Switching to Alfalfa this year?
mrmumbels – posted 13 February 2012 19:47
Anyone going to switch fertilizer to alfalfa this year? I’d like to see if anyone else has the same results I did last year.
aleicgrant – posted 14 February 2012 06:01
I am going to give it a try. Thinking I might lay it down March 1. I have 5200 sf, how much alfalfa do you think I will need.
Carlincool – posted 15 February 2012 06:59
I’m going to give it a try. Since I put my empire down in Oct. I fertilized it once in Nov. I used Scotts all natural. Way pricey. I’m also going to order some milky spore and beneficial nematodes. After 20 years of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, it will be interesting to see how this combo works out.
pyro – posted 16 February 2012 10:29
i am going to try it this year too…trying to decide when to “scalp” it down and put the alfalfa down though. any input?
where is the best place to pick up some alfalfa?
Carlincool – posted 17 February 2012 10:30
Mine never turned brown. It’s still as green as ever, even though it did get down to about 38 or so here for a few hours. I going to try some alfalfa this weekend.
mrmumbels – posted 17 February 2012 17:16
Pyro, where are you located?
pyro – posted 17 February 2012 17:44
Tampa area
mrmumbels – posted 17 February 2012 18:19
If you have any green I wouldn’t scalp it. They usually scalp it up north where it fully goes dormant. If you scalp the live stuff it’ll die.
There’s a feed store on nebraska just above fletcher that has good prices. I called pretty much every feed store in the area last year and they beat them all.
Don’t put down too much or you’ll have to rake it after it gets wet. Too much will expand and smother the grass leaving dead spots.
quote:Originally posted by pyro:Tampa area
[This message has been edited by mrmumbels (edited 17 February 2012).]
pyro – posted 17 February 2012 20:40
I wish they had pm’s on here lol…i know the feed store I’ve been there before. ill have to ask what setting to put my spreader on. when would you recommend to put it down?
also, out of curiosity what height do you mow at? I’m down 54 from ya so same area
mrmumbels – posted 18 February 2012 09:11
I know, it’s a great forum and I’ve email the owners but they don’t want to fix it.The alfalfa doesn’t work in my spreader, the pellets are too big. I just throw it out by hand and it only takes a few minutes to put out a 50lb bag. The further you throw it the better it spreads out..
I’d have to say the mowing height depends on your soil. If your soil is the crappy sugar sand like mine mow high, if it’s nice with lots of organic material mow low.
How long have you had your zoysia and how much of it?
quote:Originally posted by pyro:I wish they had pm’s on here lol…i know the feed store I’ve been there before. ill have to ask what setting to put my spreader on. when would you recommend to put it down?
also, out of curiosity what height do you mow at? I’m down 54 from ya so same area
pyro – posted 18 February 2012 18:52
ah okay…I have about 1500 sq/ft of it also with sandy “soil”. how many bags should I pick up. I put it down around last April
[This message has been edited by pyro (edited 18 February 2012).]
mrmumbels – posted 19 February 2012 08:14
I started yesterday. The rain has started so… I have about 5000 sqft and I usually put about 2 bags on it. There’s really no such thing as too much unless you’re smothering the grass.
quote:Originally posted by pyro:ah okay…I have about 1500 sq/ft of it also with sandy “soil”. how many bags should I pick up. I put it down around last April
[This message has been edited by pyro (edited 18 February 2012).]
pyro – posted 19 February 2012 09:52
is this what i am looking for?
mrmumbels – posted 19 February 2012 10:08
I haven’t seen that brand but it looks like the same thing. If you can find a 50lb bag of alfalfa pellets for rabbits then they should work in the spreader since they’re much smaller.
If you take a look on the garden web forums under organics you’ll find that there’s other beans n stuff that are more potent than alfalfa. I like the alfalfa because it’s cheap and adds a lot of organics to the soil to hold moisture.
quote:Originally posted by pyro:is this what i am looking for?
pyro – posted 19 February 2012 10:26
okay thanks. will advise
[This message has been edited by pyro (edited 20 February 2012).]
hodad – posted 03 March 2012 17:19
I am going to try the alfalfa pellets this year.
We have had a mild winter and warm spring here in the northwest suburbs of Atlanta. My Jamur Zoysia is starting to green up.
A 50 lb. bag runs about $14 at our local tractor supply. I think it was labeled as either horse or rabbit food.
Remember to wet it down or the critters (rabbits and squirrels, etc. ) will gobble it up.
Curious to see how it works.
I have some leftover Scott’s in reserve if it doesn’t work like I hope it will.
luisc – posted 03 May 2012 16:07
quote:Originally posted by hodad:I am going to try the alfalfa pellets this year.
We have had a mild winter and warm spring here in the northwest suburbs of Atlanta. My Jamur Zoysia is starting to green up.
A 50 lb. bag runs about $14 at our local tractor supply. I think it was labeled as either horse or rabbit food.
Remember to wet it down or the critters (rabbits and squirrels, etc. ) will gobble it up.
Curious to see how it works.
I have some leftover Scott’s in reserve if it doesn’t work like I hope it will.
What Scotts fertilizer do oyu use? I am thinking alfalfa pellets or Scotts.
hodad – posted 10 May 2012 20:13
I’ll have to look to be sure on the Scott’s. I’ll try to respond in the next couple of days
hodad – posted 12 May 2012 10:07
I am in the Atlanta area so I use Scott’s for Southern Lawns.
32-0-10
buff – posted 13 May 2012 08:44
I have around 8000 sq ft emerald zoysia. How much alfalfa do I need? How long does it take for the pellets to break down into the soil? One more question.Rabbit or horse pellets…..what ingredients do I need to look for.They have a Tractor Supply Store in Newnan, Ga……..any suggestions…..thanks
[This message has been edited by buff (edited 13 May 2012).]
hodad – posted 13 May 2012 11:30
I used about 50 lbs. per 1000 to 1500 sf.
You don’t have to worry about being precise or putting too much, but don’t smother the turf with it.
I used horse feed. Little cylindrical pellets about a half inch to an inch long. I just spread it by hand. Pieces were to big for my spreader.
It cost me about $14/50 lb. bag at Horsetown in North Cobb County.
Breaks down pretty completely after a few waterings/rains.
Seems to have worked pretty well. The turf looks very healthy. I supplemented it with a small dose of Scott’s 32-0-10 Turfbuilder about a month after the alfalfa pellets. Figured it couldn’t hurt. I think I’ll put some more on (Alfalfa and Scott’s) in mid-summer. I am still kind of experimenting.
Soak it immediately after dispersing or the critters (squirrels, rabbits, chipmunks etc ) will snack on it.
Hope this helps.
pyro – posted 13 May 2012 18:26
i got one 50# bag and put it down twice (once in feb and once in may)…the grass is looking pretty healthy for the most part, aside from some browning areas where it needs more water. i will def use this stuff again.
luisc – posted 16 May 2012 15:07
I put down some today before the rainstrom hit Pasco. It rained ALOT and the pellets disappered in the grass itself wakko – posted 26 May 2012 07:22
pyro – posted 26 May 2012 17:20
either will work.
I almost forgot Do Not over water. Floratan /Seville all strains of St. Augustine are suseptible to fungus from over…
I am from the north and it has taken me five yrs to learn and undertand seville lawns. No 1…
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