Miracle grow...4 tablespoons to 2 gallons of water. I can fill a dollar tree spray bottle many times to spray my lawn several times and it's enough to keep my lawn green for the entire year. $6 and change.
Thank you I've heard of that before.."Miracle Grow" deffinitly interested in purchasing...I have used Scotts Green Max in 3 days and I actually do really like it....not a huge difference in 3 days but my grass was happy and after a full week I did notice a bigger then the 3 days, yes I did also notice a difference in the 3 days...but as I said not one of those Miracle Differences know what I mean. Thank you for your recommendation.... I'll stick with Scotts Max and sometimes also use th Miracle Grow.... Nothing like having different choices for the grass ...just like we all like different foods and nutrition why not for the grass too...or may I say certain Brands ... Blessings & Peace 🕊️
Shaded lawn always looks better it’s the areas that get hit most the day with sun that’s hard too green up. I used Scott’s healthy lawn and fungus and within 24 hours my hard brown lawn turned green and grew inches within a 24 hour period. I love this stuff..
I will definitely try the epsom salt. What kind of fertilizer should I use for Bahia grass in Florida ? can anyone please advise I’m running out of ideas lol
Mentioned by others - A PUSH MOWER!!! I used one to cut back mid '50s. Thought I was big time when Dad got a gas mower. I'd get $1.25 from one of Mom's friends down the street to - let - me cut her grass. At 75 now, my rider Cub Cadet is just fine with 33-0-0 . Enjoyed your video and info. So much out there to choose.
It's embarrassing to say, but I have been experimenting with urine as a fertilizer/moss killer, adding Epsom salts, baking soda, potassium chloride( table salt substitute), and the Walmart version of miracle-gro. I got the idea when a rose bush that I had been relieving myself on had become the healthiest of all the rest, and besides, times are tough, and it's free, disgusting though it may be.
Go buy a jug of BlueDEF for diesel exhausts for fertilizer you’ll thank me later. Cheapest liquid urea you’re going to find. Dilute a few ounces per gallon per 1000sq ft of lawn and some epsom salt and you’ll have a really nice looking lawn. But you’ll need to water it in before the nitrogen gasses off.
I’ve been using coffee grounds on my lawn and scrubs for about a year. It really makes the trees and shrubs grow. I apply a lower concentration on the lawn. I believe the lawn can only tolerate a lower amount of grounds. I dissolve the grounds in water and just pour it over the lawn. I started the coffee grounds after I started using a Stanley French press to make our coffee. It brews the coffee at a higher temperature than the poorly made Keurig makers that I have had and the coffee tastes much better!
Wow- don't know ya but feel so sorry!!! I'm 75 now, FEAR LADDERS. I fell off one from the 3rd step, rested a bit and darn if some-thing didn't move my foot away again and I fell from the same 3rd step. I know - ya cant fix stupid. But they repaired a 2.5 inch aortic aneurysm a month later. Take care and be careful..
My husband fell off a ladder years ago he almost lost his leg broke his ankle on both sides and split his bone up the middle. He still can’t feel his toes they curl up putting shoes on . He too this day will not climb a ladder. I wish you all the best and a healthy recovery..
Natural fertilizers take much longer to work than chemical fertilizers. 4 days is not nearly enough. Your experiment shows the Epsom salt possibly working, but very hard to tell from the video. Miloganite may take longer to see results. It says right on the bag, "SLOW RELEASE". Need to see untreated areas and both treated areas after a month along with an area treated with just Miloganite.
I have some magnesium Epson salt, but I’m about a week or more behind on fertilizing my lawn with 26-0-2 (and wanted to add ironite too) I’ve had heat spots in my lawn that has turned it grayish color from a neighbor across the street whose windows reflect the sun onto my lawn. I’m in Greenville SC 90° temperature days.
“It’s 4 1/2 days later, and I’m still wearing the same shirt” haha just teasing. Great video! I’m ready to kick TruGreen to the curb and start doing my lawn treatments myself. This is inspiring! Thanks for the info!
Ha! Laundry is overrated. Lol. It's definitely a rewarding hobby to do the lawn care yourself! Thanks for watching and good luck taking over from TruGreen, you'll see some good results I think!
@@dingdong6005 Nope, I didn't go back with TruGreen. And don't plan to. But I also haven't done the Epson salts. I did one application of Milorganite & Ironite last year, and this year so far I've only done Milorganite. I have a bag of Ironite ready to go, but just haven't had a chance to do it yet. Also have a jug of Yard Mastery Humic12 bio-stimulant liquid that I also need to spray. I also have another bag of Milorganite ready to go for later in the year.
@@danielfitzgerald4089 I use the “K1” head that doesn’t have settings. Over time you get a feel for how fast/slow it comes out and you adjust your pace accordingly.
I’m going to try epsom salt. This is the 3 rd time in a week I’ve heard this. Growing up my sister had a horse. My mom would use the manure on all our plants and lawn. It was beautiful. No, I don’t do that now. lol Epsom salt smells so much better. Lol
Great job kiddo. I like spraying beer and whiskey eosomsalt and bonemeal. Your lawn will thankyou. I learned from the mr. Kmart garden section, Mr. Jerry baker with his fantastic grandma putt. All his books are many but great read. Funny though the more you read the greener your yard gets!!! Have fun. Nice video and quite informative. Punched subscribbed! Keep em coming please.
