Alfalfa Meal vs. Soybean Meal
raymondo17
16 years ago
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rutgers1
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Milargonite vs Soybean meal experiment
Comments (1)Keep us posted, Egg. That's what we all need, is a little 'let's compare A to B on purpose' scientific method. bite the bullet. put Weed B Gone on the clover, then seven days later, do it again. Then inspect the clover after that: if there's any left, hit it the third time, on the fifteenth day. (Zap clover, seven days, zap clover, seven days, zap clover if needed). Remember Dr. Wesson's sign (he partnered with Smith to make Smith and Wesson revolvers) "Trespassers will be shot. Survivors will be shot again." Treat clover, and creeping charlie, the same way....See MoreSoybean Meal vs Alfalfa Pellets?
Comments (13)No problem with the questions...sorry for slow response, been busy painting the house. Now there is a job I hate. I love organic, but it's not a short term deal, it might take a few years to get your lawn "back to nature" with some headaches along the way and it's not cheap. At least for me and the wife watches me like a hawk when it comes to spending. Be careful about going overboard on the lawn. It's just the lawn and don't get carried away tossing money into it. To me, my first choices is CGM but too expensive, then SBM, but could not get it, then Alfalfa, corn meal. CGM - You have to put it down when the temp is above 50 for more than 5 days...check on the web..there are a few organic lawn sites that give advice on this product and timing. I put it down during March, but that is for Central Fl. You can put CGM down anytime you want, but be careful about watching out for cynch bugs if that is a problem in your area. I put it down in March and late Sept. (Of course, don't put it down in the snow, depending on your area). CGM worked great against crabgrass, I did not have a problem. When I used the lawn service, wham, I got crabgrass and other weeds that they can't defeat anymore. The restrictions on the commercial lawn spray companies is preventing them from using what works to what might work. Alfalfa is cheap where I live. 14 dollars a bag from Farm City, but they won't order the SBM anymore due to low demand. It was 34 dollars a bag 2 years ago. Last week I found a lady out in farm country that sells grains on the side and she said she could get SBM for 19 dollars a bag which is pretty good price. Corn meal is a weaker fert. but a lot of people claim it prevents fungus problems. I put it down a few times and still got hit with fungus, but Florida to me, is difficult for lawn care so I think fungus is a never ending problem. It's not cheap going organic, but I really liked the results I got using this process, except weed control. CGM controls some, but not all weeds so you will still go out there and yank them. Also, if you can get a soil test to give you a basic starting point that is a good idea. Then dethatch you lawn. I did not do the dethatch thing and regret it. The machines are cheap, 120 bucks off Amazon. Then, if you can get the CGM, put it down as a prevent for the weeds. Figure out your temps for you area. You can always toss down the alfalfa. I like the smell, and it is small pellets so just toss them by hand and water them in. Wait a month and see if the CGM greens up the lawn, which is should. Then in June try SBM. It's a lot of fun to see the results and I tried different products on different areas of my lawn. The area between the sidewalk and the street has always been a headache for cynch bugs due to the heat. Also, I put some of the alfalfa pellets into old milk jugs and let it sit for a few days, boy does it stink, then poured the stuff on the base of the various bushes and trees. One thing I did notice was my oak tree really "greened up" going organic compared to my neighbors trees. Don't store any of these grains in your garage, house etc..buy them, use them same day or next. If not, mice etc..might find them..also they might have bugs in the grains so never store them, buy them and put them down. I'll search around and see if I can find that really good organic site I used to read. Now those guys...they got it down...lost that url when the computer crashed....See MoreAlfalfa meal vs pellets?
Comments (3)The biggest difference between the meal and pellets is spread-ability when using a broadcast spreader. The meal is very light/dusty. It must be applied on a calm day, Otherwise it will blow all over the place. Pellets on the other hand spread perfectly in any condition. Pellets are a great choice for using a broadcast spreader on your lawn. Meal is great for apply by hand to your landscape plants and working into the soil. Im sure the meal will breakdown a bit faster but its not an advantage. I am also able to get soybean meal -- would there be benefits to alternating fertilizations between alfalfa and soybean Yes and Yes. Both are excellent but you will get more bang for your buck with Soybean Meal. The protein content in Alfalfa is approx 14% whereas SBM is approx 46%. You would have to apply approx three times as much Alfalfa to get the same affects as SBM. Both have there time and place. Alfalfa is a bacterial food with lots of vitamins and micro-nutrients and they contain trianconatol, a natural fatty-acid growth stimulant. Soybean Meal is a fungal food with a high protein content. You want to have a good combo of both in your soil. SBM is a great choice when you grass is actively growing. Some cool season grass experts should be able to give you a plan when to apply what....See MoreMost protein for the dollar: Poultry feed vs. soybean meal
Comments (16)If you have bad soil and are looking for results in the short term then I'd wait on the coffee grounds until you've increased the level of organic matter in your soil. If I may jump in on this tread? This is the part that I don't understand in relation to lawns. My soil is heavy clay. I can and have easily amended my garden beds 'cause I can till amendments into the soil. But with a lawn, I just don't get it. Some sections of my lawn are so clay that grass just can't grow. (think pudding when wet) Seeds do spout and reach about one or two inches. Then the grass invertibly dies off. I've even physically turned over a particulary bad section twice...no help, grass died. If one does not the the money or the muscle to till admendments into a 5000 sq ft area, how does one incorporate material into the soil? (I got so discouraged this summer with trying to get grass that I turned over 200 more sq ft into garden/flower beds) Yes, I mulch mow high. Smile. I have plenty of fall leaves (and can easily get bags more) which I usually use for the garden area. Would mulching these atop the soil help amend the yard? Large amounts of coffee grounds are not an option. Compost on the yard is not an option. (C tea, lol , tried three times and kept ending up with a stinking mess which I was afraid to use. I just spread cracked corn which made the birds and squirrels very happy. It seems to me, that if you don't have the initial investment for organics, the program is hard to get started. What am I overlooking?...See Moretexas_weed
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16 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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