Hi All,

Just a quick question(s). For the BL Soill Conditioner, with or with humites? What's better? Also, I really can't find the thread for the full recipe of BL Soil Conditioner. Please relinkt eh full recipe.

How many times should it be applied? What's the cost to make it? Can it be stored?

Please let me know.

Thanks,
J

I've suggested making an article for that topic. Morph???

hi Dchall,

Sounds good to me.

Tis the season!


J

Yeah, it's time for the article on that.

The soil conditioner is:
80 ounces sodium laureth sulfate
8 ounces yucca extract
40 ounces water

For the BL Kelp Help plus Humates:
2 gallons water (it doesn't really matter much, I use 2)
4 oz kelp extract
8 oz humic extract

Both go at about 2 ounces per thousand in the sprayer and at any dilution from sprayer to lawn. I tend to put 'em in my 4 gal backpack to go about 1,500 square feet, but an Ortho hose-end sprayer is fine for these.

Morph, can you clarify - you mention 2 oz per 1000 sq ft and then you reference 4 gallons in your backpack sprayer covering 1500 sq ft? That's a BIG difference!

Usually I use about 5 ounces of product diluted into four gallons, and then sprayed. That goes 2,500 square feet or so, for 2 ounces of product over a thousand square feet.

He is saying that you use 2 ounces per thousand. Use as much water you want. He likes to use 2 oz in 4 gallons of water over his 1500 sqft. If you use 1 gallon 2 gallon of water to spray the 2 oz over 1000sqft it does not matter because you have to water it in anyway. Sorry for the run on i had a hard time getting that out.

beat me to it Morph

Where's texasweeds backpack calibration post? That should be an article too.

I believe that was apalachianturf that posted the calibration method.

EDIT:: Yep.. here it is... Click here for more information

Hi Morph,

What's the difference between the BL Kelp Help plus Humates & the soil conditioner ? Should both be applied? What does 1 do that the other doesn't?

Thanks,
J

The kelp/humates inject a tiny bit of organic material into the soil, which tends to open up the soil a little bit, supply some trace minerals, and generally increase the health of the lawn and gardens (everybody loves kelp).

The soil conditioner is for soil flocculation--taking the gluey, sticky bits and getting them to pull together into small spheres so water and nutrients and oxygen can penetrate more easily.

The two work together well. The soil flocculates, the kelp moves in, bacteria grow in the stuff, and they help keep the flocculated soil open (and accelerate the flocculation as well). Fungi really like the humic acid, and those are particularly good at opening deep channels in the soil.

Neither are fast...you'll definitely notice changes this year, but it really took two to three before I was marginally happy with my soil's looseness.

OK, so since both are good. I should apply BL Kelp Help plus Humates & then the soil conditioner after it, yes?

Thanks,
J

Either/or. I usually mix both together in my backpack sprayer.

Thanks Morph.

MorpheusPA wrote:Both go at about 2 ounces per thousand in the sprayer and at any dilution from sprayer to lawn. I tend to put 'em in my 4 gal backpack to go about 1,500 square feet, but an Ortho hose-end sprayer is fine for these.

When you say this, does the 2oz include the 40oz of water. Or do you mean the 2oz of the sodium laureth sulfate and Yucca extract mixed without water can be diluted in any amount of water as long as it is used over 1000sqft?

Oh, the mix is done in a jug (including the 40 ounces of water to turn the kinda slimy SLES into more liquid stuff). Then use 2 oz in your sprayer, further diluted with water at whatever level's convenient.

Maybe you could refer to the final mixed solution as "soil conditioner concentrate". Maybe people would better realize it needs water added to it.

is the recipe in an article somewhere?

I don't think it is, yet. It's Morph's albatross. It will probably happen around the same time that I finish "You Don't Have Clay"...