Few bags of compost for 10$ will do much better than anything else. Its all organic and all food for the grass, thats it. Thats all you need compost and water
from my experiment, lawn doesn't need nitrogen. Nitrogen only causes excessive growth not greening. Adding iron and epson salts is what I do now. Only thing is, it's a pain to add epson salt. Using a hose end sprayer takes forever, so mixing it with ironite or any other fertilizer does make it easier.
here, in southeast, and in much of the easter half of the 48 contiguous US, the soil is already acidic , hampering grass and other vegetation' s use of nitrogen and helpful minerals. Sulfur creates (more) acid, and so REDUCES, NOT ENHANSES greening! your reccomendation to add/apply sulur (though beneficial to rhododendron and holly plants in MODEST amounts ) is very often counter-productive/harmful in eastern half of the US!
Thanks for your comment and for watching! I use a scotts mini and I keep it between 2 and 2.5 for just epsom salt. It's a very low setting and I make a few passes as needed to distribute it.
Too much magnesium interferes with calcium uptake so randomly applying epsom salt can throw calcium….a very big ion out of whack. IMO it’s best to start with a baseline soil test typically run through your extension service. The hard data is indispensable. The off green color can be a lot of things. Going’s with straight magnesium is probably not the best approach
@@mikeshomeandgarden there’s always a big debate about magnesium sulfate. Do your homework and err on the side of caution. Binding calcium is not a good thing. Good luck on your journey!
Blue Jay is spot on. You don't just add something without a soil test to know what and how much of it to add, so to make a broadcast to the entire Internet is not ideal.
Thank you great video. We had the soil tested the results were in we need more tons of lime than fertilizer. But our yard is 20,000 sqft hard to get the required rate of lime for the dyi? The lawn co. won't just sell lime "aka" al carte but the full course meal?
Thanks for watching! Generally speaking, for DIY, you can get pelletized Lime at Lowes/Home Depot etc. 40lb bags are under $5. A 40lb bag covers 1,000sq ft to help balance a mildly acidic lawn. So for 20k sqft you'd need 20 bags for this basic application rule. Not sure what your pH came back as, how much balancing you need. Some tests will tell you the recommended application. Otherwise if you have very acidic clay soil, there are some formulas to figure the exact amount to dial in your numbers.
Thanks Mike for your guidance. Our PH is 4.20 optimal range 6-7. The N is 7-13 optimal range 8-16. The Lab recommends Synthesis fertilizers both 21-0-0@ 2.25 LB/1000 sq.ft & 0-45-0 @ 2.75 LB / 1000 sq.ft This looks like the easier option. Organic Fertilizer 6-12-0 @ 7.75 LB / 1000 sq.ft Not sure where to find exactly type they recommend ? What type of spreader would you recommend for a large yard? Thanks😀
This is my experience. I threw down one bag of milorganite spread very thin across 18K of lawn, in three days there was a green pop from the iron w/o irrigation or rain. I really don't use Epsom salt and its the secret ingredient in many water soluble fertilizer products. Those liquid products with kelp and humic really make a difference but a little costly to use. I use a cheap lawn fert for the Nitrogen and mix it 50/50 with triple 12 and get great results on the cheap.
A cheap bag of Ironite is all you need. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find it in years. Milorgante works but not as good. Just make sure to blow off walks and drives. It will leave rust spots after it rains if you don't
It's really trial and error based on how much you're looking to put down. Start at the lowest setting, whatever that is on the speedy green. and see how it is covering and open it up a little bit more until you're getting good distribution. Better to go over the yard multiple times on a lighter setting.
@@mikeshomeandgarden I ended up doing an application today. I have a fairly large yard and used 2 bags for my front, side yard and street lawn as I'm on a corner lot. I had my dial set at 3.5 which was a light broadcast. I could see it being thrown out and it seemed like a good flow rate. We'll see what the results are as it's suppose to rain later this evening or tonight. I'll take my last bag and cover my back yard, which I'll probably need one more bag for complete coverage. My dad use to have his yard looking like a golf course back in the day using a step formula of 1. fill up your spray bottle with dish soap and spray the entire lawn, shrubs and bushes, 2. fill up the bottle with cheap beer and repeat, 3. Epsom salt and repeat. He told me the Epsom salt makes the grass greener, the dish soap kills bugs and the beer creates a microorganism that helps the soil and plant life. All I know is that it worked.
i think im gonna try it! What setting on your spreader (I have the same one you have) would you recommend for the Epson to get that pound per 1000 sq feet?
Hey there, thanks for watching! I did not do a soil test, and generally don't see the need at this point. back last year when I filmed this I was just doing some experiments for fun to see what worked
Milo and Ironite will accumulate heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, spent medicine and god knows what else goes through the filters of the Milwaukee Treatment center. Its a small concentration, but heavy metals accumulate fast with the way people religiously apply it.
About once per month! I have a couple videos discussing when and how frequent you should feed your lawn. It can differ depending on your grass type. Check them out!
Yes! You can. It's not very cost effective since it doesn't go very far. Only a couple hundred square feet but it can be used. MiracleGro also has a liquid fertilizer catered to lawns you can check out too that you can get some better coverage with.
@@rudy5454 MiracleGro is pretty fast acting. I'd probably be doing every 4-5 weeks provided you're not putting it down with another granular slow release product, which I think is around the timeline their box application rate suggests.
@@mikeshomeandgarden Maybe. Some may say a way to waste people's time! The revised video should be 20 seconds long. You come on camera and say, "Epson salt can help green up your lawn! Thank you." The End Ps Thanks for the idea - I will give it a try, but way too long to get the point across.
I only do it one maybe two times a season to get the added magnesium and sulfur into the ground. I wouldn't go over that amount without a soil test to see if/what your soil is deficient in. A little bit doesn't hurt though if you're wanting to keep it simple!
