HOW TO APPLY AGGRAND PRODUCTS

Applying AGGRAND products is very easy and can be done in a number of ways. First, you can purchase a hose end sprayer from AGGRAND (Altrum). These only cost about a buck, and work fairly well in most cases. However, understand that, because they only cost a buck, they're nothing all that special. It's not all that difficult to break them, so care should be taken.

To use the hose end sprayer from AGGRAND, you will attach it to the end of your hose, and then screw on a QUART bottle of AGGRAND fertilizer. Any bottle other than an AGGRAND QUART SIZE bottle will NOT work.

If you'd like to use a different application method, the following will also work.

USING AN ORTHO OR MIRACLE GROW SPRAYER

First, filter the fertilizer through something like cheese-cloth. This will remove the larger particles which aren't going to pass through an Ortho or Miracle Grow sprayer. Then, mix the filtered fertilizer, half water to half fertilizer in the Ortho / Miracle Grow sprayer "tank". On my Ortho Sprayer I then set the output rate to the 5 or 6 ounce per gallon setting. This will apply the fertilizer at 2.5 to 3 ounces per gallon (because it is mixed with half water) which is the universal rate for AGGRAND fertilizer application.

Just don't stand in one spot for very long. You only need a light application at this rate. It comes through pretty quick. This is especially true on flowers and such which are a little more delicate and respond more drastically to minor changes in fertilization. A little too much on the lawn won't hurt anything, but too much on flowers can burn them. Just give them a light application. Better to be a light application that has to be done a little more frequently on flowers than too heavy an application which might stunt them.

This method should work just fine. When filtering the fertilizer, just work it through the cheesecloth until basically all the liquid has passed through and all that is left is the larger, solid particles.

USING OTHER SPRAYERS

Other types of sprayers can be used for AGGRAND products as well. As long as the sprayer has good agitation and pressure, just about any sprayer will do. Backpack sprayers, sprayers on pull behind trailers and on truck beds, etc. Any of these are fine for applying AGGRAND. Just make sure to clean any filter screens fairly often as organic fertilizers can begin to clog these over time if not cared for properly.

• Lawn Applications
• Application on Bedding Plants
• Application on Transplants
• Foliar Applications
• Deep Root Applications
• Soil Applications
• Development Based Application Rates by Plant Type
  • ROOT CROPS (i.e. carrots, beets, turnips, etc.)
  • TUBERS and Tuberous Root Crops (potato, sweet potato, etc.)
  • LEAF CROPS (i.e. lettuce, celery, spinach)
  • COLE CROPS (i.e. cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, etc.)
  • SOLANACEOUS CROPS (i.e. tomato, pepper, eggplant, etc.)
  • LEGUMES (i.e. beans, peas, lima beans, etc.)
  • CUCURBITS (i.e. cucumbers, squash, melons, etc.)
  • SMALL FRUITS
    • Strawberry
    • Blueberry
    • Raspberry
    • Grapes
  • FRUIT TREES
    • Apple and Pear
    • Peach and Cherry
    • Citrus
  • HOUSEPLANTS

Application rates and timing vary according to the grass species, soil type and lawn condition. Normally, 4 to 6 applications of AGGRAND 4-3-3 per year are sufficient. The first application is made as soon as the grass shows signs of growth (green color) in early spring. The second application follows in three to four weeks (shorter interval for sandy soil).

On lawns in good condition (mostly turf grass, with few weeds and a small amount of thatch) a third application can be made before the grass goes into summer dormancy. Resume fertilization in late summer when the grass starts to grow again. Fertilize two or three more times before the end of the season at the same intervals as the spring fertilizations.

The addition of one pint/5,000 square feet of AGGRAND 0-0- 8 (Kelp and Sulfate of Potash) to the spray mix once in early spring, before summer heat and/or drought, and in early fall provides increased beneficial effects to plant health. Addition of 1 quart/2,000 square feet of AGGRAND 0-12-0 once in early spring or later fall provides further enhancement of root development.

