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Recommended spray nozzle to apply Borax at 2.5 gallons per 1000 sq ft out of backpack sprayer.

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oqueoque

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I looking to try this and was not sure if nozzle clogging is an issue. Any recommendations on a teejet nozzle for a backpack? I will be spraying Creeping Charlie and will try it on other weeds growing in bluegrass, tall fescue, rye and zoysia using the rate from Iowa State University.

hortnews.extension.iastate.edu

Can borax be used to control creeping Charlie in the lawn?

hortnews.extension.iastate.edu hortnews.extension.iastate.edu
 
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#2 ·
Strange suggestions for the use of borax from a fine university in Iowa.
Using a backpack to apply 2.5 gallons on a thousand sqft--sounds impractical to me.
My backpack applies about a half-gallon per thousand sqft. You would have to go over the area 5 times to hit a rate of 2.5 gallons per thousand sqft.
Maybe you could find an adapter to put a 3/4 inch garden hose thread on the outlet hose. Then use a garden hose nozzle --or--pistol grip garden hose nozzle. You get a lot more gallons per minute. Plan to pump vigorously.
Notice the line..."The damaging effects of the liquid borax on Kentucky bluegrass lasted for 40 weeks...".
SuperTrimec seemed to be just as good and safer for the grass.
 
#3 ·
Use warm water to dissolve the Boraxo. Nozzle(s) will then be fine.

I've not seen it harm other plants.

you will still want to rake up the dried vines. They will come up en-masse, very easily, dessicated and stiffened by the borax results. That'll open up the turf to recover better.

I use a Fan nozzle with a shroud for most broader area spot spraying like this.
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
44DCNF said:
Use warm water to dissolve the Boraxo. Nozzle(s) will then be fine.

I've not seen it harm other plants.

you will still want to rake up the dried vines. They will come up en-masse, very easily, dessicated and stiffened by the borax results. That'll open up the turf to recover better.

I use a Fan nozzle with a shroud for most broader area spot spraying like this.
Click to expand...
Thanks I saw in earlier threads that you have used borax successfully before. When you used i,t have you seen it kill any other weeds besides Creeping Charlie? I going to experiment on a commercial lawn I maintain, that they want mowed so the town does not complain, and at some point is going to be completely redeveloped. I found Fiesta mixed with Branch Creeks Weed Shield killed a lot and did not harm the grass.
 
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Discussion starter · #5 ·
RigglePLC said:
Strange suggestions for the use of borax from a fine university in Iowa.
Using a backpack to apply 2.5 gallons on a thousand sqft--sounds impractical to me.
My backpack applies about a half-gallon per thousand sqft. You would have to go over the area 5 times to hit a rate of 2.5 gallons per thousand sqft.
Maybe you could find an adapter to put a 3/4 inch garden hose thread on the outlet hose. Then use a garden hose nozzle --or--pistol grip garden hose nozzle. You get a lot more gallons per minute. Plan to pump vigorously.
Notice the line..."The damaging effects of the liquid borax on Kentucky bluegrass lasted for 40 weeks...".
SuperTrimec seemed to be just as good and safer for the grass.
Click to expand...
24d is a lot easier to use, but I'm looking to offer an organic alternative, and I will charge a good amount for it, if I find some people are willing to pay a lot more for it. At this point I'm looking for things organic to spray to avoid hand pulling.
 
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#10 ·
phasthound said:
Acctually, everything on Earth came from the Stars. But this has nothing to do with the definition of synthetic or organic pesticides.
Click to expand...
So here is little quick Google search on borax.
Seems as dangerous as anything else synthetic.

Borax is also synthetically formed as a by-product of mining operations of borate deposits.

Borax causes irritation of skin and respiratory tract. The gastrointestinal tract, skin, vascular system and brain are the principal organs and tissues affected. It causes nausea, persistant vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, depression and renal failure.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
bwi said:
Did you look at Fiesta
Click to expand...
I tried Fiesta mixed with Branch Creeks Weed Shield and it did a great job on clover and some other weeds, but had no effect on the ground ivy. Have you controlled ground ivy with Fiesta?
 
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Discussion starter · #16 ·
phasthound said:
Fiesta is labeled for ground Ivy. It may require several applications at the high rate.
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I don't see it on the label. The only thing I see is : Controls weeds: Bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus repens), Dandelion (Taraxicum officinale), Moss, Speedwell spp. , Persian speedwell (Veronica persica), White clover (Trifolium repens) Suppresses weeds: Black medic (Medicago lupulina), English daisy (Bellis perennis), Common chickweed* (Stellaria media). *At high rate only
 
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#18 ·
oqueoque said:
I looking to try this and was not sure if nozzle clogging is an issue. Any recommendations on a teejet nozzle for a backpack? I will be spraying Creeping Charlie and will try it on other weeds growing in bluegrass, tall fescue, rye and zoysia using the rate from Iowa State University.

hortnews.extension.iastate.edu

Can borax be used to control creeping Charlie in the lawn?

hortnews.extension.iastate.edu hortnews.extension.iastate.edu
Click to expand...
Sounds like you got a boron deficiency reading from a Rutgers soil test. I applied Borax deleted per Rutgers soil test from two years ago and a standard 2 gallon tank with a spray nozzle (not stream) did not clog.
 
Discussion starter · #19 ·
bwi said:
Check again, its on there
Click to expand...
I see the Ohio state data/trial. Is that what you are referring to? I have a gallon and will try it, and I will try it mixed with Branch Creek's Weed Shield on some trial areas.
 
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Discussion starter · #20 ·
Love the Green Biz said:
Sounds like you got a boron deficiency reading from a Rutgers soil test. I applied Borax deleted per Rutgers soil test from two years ago and a standard 2 gallon tank with a spray nozzle (not stream) did not clog.
Click to expand...
No I was looking for an product considered Organic to kill Ground Ivy, that I could use. I'm thinking about getting rid of the help and just doing applications for as many as I can do in a week's time, and thought Organic might make me more money and have less picky customers. I turned 70 and want to do some income supplementing work with less aggravation, that will give me time off to travel. Hopefully I could gross close to $10,000 in 7 days, and do it 6 weeks a year, plus more $ from seeding
 
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