We don't really know the results. To conduct an experiment you need to have a Control. In other words, a section of your lawn that is untreated without any product application.
I agree! Looking back at this video and based on some great feedback from the audience, this season I'm going to do the experiment again with a proper control patch so we can really see the results, so stay tuned for the re-do!!
Find new neighbors. But really, nothing is 100% effective against bermuda. It'll always come back. There are some expensive applications like Pylex, but Lowes Bioadvance brand has an affordable Bermuda grass control product you can spray on it as long as your lawn is cool season grass.
With the Milo in the mix the spreader is at 7.5-8 since the Milo prills are so big. If I was doing just Epsom Salts I would have it set to the minimum setting which for the Scotts Mini is 2 I believe.
I start with it at the lowest setting. On the Scotts mini I use, that's 2. ES is so fine, it comes out fast, so I keep it light, sometimes 2.5 and just go over the lawn a couple times to get it spread. Thanks for watching!
As the saying goes, the only way to get rid of Bermuda grass is to move. 🤣. It's very hard to control. There are some selective herbicides like Plyex, but it's costly. Best bet would be try to hit it with roundup in the fall and do a reseed of the area
Thank you!! Two good questions!! Being up North, you'll want to look for bluegrass, perennial rye grass and fescues. The cool season varieties. For the shade, in my experience, I believe fescues do best, but there are some also shade tolerant bluegrass varieties you can look for also.
How often did you water your lawn with only the area with epson salt? Also, I live in So. California, and with the drought, my lawn dries to a dry crisp during summer. I did use a summer fertilizer one summer, years ago, and it burnt the lawn because I didn't water the lawn enough. How could I? We have water rationing with the drought situation. So I had to sod the entire front yard. I need some form of fertilizer or something to use on my lawn without having to water daily and without it burning the grass down dry.
Try Milorganite from any big box store, Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, etc. It's organic and will not burn no matter how much you put down. It's slow release. So, it will not green up as quickly as the synthetic fertilizers, but once it gets going, you will be pleased with the results!
Milorganite would definitely be a safe option to keep the lawn fed during the tough summer months. YardMastery StresBlend is another one I just used with success. As far as the water issues and moisture, I haven't personally used it yet, but the product "Hydretain" has a lot of positive reviews in the Lawncare Community to help hold moisture in the lawn. Oh and for the Epsom Salt trial, I was watering 20min ever 2-3days during that period.
@@mikeshomeandgarden Thank you! Here in So. California, they want us to water twice a week for a maximum of 7 mins. There is no way my lawn will survive. I will try either Milogranite or Yard Mastery Stress Blend. I just hope it doesn't burn my lawn. Sodding is a tough chore. I'll try a small section before proceeding with the rest of the lawn. Thanks.
My front lawn is Bluemuda and I keep it cut between .75-1" with a reel mower. My back yard is mostly a mix of Perennial Rye and Bluegrass, though there's some fescue still lingering around, it's a work in progress. I keep it cut mostly between 1-1.25" using my toro rotary.
Yes you are literally salting your grass. Its not sodium but its deffinately adding salt. You even called it that yourself. Now youve got to water like crazy or you wont get rid of the salts that leech and ruin soil.
I mean....a salt is just a compound of an acid and a base right? Magnesium is a base. Sulfur is an acid. Thats all epsom salt is, and they're both minerals needed by plants. Sure you have to water it in to be absorbed by the grass plants and not go insane and over apply, butt hats with anything you add to the lawn.
@mikeshomeandgarden1400 now you're trying to change your words and discuss acids. Nope. You were talking about adding salts to your lawn. Obviously from your words you k kw that it's bad to have a bunch of salts in hour soil.
@mikeshomeandgarden1400 but hey. Thanks for sharing tips. I just think it needed to be said. And ppl should try to reduce the salts in their soil for a healthy biome.
Hmmm... Is it just me, OR did I watch you mix Epson Salt with your Milorganite? There was NO bag of Ironite anywhere in the video. What's up with that? Please Advise!!
Yes, you saw correctly! I mixed Epsom Salt into the Milo for my front lawn application since for that area I explained it would be a regular application and not the test plot. You can see the Ironite bag around 3:57 in the background but it wasn't a feature of this video, so I didn't demo it's application. Hope this helps!
Try mowing with a push mower or self propelled at a true 3 inches and avoid heavy riding mowers around the acreas you want to show off . We have 3.5 to 4 acreas to mow . The other areas we mow a lot lower to keep down the snakes and rodents .
Lemme guess, and your Not meaning by using paint or spray paint either bcuz of the whole environment n shtuff??🤔🤔🧐 Yes. That was a rhetorical question,btw. 😁
Hey there Dalton! Thanks for watching! Same shirt and hat, you got it! I wear that hat in just about all my videos when I'm in the yard, and intentionally picked the same shirt for the second take for the sake of continuity. Good eye for the details!
i was thinking it was a slow acting fertilizer that was not immediately available for plant uptake and that it had to be processed by soil microbes first.
You're right! Milo definitely is a slow release, and 4 days is much too quick for that to be seen. I have found that episoms salts acts faster and in the area where I only did the E.S. I saw improvement pretty fast. Thanks for watching!
I think your conclusion is way off, because you didn't have any section without epsom salt. A more conclusive test would have consisted of several different sections: No fertilizer at all, just your norma(l fertilizers, fertilizers + epsom, and then just epsom salt. Based on the difference between your lawn and that of your neighbor, you are obviously doing something right, but the only reasonable conclusion (if any) to be drawn from this particular test is that epsom salt by itself is exactly as effective as your normal fertilizer plus epsom salt. Which would lead one to wonder if the fertilizer was useful at all...