AGGRAND 4-3-3 rates for specific grass species:

• 1 quart per 5,000 to 8,000 sq. ft.
  • Buffalo grass
  • Fine fescue
  • Tall fescue
• 1 quart per 3,000 to 5,000 sq. ft.
  • Bermuda grass
  • Carpet grass
  • Kentucky bluegrass
  • Perrenial rye grass
  • Zoysia grass
• 1 quart per 2,000 to 4,000 sq. ft.
  • Bahia grass
  • Bent grass
  • Centipede grass
  • St. Augustine grass

For commercial applications, AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer 4- 3-3 is applied to the soil at a 200:1 (water to fertilizer) ratio through a standard injection system when plants reach 2 to 3 true leaves. The ratio can be decreased to 100:1 for more demanding plant types as the growth rate increases. AGGRAND 4-3-3 may also be diluted in a watering can to 1 to 3 ounces per gallon of water (higher rates as growth increases related to crop demands).

Soil Applications: AGGRAND 4-3-3 should be applied at 10 to 14 day intervals (apply more frequently when non-soil mixes are used). Every four weeks the salts should be leached from the media by flushing the containers with fresh water. After leaching, fertilize with 4-3-3. Additional calcium, phosphorus and potassium are needed at planting. Mix in 2 to 3 ounces of AGGRAND Natural Liquid Bonemeal 0-12-0 (NBM) and 1 to 2 ounces of AGGRAND Natural Kelp and Sulfate of Potash 0-0-8 (NKP) with the 4-3-3 to provide more nutrients.

Foliar Applications: A fine mist is applied to bedding plants for additional uptake of nutrients. Apply one to two ounces of AGGRAND 4-3-3 per gallon of water at 14 to 21 day intervals after the plants reach 3 to 4 true leaves.

Transplanting is a stressful period for your bedding plants. Minimizing transplant shock keeps plants growing vigorously, avoiding unnecessary setbacks which can delay flowering and reduce yields.

AGGRAND Natural Fertilizer should be used for watering in small transplants. Shrubs and trees can be soaked overnight in a bucket of AGGRAND 4-3-3 or 0-0-8 before transplanting. Use a mixture of one ounce per gallon for soaking and 2 to 3 ounces per gallon of water for watering transplants. the addition of 1 to 2 ounces of AGGRAND 0-12- 0 to the solution to increase phosphorus and potassium availability when watering the transplants will aid the fertilizer in long term root development.

• Avoid transplanting during the heat of the day to avoid root dessication (drying out).
• Cloudy weather is the best time to transplant.
• Keep soil moist until plant root systems become well- established.

While plants do take up nutrients through their roots, they can't always meet all of their nutrient demands that way. For example, if soil pH is higher (more alkaline) or lower (more acidic) than the optimum range needed for plant growth, then essential nutrients become unavailable.

Foliar feeding is a very efficient way of providing nutrients during periods of peak nutrient demands and in situations where the soil pH level is creating a nutrient deficiency without sacrificing performance. AGGRAND 4-3-3 and AGGRAND 0-0-8 contain concentrated kelp extract. Kelp provides a wide array of plant nutrients, chelating agents and plant hormones. Kelp promotes drought, heat and cold tolerance of vegetables and flowers. They are particularly effective when applied as foliar sprays.

With foliar applications growers adopt one of two application methods: a calender based approach where feeding begins on a certain date and continues at set intervals throughout the growing season, or an approach based on the plant's developmental stages in which reaching a critical stage (i.e. bud formation, first bloom, fruit set, etc.) is the cue for application. When feeding foliarly, apply enough fertilizer solution to wet the foliage.

