Lesco Alternative? Ever heard of Grasshopper?

13 years ago

Hello all. A few days back I posted a question about sodding our yard with tifway bermuda and whether or not it was doable for a husband/wife/friend team. I had some good responses, and wound up hiring a crew to install...and I think (know) it was a great decision. 40 pallets! Anyway, my water bill is probably going to be equivalent to my mortgage this month (watering all 10 stations 3 times a day at 25 min a piece). But its all green, except for a few spots.

Anyway, my main question is about fertilizer. I've read the Bermuda Bible and the nearest Lesco is over an hour from me. I wouldn't mind going and loading up on some fertilizer for the season, but i'm pretty sure that would raise eyebrows and probably won't even let you do that. So, i've been looking at some alternatives. We do have a Lowes and Home Depot nearby, but just by google I came across Grasshopper fertilizer. Couldn't find anything on a search on the board, so I thought i'd ask. It looks like it is mainly geared towards ranchers/pastures but the ratios look similar to what Texas Weed recommends. Here are is the info from their website:

30-8-10, 25lb bag, Derivatives: Urea, Ammonium Phosphate, Potassium Sulfate $48 a bag

19-19-19, 25lb bag, Derivatives: Urea, Ammonium Phosphate, Potassium Sulfate Unknown price

42-0-0, 25lb bag, Derivatives: Urea w/ Micronutrients $46 a bag

Their headquarters is in our town and sell to individuals, so it would be very convenient. I could use the 30-8-10 for the first and last application and the 42-0-0 every 4-6 weeks during the growing season? I know the ratios aren't exactly what the BB recommends, but what do you think?

http://www.grasshopperfertilizer.com/index.html

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Comments (7)

twolabs
Original Author
13 years ago
Now that i've done some more searching, it looks like those prices are really high! I might just need to go to the nearest Lesco dealer and buy as much as they'll let me and store it.
twolabs
Original Author
13 years ago
Okay, i'll respond to my original post again!

I just priced the Lesco 39-0-0 at the nearest store (1 hour away), and its $26 for a 50lb bag. So, twice the price....for half the size. So that answers my own question for Grasshopper!

Only problem is, the nearest store doesn't carry that specific fertilizer. The nearest one that does is 2 hours away. So, i'll have to find another alternative...the search continues.
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johnb352
13 years ago
I'm no expert but I'm going to put in my 2-cents on your watering. Others may agree or disagree.... but I think you may be over-watering. Or at least watering more than you really need to.

I live in central Florida, where the average daytime temperature the past month has been around 95 degrees - and we just put in a new Zoysia lawn, it will be one month this weekend. I started out watering once in the early morning, for 25 minutes. A few days ago I changed that to every other day. And the Zoysia looks great.

Watering 3 times a day is what's normally recommended for seeding lawns. We seeded just our back yard, and that did need to be watered 3 times a day in the beginning.

Also.... we have sandy soil. And, are WAY below normal for rainfall. It's only rained twice in the 3 and half weeks since we put the sod down!
twolabs
Original Author
13 years ago
Well i've been wondering if I needed to cut it back now. That is just what the landscaping company set it at after they laid the sod. There is a small spot in the back yard that doesn't get enough water, and has turned brown and a little crispy. So i've been handwatering there. Everywhere else has stayed pretty wet. So, I might cut out the 1 PM watering and just let it go twice a day for another week or so until it roots. However, we are on about our 7th or 8th consecutive day of 100 degree weather (104 on Tuesday).

After it roots, i'll scale back the watering to the recommended 1 inch a week by Texas Weeds recommendation.
texas_weed
13 years ago
I've read the Bermuda Bible and the nearest Lesco is over an hour from me. I wouldn't mind going and loading up on some fertilizer for the season, but i'm pretty sure that would raise eyebrows and probably won't even let you do that

That is incorrect because you are buying urea, not straight Ammonia Sulfate which you cannot buy anymore since Timothy used it to bomb OKC.

My advice is open an account with Lesco, and buy a years supply. You will get a discount.

The products you listed are not what you want. You want a solw release urea formula. You only need to use a balanced fertilizer once per year, either the first or last application of the year. In lieu of a soil test use either a 4-1-2 (20-5-10) or 3-1-2 (15-5-10). If you get s oil test use the recommended rates.

All other applications are straight slow release urea nitrogen. The 42-0-0 product you listed is a fast release and should not be used.
twolabs
Original Author
13 years ago
Thats exactly the info I needed. Thanks very much TW!
texas_weed
13 years ago
You are welcome, although I made a mistake. It is Ammonia Nitrate fertilizer that can be used as an explosive if it is a high enough concentration, not Ammonia Sulfate as I said earlier. On the farm we can still buy and use it, just not the public at large. Point is still the same as you want urea.

Lesco Alternative? Ever heard of Grasshopper?

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Lesco Alternative? Ever heard of Grasshopper?

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