Appreciate you watching and the feedback! All Very valid points! I do believe this experiment will be redone for the channel at some point because looking back at when this video was made verses were things are today, I would like to see more conclusive evidence and a control.
@@mikeshomeandgarden Sounds great! I love that we can see these real-world tests done by folks like you who really care about their lawns, keep up the great work!
Miracle grow...4 tablespoons to 2 gallons of water. I can fill a dollar tree spray bottle many times to spray my lawn several times and it's enough to keep my lawn green for the entire year. $6 and change.
Thank you I've heard of that before.."Miracle Grow" deffinitly interested in purchasing...I have used Scotts Green Max in 3 days and I actually do really like it....not a huge difference in 3 days but my grass was happy and after a full week I did notice a bigger then the 3 days, yes I did also notice a difference in the 3 days...but as I said not one of those Miracle Differences know what I mean.
Thank you for your recommendation....
I'll stick with Scotts Max and sometimes also use th Miracle Grow....
Nothing like having different choices for the grass ...just like we all like different foods and nutrition why not for the grass too...or may I say certain Brands ...
Blessings & Peace 🕊️
Works great for pot plants too
He was trying to go natural route.
Shaded lawn always looks better it’s the areas that get hit most the day with sun that’s hard too green up. I used Scott’s healthy lawn and fungus and within 24 hours my hard brown lawn turned green and grew inches within a 24 hour period. I love this stuff..
Depending on the grass type, the shade can really mess things up!
Try putting the Epsom Salt down 5-7 days prior to regular fertilizer, helps with the absorption of nutrients. Great video!
Great tip! Thanks for watching!
Good to know!
I will definitely try the epsom salt. What kind of fertilizer should I use for Bahia grass in Florida ? can anyone please advise I’m running out of ideas lol
Mentioned by others - A PUSH MOWER!!! I used one to cut back mid '50s. Thought I was big time when Dad got a gas mower. I'd get $1.25 from one of Mom's friends down the street to - let - me cut her grass. At 75 now, my rider Cub Cadet is just fine with 33-0-0 . Enjoyed your video and info. So much out there to choose.
Thanks for sharing and for watching! Enjoy the season!
$1.25 I only got .50 in 1953 when I was only 8 years old but like you I love my 0 turn now !
I use urine for (NPK), epsome salts and liquid iron(Moss Out) . Applied with hose sprayer. Total cost for the season is $18.
It's embarrassing to say, but I have been experimenting with urine as a fertilizer/moss killer, adding Epsom salts, baking soda, potassium chloride( table salt substitute), and the Walmart version of miracle-gro. I got the idea when a rose bush that I had been relieving myself on had become the healthiest of all the rest, and besides, times are tough, and it's free, disgusting though it may be.
Go buy a jug of BlueDEF for diesel exhausts for fertilizer you’ll thank me later. Cheapest liquid urea you’re going to find. Dilute a few ounces per gallon per 1000sq ft of lawn and some epsom salt and you’ll have a really nice looking lawn. But you’ll need to water it in before the nitrogen gasses off.
@@scottbeaulieu13 I just piss in a buclet!
@@scottbeaulieu13 does def work
@@Gokywildcats11 sure does it’s nearly pure urea (fertilizer) mix a cup of blue def with 1gal of water and spray your lawn and water in
I’ve been using coffee grounds on my lawn and scrubs for about a year. It really makes the trees and shrubs grow. I apply a lower concentration on the lawn. I believe the lawn can only tolerate a lower amount of grounds. I dissolve the grounds in water and just pour it over the lawn. I started the coffee grounds after I started using a Stanley French press to make our coffee. It brews the coffee at a higher temperature than the poorly made Keurig makers that I have had and the coffee tastes much better!
Thanks Mike. I just fell off a ladder cleaning my gutters and broke my foot and messed my body up. Got to get her done.
Thanks for watching and dropping a comment. Hope your doing ok after that!
Wow- don't know ya but feel so sorry!!! I'm 75 now, FEAR LADDERS. I fell off one from the 3rd step, rested a bit and darn if some-thing didn't move my foot away again and I fell from the same 3rd step. I know - ya cant fix stupid. But they repaired a 2.5 inch aortic aneurysm a month later. Take care and be careful..
My husband fell off a ladder years ago he almost lost his leg broke his ankle on both sides and split his bone up the middle. He still can’t feel his toes they curl up putting shoes on . He too this day will not climb a ladder. I wish you all the best and a healthy recovery..
Natural fertilizers take much longer to work than chemical fertilizers. 4 days is not nearly enough. Your experiment shows the Epsom salt possibly working, but very hard to tell from the video. Miloganite may take longer to see results. It says right on the bag, "SLOW RELEASE". Need to see untreated areas and both treated areas after a month along with an area treated with just Miloganite.
My late Mom would add a little epsom salt to her roses once a year. She said it made the cane's stronger.
Thanks for sharing that! It certainly has a lot of great uses around the home and garden.
Use your spreader to put the epsom salt down , it’s a more controlled application . 2 lbs per 1000 sq. Ft.
I have some magnesium Epson salt, but I’m about a week or more behind on fertilizing my lawn with 26-0-2 (and wanted to add ironite too) I’ve had heat spots in my lawn that has turned it grayish color from a neighbor across the street whose windows reflect the sun onto my lawn.
