Poll: First Feeding of the year ???

16 years ago

Its getting to be that time again (at least here in FL) and If your like me, then I'm sure your just itching to give your microbes a good meal. Im curious as to what everyone else plans on using for the first feeding of the year. If you don't mind, Please let us know.

For the poll:

Give your location, grass type, what your using, amount per square foot, and your application date.

For me:

I live in the Clearwater FL area. I have S.A. Floratam lawn and I plan on using Soybean Meal @ 12lbs per 1000sqft and possibly Alfalfa pellets this coming weekend 2-23-07.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (20)

dchall_san_antonio
16 years ago
San Antonio, TX
St Augustine (common?)
Corn meal at 10 pounds/1,000 and corn gluten meal @ 15 pounds/1000
Feb 10, 2008
User
16 years ago
Lehigh Valley, PA
Elite bluegrass (Midnight II, Bedazzled, Moonlight)
Alfalfa blend (corn and a bit of soy are included...it's rabbit food)
10-12 lbs/K foot or so
Around March 15th
Related Discussions
Feeding 2 year old peach trees
Q
Comments (5)
I've conducted dozens of nitrogen fertility trials on many field and vegetable crops but not fruit crops. Still my confidence in spotting a nitrogen deficiency in anything is pretty high. This makes it pretty easy to forgo nitrogen applications. I do apply a little nitrogen to young trees especially where they must compete with older trees nearby. Also when you are planting stone fruit 2ft by 8ft, rapid vegetative growth isn't top priority. My young trees grow about 4ft the first year. I'm not sure how much they grow later because I'm summer pruning every time there is about 18-24 inches of growth. In spring they'll grow that much in 4-6 weeks. I actually don't know how much a lower level of fertility and the associated reduction in vigor improves brix or flavor of stone fruit. That's because I'm generally holding nitrogen as low as I can. Can't go below none applied in 7 years. The only source for in-ground trees is the natural mineralization from the soil. I just know that in crops like sugarbeet and carrot, high nitrogen kills brix. That makes me think stone fruit will follow suit. Just trying to be clear on my actual experience and not make it more than it is.
...See More
First feeding
Q
Comments (2)
Well, think about it a minute. If you are going to put down an "organic" fertilizer such as alfalfa meal, it takes time for the alfalfa to break down into something the plant can actually use. So early is okay, because it's going to be a while before the plant can use it. The stuff might not break down for a long time depending on your climate--how moist, how humid, soil temperatures, etc. On the other hand, if you are putting down a fast-acting chemical fertilizer like for example Miracle Grow, it is going to work right away--does it need to work right away in early March? Maybe not. And then there are slow-release chemical fertilizers, Osmocote being an example. Osmocote is temperature-sensitive as far as the release goes, so if the soil is still fairly cold, nothing is going to happen for a while anyway. So if you are time-pressed later on in the spring, you might get it done now and be done with it. Something else to take into account is the weather and your climate. If more frosts or snow are expected, of course wait. Don't worry too much about the exact right time. After you've been gardening a while, even getting around to putting down some fertilizer is a major accomplishment. ;^) If all else fails, read the directions on the package. They are usually pretty good.
...See More
Ramblings after a year of feeding
Q
Comments (3)
Been feeding the birds for 4 years, and it does change over the years. I can't put out the suet mix as much any more - as soon as I do, it attracts the House sparrows. Normally I don't feed the birds during the summer, and provide a natural habitat, but this year it has been so dry, there are much fewer bugs and the birds were suffering. So I've put out a small amount of BOSS each day. My feeders are also mounted on poles, with the stovepipe-style squirrel/raccoon baffles. Works extremely well, easy peasy to fill and clean. I also have a suet cage hanging on a hook on the big Oak tree for raw suet from the grocery store. Lots of birds love the raw suet but the squirrels don't seem at all interested (whereas they like suet mixtures with nuts and fruits). The raccoons like it and nibble sometimes but they can't pull it off the tree.
...See More
Preliminary First Floor Plan feed back desired!
Q
Comments (7)
hi there! i've been lurking lately too - i'm an old GW user from our first build 5-6 years ago but we're starting over in a new city so i thought i'd throw some lurker love your way. i think the plan is great. the way your foyer opens into the great room reminds me of my very favorite space on houzz in portland. i'm linking to it below. i'm assuming you want people to throw out ideas and play devil's advocate to point out things maybe you hadn't considered? so here goes: 1) do you have a nice view off the back of the house? and is your porch going to be covered with railings? i ask because the view when you walk in the front door is going to be directly out onto your porch. that might be intended and ideal if your porch layout is beautiful. if it's not, i love walking in through the front door and seeing a beautiful fireplace straight ahead. so you could flip the fireplace to the back wall and have doors flanking it out to the porch. 2) i can't tell what that projection is on the exterior wall off your office/bedroom. i'd just make sure you have a nice spot for windows to let some light into that space. 3) if budget is a concern at all, a private entrance full bathroom in the office seems excessive. also, if there's a chance you'll ever add a pool, you might want easier bathroom access from the outside so might be worth considering relocating that full bathroom somewhere more like where the pantry is? 4) looks like the kitchen is a great size, so i'd just make sure you have plenty of space between the angle where it hooks down and the back run of cabinets. looks a pinch tight right on that corner. we're making sure we have at least 4' around the island and for any hallways and walkways. 5) i like the look of all the separate cabinet runs, and we had that in the last house we built. BUT, i found the detached cabinet runs just collected junk and were never used for "kitchen" functions - prepping, cleaning, eating etc. they were clutter magnets. again i can't read the dimensions of the kitchen, but with all the pantry storage you probably don't need the extra cabinets. have you thought about removing that wall and keeping the kitchen open to the dining room? 5) i would try to get at least a small linen closet into your master bath close to the shower. best of luck as you get started!! Here is a link that might be useful: [Portland House I Love on Houzz[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/cottage-in-the-trees-traditional-portland-phvw-vp~396027)
...See More
tmelrose
16 years ago
Broken Arrow, OK
Bermuda
After snow/ice melts will give the yard a dose of compost.
1st feeding hoping to be CGM 80 pounds for my 4000 sq ft yard with a dose of molasses washing it down between Mar 1 - Mar 15. If I can't get my hands on CGM I'll be using Alfalfa since its supposed to be a good early soil conditioner.
okcdan
16 years ago
Moore, OK (Just outside of Oklahoma City)

