Anyone heard of or used Texas greensand (Glauconite)? I was searching for iron alternatives in place of Milorganite and stumbled across it. Supposedly it is able to deliver iron in high pH soils? That would be nice if true in my 7.4 pH soil.

I can't find a whole lot of information on it, and no detailed analysis. I think it contains other micronutrients though which might concern me if I didn't want to increase those.

I would also be concerned if it actually was "sand" as I don't want to make a brick lawn.

Did you search the postings for the term "Greensand"? There should be numerous postings.

I thought I did, but apparently not well enough since I found some posts on it. Thanks.

You can buy green sand just about anywhere. Just be prepared to empty your wallet. Recommended application rates are around 30 to 50 pounds per 1000/ft2. Upside is one application will last 3 to 5 years.

texasweed wrote:You can buy green sand just about anywhere. Just be prepared to empty your wallet.

How much does it usually run? Here is $5 / bag. I think the bags are 50 lbs. The downside is that most times the bags are wet so the greensand is like a clump of clay so it hard to spread unless you dry it out.

I think I paid $20 per 36 pound bag of Espoma Greensand last Spring when I applied mine.Espoma uses a unusually thick high quality plastic bag, and product was dry,light, and flowed nicely through my handheld spreader.

And apparently all greensand is not created equal.

I've seen some mention something like 17-20% iron and other show only 6% iron.

I have high pH soil and didn't see much of anything from greensand. It is pretty pricey by me too and I had to drive an hour away to get it. Not worth it IMHO but you might as well try it for yourself.

OK I do not think everyone is on the same page. Greensands are not created equal.

Texas Greensand is different than those from New Jersey as contains about 19 percent iron and about 2 percent magnesium with a PH of 8.3. Cheapest I kno wof is $9 for 40 pounds. Application rate is 30 to 50 pounds per 1000/ft2. Its NPK ratio is insignificant at 0-0-1.

New Jersey Greensand is about 20% iron and a NPK ratio of 0-0-3.

There is also Arkansas Greensand which can be as high as 50% iron with a NPK ratio of 0-2-2

So if you are after iron you want to go for Arkansas Greensand. If you are after Potassium with iron in acidic soils you want NJ Greensand. If you have high PH soil and need iron ironically you want Texas Greensand.

Nice info texasweed.

I can't seem to find a supplier for Arkansas mined greensand. Has anyone run across one while shopping around?

You'd think we'd be able to find some, huh?

[ Post made via iPhone ]

Click here for more information

This says there has been no greensand mined in the state.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

texasweed wrote:Texas Greensand is different than those from New Jersey as contains about 19 percent iron and about 2 percent magnesium with a PH of 8.3. Cheapest I kno wof is $9 for 40 pounds. Application rate is 30 to 50 pounds per 1000/ft2. Its NPK ratio is insignificant at 0-0-1.

Just a note here. I found the $9 for 40 lb. of Texas Greensand on Amazon and read one of the reviews. Evidently the 40 lb. is a "wet" weight and the reviewer estimated they only received 10-20 lb. of actual dry weight greensand. I'm not sure if this is the same source you stumbled across. Other sources I have seen have it at $40 for 40 lb.

Buyer beware?