I’m in Greenville SC 90° temperature days.
Hi mike. I have been a master gardener for 35 years.
Hi John!
“It’s 4 1/2 days later, and I’m still wearing the same shirt” haha just teasing. Great video! I’m ready to kick TruGreen to the curb and start doing my lawn treatments myself. This is inspiring! Thanks for the info!
Ha! Laundry is overrated. Lol. It's definitely a rewarding hobby to do the lawn care yourself! Thanks for watching and good luck taking over from TruGreen, you'll see some good results I think!
TruGreen has been kicked as of 2 days ago. Bought a spreader and am either going the Scott’s route or Fertilome.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣funny!!
How did it worked out ? Did it work? Or you want back with true green?
@@dingdong6005 Nope, I didn't go back with TruGreen. And don't plan to. But I also haven't done the Epson salts. I did one application of Milorganite & Ironite last year, and this year so far I've only done Milorganite. I have a bag of Ironite ready to go, but just haven't had a chance to do it yet. Also have a jug of Yard Mastery Humic12 bio-stimulant liquid that I also need to spray. I also have another bag of Milorganite ready to go for later in the year.
I apply the epsom salt in a hose end sprayer. I weigh the product out per 1000sq ft then stir in water, add to sprayer bottle.
What setting do you set your hose end sprayer at?
@@danielfitzgerald4089 I use the “K1” head that doesn’t have settings. Over time you get a feel for how fast/slow it comes out and you adjust your pace accordingly.
I’m going to try epsom salt. This is the 3 rd time in a week I’ve heard this.
Growing up my sister had a horse. My mom would use the manure on all our plants and lawn. It was beautiful. No, I don’t do that now. lol
Epsom salt smells so much better. Lol
Awesome! Hope it all works out!
Great job kiddo. I like spraying beer and whiskey eosomsalt and bonemeal. Your lawn will thankyou. I learned from the mr. Kmart garden section, Mr. Jerry baker with his fantastic grandma putt. All his books are many but great read. Funny though the more you read the greener your yard gets!!! Have fun. Nice video and quite informative. Punched subscribbed!
Keep em coming please.
It's all about enjoying the process. Thanks so much for the comment and the sub!!
Chris what is the recipe
Do you mean you pee on your lawn after a six pack?
All those full Bud Light cans people tossed in the dumpster, when they could of had green lawn. 🤣
Few bags of compost for 10$ will do much better than anything else. Its all organic and all food for the grass, thats it. Thats all you need compost and water
Another good option!
from my experiment, lawn doesn't need nitrogen. Nitrogen only causes excessive growth not greening.
Adding iron and epson salts is what I do now. Only thing is, it's a pain to add epson salt. Using a hose end sprayer takes forever, so mixing it with ironite or any other fertilizer does make it easier.
here, in southeast, and in much of the easter half of the 48 contiguous US, the soil is already acidic , hampering grass and other vegetation' s use of nitrogen and helpful minerals. Sulfur creates (more) acid, and so REDUCES, NOT ENHANSES greening! your reccomendation to add/apply sulur (though beneficial to rhododendron and holly plants in MODEST amounts ) is very often counter-productive/harmful in eastern half of the US!
Hi , good review . What setting did you use on your spreader ?
Thanks
Thanks for your comment and for watching! I use a scotts mini and I keep it between 2 and 2.5 for just epsom salt. It's a very low setting and I make a few passes as needed to distribute it.
3
Too much magnesium interferes with calcium uptake so randomly applying epsom salt can throw calcium….a very big ion out of whack.
IMO it’s best to start with a baseline soil test typically run through your extension service. The hard data is indispensable.
The off green color can be a lot of things. Going’s with straight magnesium is probably not the best approach
Good info. Thanks for sharing!
@@mikeshomeandgarden there’s always a big debate about magnesium sulfate. Do your homework and err on the side of caution. Binding calcium is not a good thing. Good luck on your journey!
Blue Jay is spot on. You don't just add something without a soil test to know what and how much of it to add, so to make a broadcast to the entire Internet is not ideal.
@@mr.c6674 well, there's worse things on the internet. Gotta just have fun and everyone find their own way! Appreciate you watching!
Thank you great video. We had the soil tested the results were in we need more tons of lime than fertilizer. But our yard is 20,000 sqft hard to get the required rate of lime for the dyi? The lawn co. won't just sell lime "aka" al carte but the full course meal?
Thanks for watching! Generally speaking, for DIY, you can get pelletized Lime at Lowes/Home Depot etc. 40lb bags are under $5. A 40lb bag covers 1,000sq ft to help balance a mildly acidic lawn. So for 20k sqft you'd need 20 bags for this basic application rule. Not sure what your pH came back as, how much balancing you need. Some tests will tell you the recommended application. Otherwise if you have very acidic clay soil, there are some formulas to figure the exact amount to dial in your numbers.
Thanks Mike for your guidance. Our PH is 4.20 optimal range 6-7. The N is 7-13 optimal range 8-16. The Lab recommends Synthesis fertilizers both 21-0-0@ 2.25 LB/1000 sq.ft & 0-45-0 @ 2.75 LB / 1000 sq.ft
This looks like the easier option. Organic Fertilizer 6-12-0 @ 7.75 LB / 1000 sq.ft
Not sure where to find exactly type they recommend ? What type of spreader would you recommend for a large yard? Thanks😀
@@HB-yq8gy how to string a weed wacker
Spray it with a solution of dish soap works also
I've heard this before. But please explain. Ratio, amount, brand, etc.
