
You will find that you will have good luck with granular fertilizer, it may cost a little more per application vs liquid but I personally perfer it.
You will get in trouble if you use post emergent granular weed control on a commercial basis. In my cool season lawns there are two high times of weed pressure, spring and fall with spring being the more active of the two. As was stated above, the post em products are foilar contact herbicides, to be absorbed at the leaf. Perfect conditions must exist for this product to be effective. The leaf has to be wet, the hercbicide has to be effective for the target and the herbicide must remain on the target for a period of time to be absorbed by the target.
This is a difficult window to get to on a commercial basis.
In using a granular herbicide you are basically blanketing an area with a herbicide. If it is effectively applied you will get some results but if not it is pretty irresponsible to just dump a load of herbicide on the ground to wash into the soil.
I had the same idea as you did years back and found that there is no substitute for liquid post emergent herbicide applications. If you do not do them you will get weeds to establish in a lawn eventually.
As far as blanket vs spot spray goes, you have to look at the lawn and see what kind of weed pressure exists. If I get a new lawn I check and see how much weed problem is there and decide if it would be time better spent to blanket spray the lawn or take the backpack and hit the spots.
I have had good luck with using a homemade sprayer for my Walker on large area blankets however I need to bridge the gap on the lawns of smaller than 10K sq ft so I will be getting a tank for next season.
I don't know if you are certified to apply pesticides or not but it is a requirement. Besides that, they teach you lots of good info about how to apply safely.
Good question.
GarPA
10-16-2002, 07:52 AM
I have had NO success with granular weed control...everywhere I used it this year I had to go back and spray...never again will I use that stuff...great point mentioned above about conditions having to be "perfect" for granular to work at all...I am by far no chemical expert like the guys above....but what i do know is that Momentum wont be on my shopping list in the future
PaulJ
10-16-2002, 10:42 AM
You Don't have to have a skid tank sprayer to use liguid weed control. I use a Back pack or hand held sprayer for spot treatments of weds and I have a "Grounds Wheelie" 6gal push sprayer for blanket treatments if I need it. It's worked well so far. I do have a 35gal tank that I can use to fill the sprayers with.
Even If I get a big sked sprayer, I will stick to granular for the fert. end of the program.
Paul Can you supply some more info on the "Grounds Wheelie."?
Thanks
MacLawnCo
10-16-2002, 02:27 PM
Paul, Im with Ken. May we have some more info on the whelelie? I would also like to know alittle more about your 35 gal tank that you mentioned. Where did you get it and at what cost. Thanks to all who replied.;)
PaulJ
10-17-2002, 02:08 AM
The "grounds wheelie" I think is a smaller version of a "greens wheelie"?? I got mine used with a the equip. that came with another company I bought out. It orginaly came from "A.M. leonard" I think the web address is amleo.com but I'm not sure.
the unit has a square 6 gal tank, wheels about the size of the ones on the lesco spreadr only ribbed, a folding boom with one nozzel on each end. The shut off is induvidual at each nozzel and controled by two knobs on the handles. The pump is a simple plastic tube that is squeezed by pegs on the inside of the wheel rims. It puts out about 1 gal per 1000 sq ft. (not sure, I have to recheck it since I adjusted the nozzel angle).
It works ok. gets a little heavy and I wich I could cover more ground on a tank but different nozzels might help that.
sorry I don't have more info, try the website or an A.M.Leonard catolog.
MacLawnCo
10-17-2002, 02:01 PM
Paul, is this what you have?
http://www.wheelspray.com
PaulJ
10-18-2002, 01:27 AM
Yep, That's the one.
I realy like the simplicity of it. no extra pump and engine, no dragging a hose around. Reading that makes me think I should use it more. :)
Here's another question. How often do you blanket of full spray a lawn? or do you mostly spot treat for weeds? If spot treating, do you use a back-pack or handpump sprayer or due you still use the tank and hose method? Just wondering. :confused: :)
MacLawnCo
10-20-2002, 04:05 PM
Paul,
I would love to answer your questions, but I dont do any apps yet. I am going to become liscensed within the month.
does ohio require you to work under a licensed firm for a set amount of time? michigan has this stated in their laws.
MacLawnCo
10-20-2002, 06:43 PM
Im almost positive i can just go strait out on my own. Im sure they will send me more info with my liscense.
i checked for you, ohio laws are different than michigan, yet you can obtain a michigan license with a proper mailing address. what the crap
Arnold
10-20-2002, 08:11 PM
I'm with the rest of you guys weeds need to die with liquid atleast until they make a granular that works. I spray for weeds all the time and fungicide when needed, but I use granular fungicide for pink and gray snow mold it has worked the best for me. I use granular fertilzers all the time except when I use iron to make things real green then I spray.
Tony Harrell
10-23-2002, 07:21 AM
Anyone know the approx price of the 6 or 10 gallon models? Also, is there a way to calibrate without switching nozzles?
kppurn
10-23-2002, 12:00 PM
Tony-
6 gallon- $656.22
10 gallon- $720.22
Prices are from A.M. Leonard. I'm not sure about the calibration.
SystemXpert
11-04-2002, 11:00 AM
I have found the best approach is to use a combination of granular and spray.
I'm following the Lesco Fescue program. It works quite well, but I don't attempt to use any granular weed control products except PRE-M.
Instead I use as small sprayer and spot spray weeds. However, I only do small lawns. I have been told numerous times by the Lesco reps NOT to blanket lawns with weed controls unless they are truly infested with weeds. (granular or liquid)
So I spot spray for weed controls and use granular for everything else.
MATTHEW
11-04-2002, 09:38 PM
Lesco may have a good point. I have noticed that blanket spraying of lawns seems to cause decline. You see more thatch very often. I think that it kills off essential microbes. The thing is that you can only spot spray weeds that you can see at the time. Walk over a 1/4" dandy and it'll be glowing in another week.
Customers only want to see a clean lawn.
You almost have to give it a blanket at least once.
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