Fertigator Use

Anyone doing this with their irrigation system?
 
I am considering it and wondering about ease of installation?
 
Does it work for fertilizer and insecticides?

I've looked at them and considered it as well but haven't pulled the trigger yet...not sure I ever will. However I would caution against an insecticide as it might kill some beneficial insects. But then again, I have used the granules for ants but I keep that closer to the house.

Part of the reason I haven't done this is finding a place to hide the big damn tank.

Thanks dgage.
 
Yup; here went from wet to dry fertilization a few years back.  I do spot insecticides dry or wet depending on stuff.

Given most people use too much fertilizer I'd be hesitant to entertain the idea.  There's, perhaps, something to be said for systematically controlling it as a means to better manage how it's applied.  Yet there's perhaps more to be said for not planting species that can't survive effectively without it in the first place.

Yup the dry fertilizing has worked very well over the last 10 years.  My personal early attempts failed miserably; then I hit the sweet spot. 
 
This is just another "tinerking project" - a bit bored lately.

pete_c said:

Yup the dry fertilizing has worked very well over the last 10 years.  My personal early attempts failed miserably; then I hit the sweet spot. 
 
This is just another "tinerking project" - a bit bored lately.

Click to expand...

How far away from TN are you? I'm sure I can help with that boredom.

I looked into fertigation but rejected it for the following reasons (which may or may not resonate with you):
 
1.  Distribution Uniformity.  No irrigation system has perfect distribution uniformity.  Neither does spreading fertilizer with a spreader, but it seems a lot more uniform than irrigation.
 
2.  Overspray.  I haven't evolved into drip irrigation, where fertigation might be awesome.  With spray, on the other hand, there's always some degree of overspray that will get onto fences, sidewalks, driveways, patios, and your house.  Do you really want to be throwing fertilizer onto those surfaces over time?  Maybe it washes off in the rain, but to the degree it doesn't it might start looking like a hardwater stain over time.
 
3.  Backflow prevention.  Murphy's Law.  Is it worth the risk of it going wrong?
 
The main advantage seems to be that it saves you from running around with a spreader, so there is that advantage.
 
Anyway, hope that helps.

The real problem is it's wretchedly bad for the environment.  That it'll stain your hardscape is certainly something to want to avoid.  Likewise wasting money as it washes away due to over/improper application.  But the fact that it causes serious problems for the waterways into which it eventually drains is often neglected.  I'm no 'environmentalist' but wrecking the habitat for the sake of pretty plants seems the height of arrogance/stupidity.

Wow; this has turned into a nice stimulating to read thread!
 
Yup; as stated I tried early on using dry fertilizer and failed miserably.  The sweet spot related to hiring a service which used dry fertilizer. 
 
That said over the years did actually redo my landscaping and drainage to adjust the topography of the layout.
 
I too here am no pro active environmentalist; I have been always aware of my local little ecosystem (and using automation tools to monitor it).

Had this setup put in a few years ago. Its by ezflow. It's a great organic fertilizer that ties directly to your irrigation system. Everywhere your sprinklers and drip lines go the fertilizer goes. My lawn is the envy of the block because of it!

 

 

Thank you iostream212

How far away from TN are you? I'm sure I can help with that boredom.

Click to expand...

 
Yup in the midwest here; spoke to a friend just a couple of days ago living in TN.
 
Mostly spoke about how fast 30 years have gone by in the "blink of an eye".

iostream212 said:

Had this setup put in a few years ago. Its by ezflow. It's a great organic fertilizer that ties directly to your irrigation system. Everywhere your sprinklers and drip lines go the fertilizer goes. My lawn is the envy of the block because of it!

 

 

Click to expand...

Nice post...thanks. Two questions.

1. Any issue with staining sidewalks or similar?

2. Where are you located? I'm in TN at we get some hot, dry summers (not this year) and wonder if fertilizing in the middle of the summer is a smart idea.

1.) No sidewalk issues at all. You control the amount applied via a knob on the unit. On the Slow setting, an EZ-FLO main-line unit proportions fertilizer out at one twentieth of a teaspoon per gallon of water. At the Fast setting, two teaspoons. Most people would agree that this is a very small amount. But this small amount works since it is applied every time with every drop of water.
2.) I'm in northern California. Due to the drought I am not watering as much so currently I am bypassing the unit. Previous summers I use it year round. There are several types of fertilizers to play around with and get a good schedule going.

I've already bought the injectors to plumb into lines. We installed motorized valves, water meters, and now have have to run wires for all of it.

With ezflow you can install a solenoid/valve to control the fertigation systems. Mike has an option in his software when to fertlize or you can have the stuff inject all the time.

It still wont solve herbicide applications wither your doing pre or post. Here I use a fair amount of Pre-M and one would be insain to run that in this system.

I'm only going to start with their $200 tank and expand if I like or need