Hello, after applying the salt, did you need to water right away?
If you don't have rain coming anytime soon id water. Otherwise personally I just let nature do it's thing!
Thanks for the video - it was really helpful and I was wondering about that also
This is my experience. I threw down one bag of milorganite spread very thin across 18K of lawn, in three days there was a green pop from the iron w/o irrigation or rain. I really don't use Epsom salt and its the secret ingredient in many water soluble fertilizer products. Those liquid products with kelp and humic really make a difference but a little costly to use. I use a cheap lawn fert for the Nitrogen and mix it 50/50 with triple 12 and get great results on the cheap.
Great video! Should I water the lawn after spreading the Epsom salt?
Thank you! If you don't have rain in the forecast If put some water down with a sprinkler.
A cheap bag of Ironite is all you need.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find it in years. Milorgante works but not as good. Just make sure to blow off walks and drives. It will leave rust spots after it rains if you don't
Ironite does work great! And yes, definitely make sure to clean off the cement or it will not look good! Thanks for the comment!
On a Scott's Speedy Green, what should the rate flow be for straight Epsom Salts? I just bought 4 bags from Meijer as $8 per bag.
It's really trial and error based on how much you're looking to put down. Start at the lowest setting, whatever that is on the speedy green. and see how it is covering and open it up a little bit more until you're getting good distribution. Better to go over the yard multiple times on a lighter setting.
@@mikeshomeandgarden I ended up doing an application today. I have a fairly large yard and used 2 bags for my front, side yard and street lawn as I'm on a corner lot. I had my dial set at 3.5 which was a light broadcast. I could see it being thrown out and it seemed like a good flow rate. We'll see what the results are as it's suppose to rain later this evening or tonight. I'll take my last bag and cover my back yard, which I'll probably need one more bag for complete coverage.
My dad use to have his yard looking like a golf course back in the day using a step formula of 1. fill up your spray bottle with dish soap and spray the entire lawn, shrubs and bushes, 2. fill up the bottle with cheap beer and repeat, 3. Epsom salt and repeat.
He told me the Epsom salt makes the grass greener, the dish soap kills bugs and the beer creates a microorganism that helps the soil and plant life. All I know is that it worked.
Great video boss
@@chozn4service thanks
@@chozn4service look up Jerry Baker. He does those recipes in his books.
How much Epson salt did you put in your spreader as well as the other fertilizer?
I will be doing this, thank you!
what setting on a Drop Spreader would you use? Please
Depends on your soil properties. Very acidic soil, clay, sand, should say on bag. Good luck
The big M is not as good as it was during the days of Cady Shack. Liquid Iron will get you were you want to be.
Caddy Shack! Such a great film. I need to do a video on liquid iron. It really does boost the color of the turf. Thanks for watching!
But will liquid iron cost $8?
It o
i think im gonna try it! What setting on your spreader (I have the same one you have) would you recommend for the Epson to get that pound per 1000 sq feet?
It's pretty cool how it gives the lawn a boost of mico nutrients! I had it on 2-2.5 thru most of it and went over the lawn with multiple passes.
He said 1#/1000, but used 0.5#/100, so who knows.
Did you soil test first to see if you were deficient?
Hey there, thanks for watching! I did not do a soil test, and generally don't see the need at this point. back last year when I filmed this I was just doing some experiments for fun to see what worked
My lawn is loaded with clover, How can I get rid of it without killing what little grass I have? I live in Reading, Pa.
Get something from the hardware store that kills weeds but not grass. Like Spectracide Weed Stop. I like.the hose end application for post emergent.
I don’t have a scale how would I measure and know what one pound is
Milo and Ironite will accumulate heavy metals like lead, cadmium, arsenic, spent medicine and god knows what else goes through the filters of the Milwaukee Treatment center. Its a small concentration, but heavy metals accumulate fast with the way people religiously apply it.
Good info Mike.
Thanks for watching!! 👍👍
You don’t mention your watering schedule at all. That is critical in getting the fertilizer etc into the lawn.
Yeah, I missed that detail in the edit. Maybe it's time for a re-do of this experiment!
Thanks, that was a really interesting tip.
I really appreciate you watching and dropping a comment!
Sprenkle yard/lawn with coffee grounds once a year. Turns dirt green..
Good tip to repurpose coffee grounds out in the lawn! Thanks for watching!
mike my grandfarther told me if the red sox were playing in my back yard I would pull the shades down
With how they've been doing lately I would too! 🤣
My Korean wife had me use fish heads all over the lawn worked great
Must of had some pissed off neighbors from the smell
🤣🤣
🤣
you do know the Milorganite makes the grass turn dark green as well Right
I always thought it was to make the lawn smell good when I put it down.
How often after application do you water 💧 lawn?
Every 2-3days for about 20min. Thanks for watching and dropping a comment!
How often do you put fertilizer in your lawn throughout the season?
About once per month! I have a couple videos discussing when and how frequent you should feed your lawn. It can differ depending on your grass type. Check them out!
I use Athena PK and CalMag cheap and effective
Thanks for sharing the info and for watching!
1/2 pound for 100 sq. ft. I need 50 times that for 5000 sf.
So a 25 pound bag? Sound right?
Yes! If you scale up the recommended rate of 1/2lb per 100sq ft you'd need 25lbs for 5,000sq ft.
Can you use miracle grow plant food
and spray it on your grass? Just
curious
Yes! You can. It's not very cost effective since it doesn't go very far. Only a couple hundred square feet but it can be used. MiracleGro also has a liquid fertilizer catered to lawns you can check out too that you can get some better coverage with.
