Can You Apply Too Much Humic Acid To A Lawn
Two common reasons people reduce application rates of Humic acid is the fear of applying too much at once and the cost of applying more than is necessary. Some people worry that over-application will harm the lawn.
The thing is however that you cant really apply too much Humic acid to the soil at once but if you apply a lot at once instead of spreading it out over a full season you arent likely to get all the benefits of the product.
Research shows that there arent any adverse effects caused by applying a lot of humic acid to a lawn but spreading it out always results in better results because grass plants can only uptake and use so many nutrients at a time.
In terms of the carbon influx in your soil and the bio-stimulant effects on the critters living in your soil consensus is that the more Humic added the better.
Categorically Id say that no amount of Humic acid, the concentration of Humic acid, or the application rate of the acid will hurt your lawn. Instead, plants grow better and look healthier on the soil with more Humic acid. Your only main limitation is the amount of money you are comfortable spending on lawn applications.
Now Im not going to suggest you put down enormous amounts of this stuff on your lawn; it may not damage it but applying frequently at ridiculously high application rates is probably unnecessary.
Lets Make Sure Its Within The Dilution Ratio
I have 2 gallons total available to me, that is 256 oz.The RGS I want to apply today is going down at 3oz/1000, so that is 12oz total needed for 4,000 sq ft.256/12=21.3 — I am going to round that down to 21 to make it simple.So this mix will actually be at a 20:1 ratio, which is well within the 7:1 minimum.If you are not following the math here, just think it out logically. We have 12 oz of concentrate. I have 256 oz total space in the tank.12 goes into 256, 21 times. So my concentrate takes up 1 part of the 21 total parts. So this mix is 20:1.20 parts water to 1 part concentrate.Follow?Now here I am spraying it out knowing that I am well within the 7:1 dilution ratio required on the label.
ABOUT US
Welcome to the official site of Allyn Hane, The Lawn Care Nut from YouTube. Here you will find my free newsletter that gives you much more than just the tip. I also carry the full line of N-Ext soil optimization products including RGS, Air8 and De-Thatch along with MicroGreen and Green Effect plus much more!
NEWSLETTER SIGNUP
Everything In One Bag
PGF takes all the research, top products, needed nutrients, and combines them into one bag.; Doc has spent the last year testing and working with the Andersons plant nutrient group to develop an ALL IN ONE complete, professional grade fertilizer, and make it available to the average homeowner.; Now YOU can use the same quality products that are used on golf courses and sports turf around the world.
Also Check: How Do You Kill Weeds In Your Lawn
What Is The Best Time To Apply Humic Acid
On a lighter note, I always say that unless you want to work on your tan line the best time to apply your humic acid to your lawn is the cool of the day, morning or evening.
More seriously though youll be able to get Humic acid down pretty much any time of the day just fine if you are spreading dry humic granuals. You dont need to water them in right away; for that you can wait for rain or wait for the irrigation system to turn on in the wee hours of the morning later on to water it in.
For liquid versions or dissolved mixtures its usually best to apply in the early morning or late afternoon/evening to limit your risk for damaging grass blades in the hottest parts of the day. With humic only products this risk is very low however.
In terms of time of year for application Humic acids can be applied at any part of the year, any season. Because they work to build up the health in the soil they will work even when your lawn is dormant.
I would avoid applying to frozen soil and you will get full benefits when applied to non-dormant grasses but a stand-alone version of Humic acid will slowly work to build up the carbon components in your soil and feed microbial life once those microbes wake up from winter.
Can You Put Too Much Humic Acid On Lawn
People will also ask if its possible to apply too much humic acid to the lawn and the answer is no. You wont harm the lawn with too much humic acid but for sure, you will waste it. In other words, throwing down more than the labeled rate will not hurt anything, but it certainly is wasteful and expensive.
Recommended Reading: How Much To Water Lawn
What Is Humic Acid & How Is It Applied
Humic acid is extracted primarily from Leonardite, a rock that is a geological precursor to coal. Organic debris that fully decayed millions of years ago slowly transform into coal but before the transformation is complete Leonardite contains these molecular chains that can be extracted. Carbon content is still extremely high and the molecular chains in the Humic acid varies a bit.
Humic acid molecules are larger than Fulvic acid molecules so its believed that the Fulvic acids enter the root system of plants ushering nutrients in with them while the Humic molecules remain in the soil improving its biological health.
Whether you have clay or sandy soil, theres an effortless way to fix your soil condition, and the best part: its environmentally friendly.
Here is a more substantial video I produced explaining how exactly Humic acid is formed and produced for lawn and garden enthusiasts.
In my lawn I use liquid dethatching products which are meant to feed microbial life so that it will compost down thatch layers in lawn settings. Humic acid is a big part of that process. You can read more about dethatching on this page.
