here is something i found saying it wont work..
May 19, 2005
Detergent, Soft Drinks and Beer Not Good
There's a reason spillage and dumping on the lawn isn't good. Walter Reeves tells us why.
"BEER FOR YOUR BERMUDA? I have mentioned before my disdain for television hucksters touting lawn care "formulas" made from household products. The presentation is enthusiastic but the recommendations contain only tiny nuggets of scientific truth.
It is true that household ammonia contains a small amount of the nitrogen fertilizer that turfgrass needs - but it evaporates before becoming available to the plants it is sprayed onto. It is verifiably true that detergents can make other chemicals spread and stick to the leaves of plants - but the proportion of detergent should be only a few drops (not tablespoons) per gallon. Otherwise, the detergent will burn the plant leaves like a herbicide would. It is true that soil micro-organisms need and consume carbohydrates - but they specialize in the complex carbohydrates found in plants, not the simple sugars found in soft drinks and beer.
Sometimes I just want to slap the folks promoting horticulture pseudo-science.
SNAKE OIL In the nineteenth century, many a good living was made by hawking snake oil liniment. It was “Good for What Ails You!” and was accompanied by fevered pitches featuring “scientific” research and experts. Snakes do not produce oil and the “experts” were bogus. Those facts, though, didn’t prevent gullible people from stuffing wads of dollars under the suspenders of snake oil salesmen.
When you hear “scientific” claims for garden processes or products, use the little bit of science you still remember to evaluate the assertions. You may discover, like me, that you have no aptitude for science but I’ll bet you have enough common sense to eliminate the hogwash."
website - look for the May 19 2005 postings
Lawn Care - Lawns : The Green View
any comments..
Brian