How often would you suggest?
@@rudy5454 MiracleGro is pretty fast acting. I'd probably be doing every 4-5 weeks provided you're not putting it down with another granular slow release product, which I think is around the timeline their box application rate suggests.
Will have to take your word for it. Can’t tell a thing from your video.
The suspense and mystery are half the fun!
@@mikeshomeandgarden Maybe. Some may say a way to waste people's time! The revised video should be 20 seconds long. You come on camera and say, "Epson salt can help green up your lawn! Thank you."
The End
Ps Thanks for the idea - I will give it a try, but way too long to get the point across.
Hey Mike, it's Mike from CT. I have a question, can you use this with "Restore"?
Hi Mike from CT. I am not sure! To be honest I haven't seen that product. I'll have to do some research. I appreciate the comment!
Can the epsome salts be used with the Scotts spreader? or is it too fine.
It can be spread alone in the spreader on the lowest setting. I have done it that way, you have to move fast but it works! Thanks for the. Comment!
How often can I use the epsom salt on the grass.
I only do it one maybe two times a season to get the added magnesium and sulfur into the ground. I wouldn't go over that amount without a soil test to see if/what your soil is deficient in. A little bit doesn't hurt though if you're wanting to keep it simple!
We don't really know the results. To conduct an experiment you need to have a Control. In other words, a section of your lawn that is untreated without any product application.
I agree! Looking back at this video and based on some great feedback from the audience, this season I'm going to do the experiment again with a proper control patch so we can really see the results, so stay tuned for the re-do!!
Thanks for the tip
Thanks for watching!!
How safe is the epsom salt re: pets?
Yes. Generally it's understood to be safe for kids and animals.
Just found your channel and subscribed.
Thank you for the support!!
How do I get rid of bermuda grass that came from my neighbor
Find new neighbors. But really, nothing is 100% effective against bermuda. It'll always come back. There are some expensive applications like Pylex, but Lowes Bioadvance brand has an affordable Bermuda grass control product you can spray on it as long as your lawn is cool season grass.
W!hat setting did you use on your spreader
With the Milo in the mix the spreader is at 7.5-8 since the Milo prills are so big. If I was doing just Epsom Salts I would have it set to the minimum setting which for the Scotts Mini is 2 I believe.
What do u set Spreader if you’re just using Epson salt
I start with it at the lowest setting. On the Scotts mini I use, that's 2. ES is so fine, it comes out fast, so I keep it light, sometimes 2.5 and just go over the lawn a couple times to get it spread. Thanks for watching!
Thanks
How can I get rid of bermuda grass that is invading a small area
As the saying goes, the only way to get rid of Bermuda grass is to move. 🤣. It's very hard to control. There are some selective herbicides like Plyex, but it's costly. Best bet would be try to hit it with roundup in the fall and do a reseed of the area
I can your neighbor is worried about his yard 🙂🙂🙂
Great & informing video! I have a question for you how can I find out what type of grass is best for Minnesota & shaded areas?
Thank you!! Two good questions!! Being up North, you'll want to look for bluegrass, perennial rye grass and fescues. The cool season varieties. For the shade, in my experience, I believe fescues do best, but there are some also shade tolerant bluegrass varieties you can look for also.
@@mikeshomeandgarden Sweet, thank you with your grass looking like that I figured you'd know.
Greening up: Epsom salt & Milo you say, others say DEF (nitrogen). I'm confused.
So am I
Do you know what Milorganite actually is? You might want to look that up.
Poooooooooooooop 💩
Hi. I live in a hot area. Can I use Milorganite during the early summer months? Average temp in June 85 degrees. Thanks in advance to your reply.
Yes! Milo is safe to use really any time since its organic and slow release, it won't burn the lawn.
Neighbor's weeds are creeping in at 4:30 into the vid
Is that a Corvair parked on the street?
The neighbors!
How often did you water your lawn with only the area with epson salt? Also, I live in So. California, and with the drought, my lawn dries to a dry crisp during summer. I did use a summer fertilizer one summer, years ago, and it burnt the lawn because I didn't water the lawn enough. How could I? We have water rationing with the drought situation. So I had to sod the entire front yard. I need some form of fertilizer or something to use on my lawn without having to water daily and without it burning the grass down dry.
Try Milorganite from any big box store, Lowe's, Home Depot, Walmart, etc. It's organic and will not burn no matter how much you put down. It's slow release. So, it will not green up as quickly as the synthetic fertilizers, but once it gets going, you will be pleased with the results!
Milorganite would definitely be a safe option to keep the lawn fed during the tough summer months. YardMastery StresBlend is another one I just used with success. As far as the water issues and moisture, I haven't personally used it yet, but the product "Hydretain" has a lot of positive reviews in the Lawncare Community to help hold moisture in the lawn. Oh and for the Epsom Salt trial, I was watering 20min ever 2-3days during that period.
@@mikeshomeandgarden Thank you! Here in So. California, they want us to water twice a week for a maximum of 7 mins. There is no way my lawn will survive. I will try either Milogranite or Yard Mastery Stress Blend. I just hope it doesn't burn my lawn. Sodding is a tough chore. I'll try a small section before proceeding with the rest of the lawn. Thanks.
4 1/2 days later…same shirt 🤔
Move out of dessert.
I would try. Thank you
Thx
Thanks, will give it a try and observe the results. Thanks Mike 🙏
If I was you I would add epsom salt to your neighbors lawn without them finding out !! Nice neighborhood !!
I should! 🤣
What is your grass type and HOC?