Bermuda

Alfalfa Pellets @ 15lbs/1000sqft

Around the end of March...

Then soybean meal once a month until it's ready again for winter hibernation & then a final app of alfalfa again.
rosesr4me
16 years ago
skootcat -
Hey neighbor - I live in Tarpon. I don't have a specific schedule for my SA lawn - just spread stuff out when I think about it. I did just put down chicken manure (Black Hen), and 2 weeks ago I put down alfalfa pellets and corn gluten. I also scatter coffee grounds around too when I get them collected, scratching them into sparse areas.

Where do you get your soybean meal locally?
iowa50126
16 years ago
Iowa Falls, IA 50126 (Zone 5)

TTTF & KBG

Milorganite

15 lbs per 1000 sqft

Memorial Day weekend
garett
16 years ago
Owasso, OK
Bermuda
Soybean meal @ 15/1000 sqft
Sometime in the middle of March, depending on the weather

tmelrose:
what kind of compost do you use? also, if you are successful at finding a seller for the CGM i would be interested in knowing the source. last time i called around i couldnt even find someone that has even heard of it.
tmelrose
16 years ago
Garett, I know around here you ask for CGM and their like what??? I've found 3 places that haven't thought I was crazy yet. Last year I found it very close to you at Thompson's Feed Store in I believe Skiatook or Owasso. A lady by the name of Toni orders some under Bradfield Organics for $22-23 for a 40 lb bag. She says she is trying to bring in more organics. I also have been talking to Stan at Bixby Farm & Ranch and he can order me some for about the same price BUT he's waiting on getting enough orders from that company. Also Stillwater Milling Company sells it but only sells one ton at a time. That's a little much for my yard. So I'll probably be visiting Toni at Thompson's Feed again. As far as compost I'm just going to by local nursery, Raska Nursery, and buying about 5 bags and spreading it around. I probably could use more but that's better than nothing and pretty inexpensive at $5 a bag.
billhill
16 years ago
Lansing MI
Kentucky Bluegrass
Cracked corn since it is cheaper and more readily available than corn meal
16.5 lbs per 1000
After the first mowing, probably around April first.
Cracked corn was selected because high moisture/humidity in the Spring exposes the lawn to fungal disease. Low nitrogen count is prefered because the lawn doesnÂt need a high boost of nitrogen in the early Spring.
Bill Hill
dao4686
16 years ago
Houston, TX
St Augustine
Corn gluten meal @ 15 pounds/1000
Beneficial Nematodes - 2 Million for 5000 sq ft.
Feb 19, 2008
lou_spicewood_tx
16 years ago
Midlothian, TX
St augustine - Palmetto, Sapphire and mutant Palmetto or Floratam, who knows...
Soybean meal 20-25 lbs per 1000 sqft???
Feb 19, 2008
maplerbirch
16 years ago
Posted by dao4686 8 Houston, TX
"St Augustine
Corn gluten meal @ 15 pounds/1000
Beneficial Nematodes - 2 Million for 5000 sq ft."

