Attachments For Fertilizing A Lawn???

NY_Yankees_Fan · Feb 16, 2003

Tres,

Do you recall what you paid for the Herd 96?

kevincook · Feb 16, 2003

I purchased a 3 pt spreader and a 3 pt sprayer for the same reasons last season and you can save a ton of money. I have 4 acres of lawn and have been using the 2,4D weed killer from TSC. 1 gallon covers the whole area and cost $15-$18. I also buy fertilizer where the farmers do for $200/ton (Agway) I can get it either bulk or in bags for the same price. I prefer getting it in bulk and then storing it in fiber drums lined with plastic bags to keep it dry. The bags are harder to store and keep dry. You'll need around 200 pounds of fertilizer per application (depending on the blend and your grass type and location). So for $100 for fertilizer and $30 for weed killer per year you would have the best lawn in town.

You will save over $1000 per year....surely enough to justify the spreader and sprayer. I paid about $350 for my spreader and about the same for my sprayer and pump.

thcri · Feb 16, 2003

Tom,

I purchased the Herd Seeder M-96 and paid $350.00 for it. That included shipping and everything I needed including the PTO Shaft. You have to be careful there because some companies don't include the PTO shaft.

I really like my Herdseeder and use it even for lawn seed. It works great on regular fertilizer. The fertilizer that you buy from Scott's that has the chemicals in it and is more of a powder does not work the best in it.

Murph

BillyP · Feb 16, 2003

Just be sure to have your soil tested to see what fertilizer is needed, if any.

The farmers and ranchers always get the blame for all this fertilizer run off. I can see, in the near future, a soil test will be require in order to buy fertilizer.

OkieG · Feb 16, 2003

<font color="blue">Just be sure to have your soil tested to see what fertilizer is needed, if any</font>

My father-in-law is a lifetime farmer. With every visit I hear how expensive farming is. If a soil test would save money, he'd do it. And, if his soil didn't need fertilizer, you couldn't make him buy it.

As hard as it is to make a living in farming, you'd think if a soil test might save farmers hundreds or thousands of $ in unnecessary fertilizer, you wouldn't have to make it a requirement.

OkieG

TresCrows · Feb 17, 2003

It was in the range of 350 I think. I have had mine several years now. They are a great company and have sent me several repair parts--my fault--on open account. Can you beleive that?! Great people! J

wdn · Feb 17, 2003

Wow then I am getting a good deal. I have ChemLawn do my 2 acres of lawn for $99 a treatment /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and a free application of lime on top of it. We have a mini-price war going with the two main lawn chemical outfits here, hooray for capitalism.

You might want to check out the Northern Tool catalog I notice they have 3 point spreaders as well as sprayers. They have a deal now, FREE SHIPPING on orders over $300 that adds up to a lot of money. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

buzst · Feb 17, 2003

TresCrows,
How much control do you have over the width of spread with the Hurd spreader? I have some areas that would require a max 6' spread width and most of the larger spreaders I have looked at have a min. of about 15'.

Soundguy · Feb 17, 2003

I got a nice light duty 3pt spreader from tractor supply co... best part is it has a flexible pto shaft.. makes hooking it up much easier.

Soundguy

thcri · Feb 17, 2003

SoundGuy,

I went to tractor supply and alls they had was these heavy duty ones. They all were over $800.00. I could not see spending that much for one.

Murph

Anonymous Poster · Feb 17, 2003

You bet You are getting a good deal.Chemlawn charges me $99 for a one acre lot and i do all the fall fertilization and liming............. Plus I apply all the grub control and have the soil tests done myself at the extension office!

BillyP · Feb 17, 2003

OkieG,

Most farmers do have their soil tested, not because they have to but because it's good business.

What about a golf course? They are usually built near a lake and all those tons of fertilizer run right into some city's drinking water. Then there's the city sewer and industrial waste, to name a few (of many) who contribute to the degradation of our water supply. The city folks (OKC and Tulsa) don't want to share in the blame. All they want to do is holler it's someone else's fault.

kyoders · Feb 17, 2003

One of the places around here (name brand, can't remember which) wanted $200/application 4 times a year for my neighbors. She has one patch of grass, about 60' by 35'. So much for capitalism when there's no competition. One guy wanted $400 a month to "maintain" it for her for the 6 months before she actually moved in. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Kevin

CTyler · Feb 17, 2003

Appearently he didn't want to do it or thought he had a sucker.

I'm building a house and most bids are ok but its' amazing some of the wacked ones you get.

TresCrows · Feb 18, 2003

There is some spread control and you can also reduce PTO speed. These PTO powered spreaders can throw a fairly wide swath. I figure it throws 10 feet to each side set up the way I have it or less. It is true they are designed for open areas. Your tight areas might be best handled with a drop spreader--push type. J

Soundguy · Feb 18, 2003

On my light duty model.. if you reduce the pto speed, and the feed orifice.. you can greatly reduce the swath of spread.

I have, before the broadcast spreaders purchase, used a drop spreader for a lawnmower to do it.. but heck.. the lawnmower spreader cost almost as much as the broadcast spreader.. go figure...

Soundguy

Anonymous Poster · Feb 18, 2003

Tom, Here is a link for a pull behind fertilize broadcast spreader Befco Spreader

thcri · Feb 18, 2003

That pull behind may be a pain to work with as far as reaching back to turn on and of. Even with a sub-compact tractor. I would seriously look at the herd seeder M-96. I don't know what the price of the pull behind but the herd seeder runs around $350.00. Go to Herdseeder.com and look it over. They have a 3 point electric and PTO

Murph

NY_Yankees_Fan · Feb 18, 2003

For those who have spreaders, how do make sure you overlap to prevent areas that you have missed being less green then areas you put fertilizer on /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif. I have had trouble with a push type spreader. I can not image one that throws 15 feet wide at one time, what is the trick?

Looking at varies web sites, it appears you can spend $250-$450 for a spreader of the same size. What are things to look for? Plastic vs. metal, vs. aluminum, etc. I assume a PTO driven unit is better then an electric motor driven?

I have to do this soon, CFO gave the OK for the $$. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Thanks

thcri · Feb 18, 2003

Tom,

I set the spreader for about half of what I want. Then I go over the lawn twice, one direction first, then perpendicular second. That seems to do a pretty good job. The other thing you have to kind of watch for is a broadcast spreader will tend to through the fertilizer to one side more than the other. So I know which side gets more and I space myself for it. In other words one path I may give myself a 15 ft pattern and then the next path I may five a 25 ft pattern. Did you decide what you were going to buy for a spreader?

Murph