Effectiveness of foliar applications is increased by raising the fertilizer pH to 7.0 to promote vegetative growth and 6.0 to promote flowering and fruit formation. After mixing the fertilizer with water, test the pH with litmus paper. Add baking soda or hydrated lime one-half teaspoon at a time to raise the pH to the specified level or add apple cider vinegar 1 teaspoon at a time to lower the pH to the specified level. The addition of a surfactant (spreader sticker) to the spray mix also increases effectiveness of foliar applications. Add 2 to 4 tablespoons to each gallon of spray mix and keep well agitated.

For trees and shrubs, a surface application of fertilizer may be used up by the lawn before it can penetrate down into the root zone of these woody perennials. Deep root feeding below the root zone of the grass effectively provides nutrients to trees and shrubs. The ideal fertilizer for deep root feeding is a liquid, low salt product containing chelated macro and micronutrients that releases slowly into the root zone.

Several application methods are used for deep root feeding. All of these methods involve penetrating the root zone around the drip line of the tree or shrub (the f eeder roots form a circle 2 to 4 ft. wide around the drip line). One method is to drill a number of holes in the ground 6" to 12" deep and pour the fertilizer into them.

A second method is to rototill around the drip line just deep enough (2" to 3") to break up the sod but not disturb many of the tree's or shrub's roots. Then use a soaker hose to apply the fertilizer.

A third method is to apply the fertilizer without any previous tillage. A longer time must be allowed to effectively penetrate the root zone.

The final method uses a hollow tree spike which is pushed down into the root zone. The fertilizer is injected through the spike. It may be impractical to use this method in highly compacted soils; in this situation it is better to drill holes or use tillage.

Tree and shrub fertilizers are applied in the early spring or in the fall. When performing deep root feeding by injection or through bored holes on trees and shrubs, use a grid pattern, with points every 2 or 3 feet, starting at least a foot away from the base of the tree and extending one or two feet outside the drip line.

AGGRAND 4-3-3 should be applied at 4 to 32 ounces per tree. The ratio of water to fertilizer is 4 oz. fertilizer to one gallon of water for hand watering down to one half ounce per gallon for injection and soaker hoses. Younger trees and shrubs and those in sandy soils need half the above rate applied both spring and fall.

AGGRAND 0-12-0 and 0-0-8 may be mixed with the 4-3-3 to provide additional calcium, phosphorus and potassium. Apply 2 to 16 ounces of 0-12-0 and 1 to 8 ounces of 0-0-8 along with the 4-3-3 to supply additional nutrients.

Gardens need to be tilled in the spring and fall. Fall tillage combined with a fertilizer application aids in the breakdown of crop residue and provides readily available nutrients from the fertilizer and decomposed organic matter by the next year. Spring tillage with a fertilizer application provides some readily available nutrients, but more of the nitrogen is locked up through the decomposition of plant residue. Either way, fertilizer should be applied at planting time for optimum results.

AGGRAND 4-3-3, 0-12-0 and 0-0-8 can be applied either time. A soil test of your garden area is beneficial in determining the most useful fertilizer combination to use. For most gardens one quart each of AGGRAND 4-3-3, 0-12-0 and 0-0-8 tilled into 1,000 to 2,000 square feet of garden is sufficient.

Using AGGRAND products during spring soil preparation and fall tillage is straightforward. In spring the applications are made by spray broadcasting the AGGRAND products before the final trip over the garden and allowing them to dry before finally tilling the fertilizer into the garden. In the fall the soil should not be tilled finely or deeply, but the fertilizer application is still made before the final pass with the tiller.

Another way AGGRAND products are used for garden crops is banding the fertilizer in a trench near the seed. The best way to band fertilizer is to dig a trench slightly to one side and beneath where the seed will be planted (1" to 2" below and 2" to 4" to the side of the seeds). The fertilizer, mixed with water, is then dribbled into the trench, after which the trench is covered and a furrow is formed next to it for the seed.

Finally, fertilizer can also be applied to some crops by broadcasting it before or after planting to the seedbed.