...What do you feed 2 million nematodes?
Will they survive through to next year?...or is this a spring ritual?
Actually- What is a nematode in layman's terms?
lou_spicewood_tx
16 years ago
nematodes feed on ants, ticks, grubs, fleas, and too many insects to count yet they leave earthworms, toads, and beneficial ones alone. That should be enough. I've used only once and it seems to last a long time. I never seem to have major ant problem. They would build ant mound but they would never get huge like my neighbors and they seem to disappear overnight. It takes only one ant to be infected and bring it to the ant mound where it dies and nematodes would come out of the ant in large numbers...

Nematodes are just very tiny worms...
sandradee
16 years ago
I think this was my first organic feeding....ever. Lawn had not been fed for a long time. We didn't feed it last year and I'd bet the previous owners may not have fed it in 2 prior years.

2/19/08, 20# soybean meal/1000 sqft., buffalograss, ShadowTurf, and some pushy Bermuda.

Sandy
maplerbirch
16 years ago
Thanks Lou,

So basically they are a parasitic worm for noxious insects? Only with humans a tapeworm doesn't kill the host as quickly.

Has anyone tried this instead of Diazinine for ants? A friend of mine has his lawn sprayed with insecticide on a regular basis and adds piles of ant killer to every mound.
It drives me crazy :)
I live in the midwest where evidently nematodes don't get much play. Are they more effective in Texas type climates?
iowa50126
16 years ago
There good nematodes and bad nematodes.

In the midwest where soybeans are grown...the soybean cyst nematode...can be a major league problem for farmers.
dao4686
16 years ago
Maplebirch,

Like Lou, I use the nematodes to combat fireants, grubs, and chinch bugs. Whereas my neighbors have huge ant mounds all over, I have none whatsoever in my grass. And if they do pop up within a few days they are gone. These nematodes are supposed to last 2 months, but if they find a host then they reproduces by the thousands and the cycle begins again. I put them down about 3 times a year.

Here is a link that might be useful: Nematode supplier I use
maplerbirch
16 years ago
Thanks Lou,

I looked into it and it seems very promising.
If they can wipe out the colonies and new larvae in June and July then the frost will take care of the rest.
Looks like 1 application should do it in this climate :)
lou_spicewood_tx
16 years ago
Thank you Dao! I couldn't remember where exactly I got it from but that's the place I bought nematodes from last year. 3 times a year? That's a lot. One time application seems to work pretty good for a year. How do you spread them on the lawn?
dao4686
16 years ago
Lou, I use a glimour hose end sprayer. I just take the filter off the end and set it at the highest setting. I have a chlorine filter on my hose, but the company says they do just fine in regular tap water.

I do it three times because the ants come with a vengeance about now, but I also want to catch the grubs and chinch bugs closer to June. The Ants usually spread again in October. Houston never gets cold enough to slow anything down for long.

Poll: First Feeding of the year ???

Comments (20)

dchall_san_antonio

User

Related Discussions

tmelrose

okcdan

rosesr4me

iowa50126

garett

tmelrose

billhill

dao4686

lou_spicewood_tx

maplerbirch

lou_spicewood_tx

sandradee

maplerbirch

iowa50126

dao4686

maplerbirch

lou_spicewood_tx

dao4686

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US