Caked Fertilizer

I have a bag of Weed n Feed fertilizer from last year but it's turned into a brick .. anyone know of an easy way to get it back to granular?

X

I've got a similar issue - moisture got in the tub I was storing it in. Now it's a mess; it's only a small amount of moisture, but can you even dry something like this out?

1 Hammer and a toe sack.LOL

Put in toe sack and hit a few times with a Hammer.

Lavina

What is a toe sack? I've tried beating on it with a hammer and all that does is turn it into a zillion smalled caked pieces that won't go thru the spreader and also puts holes in whatever bag I've got it in. I emailed Scotts .. hopefully they will have an answer.

X

Burlap, about the only way is to pulvarize it with a big hammer or use a mortar and pestle. You will probably have to put it out by hand. Hard to get it consistant enough to use a spreader.

LOL I am telling my age a Toe sack is a burlap type big bag . You used to get Mule feed in the bags.

Lavina

See Farmerdill is from Georgia also and knows what I mean.

Lavina

Thanks .. burlap bags I have. I was thinking rocking a board across it once it's into smaller chunks might help as well.

Is there a formula of sorts on how to hand broadcast granular fertilizer?

X

Yep, you walk at a slow pace while grabbing a handfull and slinging in a circular motion. How much you put down is governed both by your walking speed, how big your hands are, and how fast your hand speed is. Its not rocket science, for years farmers sowed small grains this way. Wear gloves!

You can buy moisture remover for rooms in your house. You could try one of them with your fertilizer in a garbage bag for a day or two and see if that helps. I know they sell them at Walmart. It is a small plastic tub that has pellets in it that draws the moisture into the tub. I have used them before and they work great in the house.

Damp rid? Not sure if that will work.

Got an answer from Scotts .. pretty much the obvious:

Thank you for contacting us concerning Scotts products. As always, it is our goal to make sure that our customers are completely satisfied with our products and services.

You may want to drop it on the cement once or twice in order to break up any particles before opening the bag. If there are still lumps, you can break the lumps up by hand. Be sure to wear gloves when doing so.

It is important to store the product in an area that is cool and dry and away from other pesticides and household cleaners. Product containers stored on concrete floors, for example, may absorb moisture from the floor, making the product lumpy and difficult to apply. Seal opened containers by rolling the tops down. After rolling the top of the bag tightly, secure it with a strong tape, such as duct tape.

Again, thank you for taking the time to let us know of your concerns. Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any additional help to you.

X

You could put it in a larger sack like one of those good woven dog food bags and then back your car over it.

Might work?

has anyone mentioned you'd best where a facemask to prevent any dust or particles being breathed in, too?

don't know what brand you have, but if Preen gets wet, it's weed factor is history within 3 months of getting wet. it will still fertilize.

I don't think the car thing would be a good idea cause it would probably pulverize the granules.

I'm thinking I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy some new .. I have some Dichondra carolinensis that is overtaking my Centipede grass in the back yard. I wouldn't mind it so much if it were not so fragile.

X

How about putting it in a pillow case and hitting it with a brick a few times.

Lavina

Now that sounds pretty good .. guess I'll run to goodwill and buy a pillow case.

or find one in your linen closet you REALLY don't like. that's my excuse for using ones my ex MIL gave us! ex decided they must be mine in the divorce. 15 years they've been in my linen closet. I started using them out in the garden last year - darn that was nice of her after all!

be sure to wrap the brick in a towel or it will cut up the pillowcase

LaVinaMae,your answer to question:What is a toe sack?
Good thing you didn't call it either a gunny sack, cotton sack or guano sack, or a poke; those were all names of burlap bags when I was a country kid helping Grandpa in the fields. My Dad always swore he carried two hundred pound bags of guano across the fields on his shoulders when he was a kid. I always thought to myself "Good for you, but I still hate this stuff, these bucketsful suit me just fine !"

This message was edited Apr 8, 2009 10:20 PM

LOL I would have have gotten in big trouble if I had called it a Gunny sack as we live accross the Mouth of the Neuse River from Cherry Point Marine Base.

Lavina

This message was edited Apr 11, 2009 5:59 PM

is that where you're located? well, darn, lavina, now I know where to find you ^_^

Bonjohn do Kennel's Beach on map quest and you can find where we are.
Hope you are haveing a great easter week end.
Lavina

same back atcha

having a great weekend. b'day today, had great fish dinner with folks and kids. DDs are promising weeding done in garden, cheap presents but very very much desired. Randall is replacing my lost camera next week. we went to Fresh Market for a fancy cake, heavy on the chocolate and raspberries, grabbed some fancy cheeses and gorgeous pink lady apples, too.

one sis is driving back from Orlando, other one is flying back from Vail. and little ol' me is spending my time digging their irises for them! mellow Easter this time for us.

speaking of Carolina gardening and fertilizers, I topdressed my azaleas with year old horse manure last summer. check these out! these all bloomed anemically last year

and these - ignore weeds - I never got them mulched last fall

Awesome flowers, I have one Iris in bloom. Its a plain white one.

Happy Birthday a little late and hope you all have a wonderful time.

Lavina

thank you!

and Happy Easter everyone!

don't have any iris blooming - I picked the only one for the Easter table! it was Bottled Sunshine. I should post the photo in the plantfiles. gotta go do that!