A question for greenkeepers...

Kevinmarkham

... or anyone else who knows about what chemicals are used to fertilise/protect greens.

I was talking to someone up in N.I. who said that they dressed their greens with Sodium oxphate... I've never heard of it, so I suspect I misheard.

Does anyone have any idea what it might be?

Thanks

bonzer79

Most likely you misheard but easily done, I would say it was Potassium Sulphate-or as the old farmer might say 10-10-20.
Then it depends on the type of grass, the nutrient levels in the rootzone and on and on....
The other guess would be Ferrous Sulphate-iron which would be used for moss control, noticeable afterwards by the greens turning a deep greeny/black depending on the amount applied.
Hope that is of some use to you.

Kevinmarkham

bonzer79 wrote: »

The other guess would be Ferrous Sulphate-iron which would be used for moss control, noticeable afterwards by the greens turning a deep greeny/black depending on the amount applied.

That's the one - the greens were exactly as you describe. Thanks
K

PhilipMarlowe

If you want sulphate of iron for your own lawn, use Lawn Sand. Lawn sand has the sulphate of iron as an ingredient (usually along with a little fertiliser) and the sand acts as a carrier (& the sand is of benefit itself anyway). The iron 'burns' the moss and then you'd rake/scarify etc. This could account for a dark green/black colour.
Sometimes you see greenkeepers apply a liquid spray (fertiliser/chemical?) to the greens and it has a dye in it so that they can see where they've covered I guess and this can make the greens look darker than usual, but that tends to be a blue-green in my experience whereas the iron is more black-green.

http://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/lawn-sand.html

charlieIRL

PhilipMarlowe wrote: »

If you want sulphate of iron for your own lawn, use Lawn Sand. Lawn sand has the sulphate of iron as an ingredient (usually along with a little fertiliser) and the sand acts as a carrier (& the sand is of benefit itself anyway). The iron 'burns' the moss and then you'd rake/scarify etc. This could account for a dark green/black colour.
Sometimes you see greenkeepers apply a liquid spray (fertiliser/chemical?) to the greens and it has a dye in it so that they can see where they've covered I guess and this can make the greens look darker than usual, but that tends to be a blue-green in my experience whereas the iron is more black-green.

http://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/lawn-sand.html

i get a nasty reaction on my hands from that green spray so tend to avoid it if i can.

BTW - did you change your username?