I also use liquid aeration products to both loosen my soil and allow for more substantial root systems in my lawn system. These products all use Humic acids to help accomplish the task at hand.
You can see a lot of the products and recommend on this page.
You can see more about my personal root development philosophy on this page.
Myth Busted: You Can Leave Your Grass Clippings On Your Lawn
by Sustainable Transportation | Jul 25, 2012 | Reduce your Waste, Tips for Home |
Green Action Centre asked: If I leave grass clippings on my lawn, will they lead to thatch build-up?
The results are in, and Green Action Centre members have a variety of ways of maintaining their lawns. Many of you said, yes, you leave your grass clippings on your lawn most or all of the time. Terry and Adam confirm they have not had any problems with thatch build-up.
Thatch is a layer of dead plant matter on top of your soil. When the microorganisms in your soil cannot keep up with rapid root and grass growth, thatch build-up can occur. More than 1/2 inch of thatch can lead to problems.
If you are having a lot of thatch build-up, this may be caused by:
- Excess watering
- Too much fertilizer
So, try grasscycling leaving your grass clippings on your lawn. This simple trick with save you time and energy previously spent bagging your grass. It will also keep up to 20% of your households waste out of the landfill if you are currently tossing your clippings. Grass clippings are free and grasscycling can eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers. For a healthy lawn, try these tips:
Find out more on grasscycling from Green Action Centres composting program.
Read tips and information on caring for your lawn organically with the Manitoba Eco-Networks Organic Lawn Care Project.
Recommended Reading: When Should Lawn Aeration Be Done
How To Stimulate Root Growth In Grass & Make Them Go Deeper
Lawns that have shallow root systems typically need more water, more frequently, and they are more susceptible to stressors like high foot traffic, extreme cold in the winter, extreme heat in the summer, as well as extended periods of drought or irregular irrigation.
When you fertilize lawns that have shallow root systems you are far more likely to waste nutrients due to leaching and denitrification simply because water more easily transports nutrients below the root zone of the grass plant and if you only lightly water those nutrients in more of it is lost to the atmosphere and through oxidation.
Most root systems for all grass types can grow much deeper than the topsoil found in typical residential lawns. By watering deeply, core aerating, and applying bio-stimulants on a regular basis grass roots can be encouraged to put on deeper and wider growth without the aid of excess phosphorus. But there a few other factors that can enhance their development.
A smaller root density under your soils surface also impacts the holding capacity of the grass plant meaning it can hold smaller amounts of carbohydrates through periods of dormancy, it can uptake fewer nutrients at any given time, and it can retain less water overall.
This in in contrast to the CEC, the holding capacity of the soil itself; which is an entirely different topic for another day.
In most cases a grass plant with a deeper root system:
When To Apply Popular Us Fertilizers
Below is a guide detailing how often to apply popular U.S. lawn fertilizers such as Scotts or Pennington. It also states the key features of the fertilizer. Please note that the table only lists the multi-purpose fertilizers. There are fertilizers available for specific grass types such as St Augustine or Bermuda however, the products below are suitable for all types of grass.
Please note that the table below includes Amazon Affiliate links.
*NPK = Nitrogen, Phosphorous, Potassium
Read Also: How To Kill Moles In Your Lawn
Can You Fertilize Your Lawn Too Much
Its very easy to fertilize your lawn too much. Fertilizing your lawn with too much fertilizer in one application or not allowing enough time between applications, leads to three problems.
As long as you follow the instructions found on the packaging of the fertilizer, the three problems above can be easily avoided.
How To Give Your Lawn New Life With N
People flock to live in Florida because of the sunshine and the warm weather. That tropical climate comes with a catch though bugs. The hot and humid weather in Lakeland and other areas of central Florida mean insects and other pests remain active for most of the calendar year. The combination of high humidity and pests can spell trouble for your lawn, not to mention the weeds that can creep in! Ready to revitalize your lawn? Let the professionals at Superior Spray Service apply our new fertilizer, N-Ext RGS and give your lawn new life!
Also Check: Is It Too Late To Reseed My Lawn
Simple Grass Root Development Strategies Anyone Can Implement
As you know, grass root systems are the foundation of all turf no matter the type.; You cant keep a lawn with no roots and the deeper they go the easier it becomes.
Most lawn owners that put a ton of effort into seeing that their lawns are properly taken care of do a few common things right.;
- They water
Humic Acid Vs Humus: Are They Different
Humus is a black substance that increases the nutrient holding capacity of any soil. It helps plant roots to retain water and nutrients.
In the simplest term, humus is formed by microbial activities on dead plants and animals. This causes them to decay, and the decomposed organic matter becomes organic fertilizers for the soil.
The older humus gets the less nutrients it has in it which is why compost is the beginning stages and Leonardite is one of the last stages.
Humic substances, frequently known as humus, are made up of humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin. When Humic acid is extracted from Lenardite humin is left over.
