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Q: Does anyone have a homemade lawn fertilizer?
Hardiness Zone: 6a
Jamish from Ransom, Kansas
A: Jamish,
There are several homemade lawn tonic recipes that have been around for years. Here are a few variations:
- 1 can of beer
- 1 cup of ammonia
- 1 cup of plain liquid dish soap... (not liquid detergent)
- 1 cup any brand liquid lawn fertilizer
- 1 cup of molasses or corn syrup
Mix these ingredients into a 10 or 20 gallon hose end sprayer and apply evenly to the entire lawn in early mornings or later evenings. Water well. You'll find your lawn will need less water during droughts. Feed every three weeks or year round in warmer zones.
Or:
- 1 can of beer (no "light" beer)
- 1 can of soda (no "diet" soda)
- 1/2 cup of liquid soap
- 1/2 cup of liquid ammonia
- 1/2 cup of mouthwash
Or this last one from Jerry Baker, America's Master Gardener:
- 1 cup of beer
- 1 cup of baby shampoo
- 1 cup of liquid lawn food
- 1/2 cup of molasses
- 2 tbsp. Of fish emulsion
- Ammonia
The beer in these recipes promotes microbial activity (same goes for the tea, soda, corn syrup and molasses). Ammonia breaks down into nitrates, which provide the plants nutrients. This nitrogen also helps break dawn thatch into nutrients the lawn can take up. The soap helps the solution spread more evenly over the lawn as you apply it. And the mouthwash contains alcohol, which acts as an irritant to many insects. Occasionally you may also run across a recipe containing tobacco. This also acts as an insecticide.
I've never tried them, but these recipes are supposed to work on both your lawn and your flowers.
Ellen
About The Author: Ellen Brown is our Green Living and Gardening Expert. Click here to ask Ellen a question! Ellen Brown is an environmental writer and photographer and the owner of Sustainable Media, an environmental media company that specializes in helping businesses and organizations promote eco-friendly products and services. Contact her on the web at http://www.sustainable-media.com
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