4/7/2022 – This application, the first this year and the plan for 2022, follows what was done on 6/10/2021 and 9/22/2021. The plan is to apply the ACES recommended rate at this time—spring—and in June apply 50% of the ACES recommended nitrogen for low maintenance lawns.
The Plan from 6/10/2021 to be applied in Spring 2022
ACES says here for a low maintenance lawn apply ½ lb. nitrogen per 1,000 SF three times per year. So to get 0.5 lb nitrogen with 15-0-15 would require spreading per 1,000 SF 0.5/0.15 = 3.33 lbs/1,000 SF of 15-0-15. The 15-0-15 contains 2% iron.
Based on the calculations and tests here for the new spreader it should be set on 3 for one pass or a little over 2 for two passes when running in Gear 1H at 540 RPM.
Extinguish is to be spread at 1.5 lbs per acre. The 1.4 acres includes the Citrus Groove where the Extinguish is not to be spread. Disregarding a reduction of the citrus grove, spread 1.5×1.4=2.1 lbs of Extinguish to be mixed in the 200 lbs of 15-0-15 and spread using the route below.
To have some left to go around the Garden and in the pecan orchard, add 50 lbs plus a quarter lb of Extinguish.
Conclusion – Blend 5 times a sack of 15-0-15 with a half-pound of Extinguish in the wheelbarrow in the back of the truck and dump into the spreader set on 3. Spread it.
The Plan from 9/22/2021 to be applied in June 2022
The plan below is again with 15-0-15 to get the iron but the very low setting on the spreader is problematic. Consider spreading 8-8-8 so the spreader can be set at 3 but only half the nitrogen is applied.
- Apply 15-0-15. ACES says here for a low maintenance lawn apply 1/2 lb. nitrogen per 1,000 SF three times per year. So to get 0.5 lb nitrogen with 15-0-15 would require spreading, per 1,000 SF, 0.5/0.15 = 3.33 lbs/1,000 SF of 15-0-15.
- BUT, our mid-summer feeding in 2021, with all the rain, caused the grass to grow too fast and had to be cut every 5-6 days.
- Given this is the fall feeding, and spreading the Extinguish is a primary issue, and not wanting to have to cut the grass so often the plan is to spread half as much by setting the spreader on 2 instead of 3 when running Fergie in gear 1H at 540 RPM. Plan is to spread 1.65 lbs/1000 SF or 60×1.65 = 100 lbs.
- Extinguish is to be spread at 1.5 lbs per acre. The 1.4 acres includes the Citrus Groove where the Extinguish is not to be spread. Despite that spread 1.5×1.4=2.1 lbs of Extinguish to be mixed in the 100 lbs of 15-0-15 and spread using the route below.
Very rough area values are:
- Overall 70,000 SF
- Say house, driveway, patios, and grain bin cover about 10,000 SF
- Area to fertilize is 70,000 – 10,000 = 60,000 = 1.4 ac
3.3 lbs/ksf for 60ksf = 200 lbs of 15-0-15 to be spread with lever on 3 and Fergie in 1H at 540 RPM.
