Did the screwdriver test

Kentucky bluegrass, Fescue, Rye and Bent, etc
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01redcrew
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Did the screwdriver test

Post by 01redcrew » June 20th, 2017, 10:21 am

hello guys
Finally got a .6 tenths of rain on sunday so i decided to try the screwdriver test today and some spots were harder than i was excepting. What are some things i can do to help loosen the soil besides aerating the lawn I remember people saying baby shampoo helps. I may aerator this fall since its been 5 years i think. What can i do to help me threw summer? Thanks guys

TimmyG
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by TimmyG » June 20th, 2017, 11:32 am

Start with the following article, and then search for more advice here on making and applying BLSC. Try keywords "BLSC", "Soil Conditioner", and "Kelp Help".
Soil Conditioner and Kelp Help Plus Humates

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MorpheusPA
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by MorpheusPA » June 20th, 2017, 1:18 pm

I really need to update that article someday. Nowadays, I use 5 oz (a third of a pound is fine) of sodium lauryl sulfate from Bramble Berry: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sodium-Lau ... P3562.aspx

It's cheaper, just as effective, shipping costs far less, and you end up with 3 gallons of solution out of it.

I discontinued adding the yucca as it's too expensive for what it does in the soil.

TimmyG
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by TimmyG » June 20th, 2017, 2:00 pm

SLS from Bramble Berry is definitely the way to go, and I stopped using yucca long ago for the same reason.

01redcrew
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by 01redcrew » June 21st, 2017, 8:26 am

Is that 5oz per gallon or 1k


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HoosierLawnGnome
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » June 21st, 2017, 9:30 am

Careful breathing that powder in, always makes me cough - and I don't have allergies etc.

TimmyG
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by TimmyG » June 21st, 2017, 2:09 pm

01redcrew wrote:
June 21st, 2017, 8:26 am
Is that 5oz per gallon or 1k
He's referring to the amount added to 1 gallon of water. His original recommendation was as much a 8oz per gallon, but we've learned that that much can be difficult to dissolve or will precipitate out as it sits. As Morpheus remarked here:
MorpheusPA wrote:
June 7th, 2017, 12:51 pm
I once used too much SLS powder and ended up with sodium laureth slop-ate. It was less petroleum jelly consistency than kind of half-solid. :-)

If that was the cause, just dilute it and no harm done. I used it at one-third rate with extra water and it all worked out fine. It was probably of slightly different levels of effectiveness, but I didn't care.

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MorpheusPA
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by MorpheusPA » June 21st, 2017, 4:19 pm

HoosierLawnGnome wrote:
June 21st, 2017, 9:30 am
Careful breathing that powder in, always makes me cough - and I don't have allergies etc.
It's a really strong surfactant so, yep, it strips the mucus coat from your sinuses and throat. Which aren't happy without them.

I do this with a mask on, although the new powder is not as likely to waft or to electrostatically cling to everything in sight.

01redcrew
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by 01redcrew » June 21st, 2017, 6:21 pm

thanks guys i may place a order tonight. Nothing else i need to order? This stuff is pretty good by itself?

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GeorgiaDad
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by GeorgiaDad » June 21st, 2017, 6:39 pm


01redcrew
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by 01redcrew » June 21st, 2017, 7:52 pm

MorpheusPA wrote:
June 20th, 2017, 1:18 pm
I really need to update that article someday. Nowadays, I use 5 oz (a third of a pound is fine) of sodium lauryl sulfate from Bramble Berry: https://www.brambleberry.com/Sodium-Lau ... P3562.aspx

It's cheaper, just as effective, shipping costs far less, and you end up with 3 gallons of solution out of it.

I discontinued adding the yucca as it's too expensive for what it does in the soil.
so i may place a order tonight anything else i should order or is this stuff good? Thanks

smast16
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by smast16 » June 21st, 2017, 9:14 pm

If Morph says it's what he uses, its basically the gold standard.

01redcrew
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by 01redcrew » June 26th, 2017, 9:27 pm

finally placed my order. How often should i apply this

smast16
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Re: Did the screwdriver test

Post by smast16 » June 26th, 2017, 10:23 pm

I would follow the Best lawn soil conditioner and Best lawn kelp help (plus humic acid) article under the articles page. I also searched the forum to read other's mixing experience for their after thought "words of wisdom" so I didn't have too many "surprises" when I mixed.

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