My front lawn is Bluemuda and I keep it cut between .75-1" with a reel mower. My back yard is mostly a mix of Perennial Rye and Bluegrass, though there's some fescue still lingering around, it's a work in progress. I keep it cut mostly between 1-1.25" using my toro rotary.
What about st Augustine grass
Should be fine! It's generally safe to apply on all grass types. Not to mention gardens. Thanks for watching!
how can I get weedfree lawn
Thanks for the tip! You’re a smart guy, so shouldn’t you be wearing a Yankee hat?
Oh the jokes! Nice one! 😄 Appreciate you watching!
I save money by shitting on my grass rather than buying milogranite.
Lawn care excellence secret unlocked.
he'll ya it works
Nice informative video! Thank you, sir.
Thank you for watching!!
I'm impressed th at you we're using a push mower!
Gotta get my workout in somehow!
That's why at 74 I still do my own yard ...for exercise plus it's nice to be outside. Who needs to go to a gym when you have a home with a yard.
Careful! Magnesium will harden your soil.
Yeah just don't go crazy and apply too much.
Pink ?
Pink.
Yes you are literally salting your grass. Its not sodium but its deffinately adding salt. You even called it that yourself. Now youve got to water like crazy or you wont get rid of the salts that leech and ruin soil.
I mean....a salt is just a compound of an acid and a base right? Magnesium is a base. Sulfur is an acid. Thats all epsom salt is, and they're both minerals needed by plants. Sure you have to water it in to be absorbed by the grass plants and not go insane and over apply, butt hats with anything you add to the lawn.
@mikeshomeandgarden1400 now you're trying to change your words and discuss acids. Nope. You were talking about adding salts to your lawn. Obviously from your words you k kw that it's bad to have a bunch of salts in hour soil.
Lol ok.
@mikeshomeandgarden1400 but hey. Thanks for sharing tips. I just think it needed to be said. And ppl should try to reduce the salts in their soil for a healthy biome.
Urinating has the same effect
How to string a weed wacker
A request for a video perhaps!
Espom salt is inorganic and a salt.
Yes. That is correct. It's a manufactured product, and indeed is a chemical compound, or a salt. Thanks for watching!
You didn't mention rain or watering in the mix. A lot of repetitive statements too.
I'll get some more details into the next experiment!
Hmmm...
Is it just me, OR did I watch you mix Epson Salt with your Milorganite? There was NO bag of Ironite anywhere in the video. What's up with that?
Please Advise!!
Yes, you saw correctly! I mixed Epsom Salt into the Milo for my front lawn application since for that area I explained it would be a regular application and not the test plot. You can see the Ironite bag around 3:57 in the background but it wasn't a feature of this video, so I didn't demo it's application. Hope this helps!
My back hurts just watching him cut w that old mower, good exercise tho
I feel the same way watching myself mow on camera! 😄 Thanks for watching!!
Especially as way overgrown as it was.
Try mowing with a push mower or self propelled at a true 3 inches and avoid heavy riding mowers around the acreas you want to show off . We have 3.5 to 4 acreas to mow . The other areas we mow a lot lower to keep down the snakes and rodents .
Pink gardening glove? You must drink bud light....
🤣
Corvair at 5:30 -2 of them at 6:00
Good eye
@@billwilfong2092 Thanks, so much for learning about lawn care 😆
Lemme guess, and your Not meaning by using paint or spray paint either bcuz of the whole environment n shtuff??🤔🤔🧐 Yes. That was a rhetorical question,btw. 😁
I save the spray paint trick for my TikTok! 😄
4 days later and you’re wearing the same shirt and hat?
Hey there Dalton! Thanks for watching! Same shirt and hat, you got it! I wear that hat in just about all my videos when I'm in the yard, and intentionally picked the same shirt for the second take for the sake of continuity. Good eye for the details!
I think you did a great job we're here for the lawn not for the attire
It works! Go Lowe's!
More likely the lawn was going to green up anyway. Milorganite won't green up a yard in 4 days.
i was thinking it was a slow acting fertilizer that was not immediately available for plant uptake and that it had to be processed by soil microbes first.
You're right! Milo definitely is a slow release, and 4 days is much too quick for that to be seen. I have found that episoms salts acts faster and in the area where I only did the E.S. I saw improvement pretty fast. Thanks for watching!
@@mikeshomeandgarden you probably should have left a small area with nothing applied to see if the lawn would green up by itself
3:28 Gotta trim that top mm of grass first...lol.
Can't miss out in an excuse to mow lol
@@mikeshomeandgarden IKR lol
I think your conclusion is way off, because you didn't have any section without epsom salt. A more conclusive test would have consisted of several different sections: No fertilizer at all, just your norma(l fertilizers, fertilizers + epsom, and then just epsom salt. Based on the difference between your lawn and that of your neighbor, you are obviously doing something right, but the only reasonable conclusion (if any) to be drawn from this particular test is that epsom salt by itself is exactly as effective as your normal fertilizer plus epsom salt. Which would lead one to wonder if the fertilizer was useful at all...
Appreciate you watching and the feedback! All Very valid points! I do believe this experiment will be redone for the channel at some point because looking back at when this video was made verses were things are today, I would like to see more conclusive evidence and a control.
@@mikeshomeandgarden Sounds great! I love that we can see these real-world tests done by folks like you who really care about their lawns, keep up the great work!
Mathias Underpass
Why does everyone cover up their license plate in their videos?
Just for some added privacy is the main reason.
Organic Fertilizer will not work in 4 days more like 4 weeks
You need better fertilizer then. Lol.