Ill spare you the science right now because this post is all about what humic acid does for your lawn and how you can apply it.
Recommended Reading: How To Change Oil In Toro Lawn Mower
Get An Opinion About This Business
Think your friends might be familiar with this business? Ask your friends on Facebook to see what they think.
- RGS Professional Lawn & Garden Fertilization
- Where
Yellow PagesTM, Walking Fingers & DesignTM, YP.caTM, YellowPages.caTM, Canada411TM, are trademarks of Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Limited in Canada.All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Copyright © 2021 Yellow Pages Digital & Media Solutions Limited. All Rights Reserved.6.49.0.0
Liquid Dethatching With N
Fertilizing programs increase growth, which means more mowing and more clippings. This leads to your lawn having excessive thatch build up, which can be detrimental to a lawns health if not cared for. The ideal thatch layer thickness is about 1/2. This will retain moisture applied by rain or irrigation and will slowly break back down into nutrients over time. But in some case it gets beyond 1/2and you can encounter disease issues, pest issues and lack of color due to your lawns inability to take in nutrients, oxygen and water. That is where liquid dethatching comes in. We apply D-Thatch when the layers exceed their ideal thickness. This can be applied multiple times for best results. Unlike mechanical dethatching, this process turns your grass clippings into nutrients helping you achieve a thicker-fuller lawn.
Benefits of Liquid Dethatching
- Increases microbial activity in lawn
- Turns lawn clippings back into food for your lawn
- Allows water and nutrients to penetrate into soil more effectively
Also Check: Should I Water My Lawn In The Morning Or Evening
What Does Humic Acid Do For Grass + Why It Makes Your Lawn Better
One of the most popular trends in lawn care in recent years is an adoption of the philosophy that we should be feeding the soil in our lawns just as much than we feed the grass itself.
Lawn fertilizers will provide nutrients to the root systems of grass plants growing in the lawn but when the soil itself is healthy and alive with an abundance of beneficial microbes then the grass in our lawns will be healthier even when we dial back the use of fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides.
Humic acid is one of the simplest options we have as yard owners for improving the soil structure in our lawns and the life that the soil supports.
Humic acid does not provide nutrients to the grass but it does allow nutrients that are in or applied to the soil to be used by the grass more efficiently. It is a carbon-based product that takes millions of years to form and when it is added to the soil beneficial microbes and mycorrhizal fungi can thrive which benefits the grass in many complex ways.
In my lawn I apply a number of different products that all contain Humic acids such as my liquid aeration products, my root grow stimulants, as well as my favorite stand alone Humic acid product, N-EXT Humic12 by Green County Fertilizer.
Before we get deeper into how Humic acids work and lets first explore some of the most obvious ways that Humic acid benefits the grass in your lawn before we touch on some of the less obvious reasons to apply Humic acid to your lawn regularly.
How Soil Amendments Work
Amendments are added to soil to change and improve it. Unlike fertilizers, which add nutrients to soil, amendments modify the condition of the soil itself. The condition of the soil and specifically its suitability for supporting plant roots is what soil experts call tilth.” When tilth is right, plants experience healthy growth.Used properly, amendments alter soil so growing becomes simpler. For example, roots penetrate surrounding soil more easily and water infiltration improves. Soil amendments also change soil in ways that affect the availability of plant nutrients that occur naturally or that are added by fertilizers.In new lawns and gardens under regular cultivation, soil amendments are mixed down into the soil, often well before planting time. In established lawns and ornamental plantings, soil amendments are applied to the surface and watered in, so grasses and other plants aren’t disturbed. Unlike mulches, which are placed on top of soil and meant to stay there, amendments are meant to get down into the soil and get to work.Fertilizers impact plant growth directly, while soil amendments affect growth indirectly and sometimes deliver nutrients as a bonus. Soil amendments aren’t fertilizer substitutes. Instead, they help fertilizers do the job they’re intended to do by getting tilth and other factors in order.
You May Like: What Is The Best Lawn Sweeper
Greene County Fertilizer Company
lawndude28 said:Yes, played with their products for a couple years, then completely retooled my program with them. I’ve put .5 pounds of granular n on my yards and they look as good or better than they ever have .I’m not sure if you will see great results using the RGS one time a year. They recommend using it in conjunction with fertilizer and offset the price of the RGS with the same price decrease in fertilizer.I use the RGS, Air8, Micro green and green effect through out the year.
grassmasterswilson said:Ive used it and Helena hydra Hume product. Im still unclear if there is a true uniform test for humics.The recommendation is 3 gallons of rgs per year but you cant over apply. I have run 3 gallons of humic the last 2 years. I may include more of the product line for fescue as we have a huge aug/sept decline.Rgs is safe at low volume but stains pretty bad on vinyl. I also wonder about timing for warm turf. Most of our blanket apps are on dormant or transitioning Turf.
