Black Sand Cancel The title field is required!

1. Ken Siems

   

   1 posts
   
   12/5/2012 11:12 PM

   Dear Colleagues,
   
   Can you share any information on dying sand black? What is best ingredient to make sand black and how long does it last. Black sand will be utilised to help melt ice.
   
   Regards
   
   Ken Siems CGCS

   
   
   
   
2. Dru Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   12/6/2012 5:12 AM

   Ken Siems, CGCS said: Dear Colleagues,
   
   Can you share any information on dying sand black? What is best ingredient to make sand black and how long does it last. Black sand will be utilised to help melt ice.
   
   Regards
   
   Ken Siems CGCS

   
   
   I can email you the MSDS for our sand. Our sand distributor sends it to us already dyed. Note: the MSDS says yellow but all the info is the same for the black dye.

   
   
   
   
3. Smith Kerry L

   
   12/6/2012 9:12 AM

   You could look for black gold. Its a crushed silica i believe. The thing that bothers me is that it is black and if used on greens it could cause an unnecessary "heat up" of the soil in the summer!

   
   
   
   
4. Bateman Russell J

   
   12/13/2012 11:12 AM

   The supplier we have used in the past no longer stocks black sand. Anyone know of a supplier in our area? Also, are there any good alternatives to black dyed sand for melting snow and ice on greens? Scott Woodhead has used milorganite successfully. I am a little worried about milorganite concentrating in low areas on our greens.

   
   
   
   
5. Douglas Eggert

   

   1 posts
   
   12/13/2012 3:12 PM

   Has anyone tried the darker greens sands?
   
   Just a thought.

   
   
   
   
6. Smith Kerry L

   
   12/13/2012 3:12 PM

   activated charcoal?

   
   
   
   
7. Andrew Cross

   

   5 posts
   
   12/13/2012 3:12 PM

   gypsum has worked for me in the past

   
   
   
   
8. Timothy Walker

   

   0 posts
   
   12/13/2012 8:12 PM

   russell, what is "your area"

   
   
   
   
9. Bateman Russell J

   
   12/17/2012 5:12 AM

   Sorry, I did not post my area. Baltimore, Maryland

   
   
   
   
10. Venne Gregory

    
    12/17/2012 6:12 AM

    The best thing I have used is black sunflower seeds. It breaks up the ice better than the black sand or milorganite, and is easy to clean up in spring.

    
    
    
    
11. Bateman Russell J

    
    12/17/2012 3:12 PM

    Gregory, thanks for the sunflower idea. What rate do you use? How do you clean it up after the melt?

    
    
    
    
12. Venne Gregory

    
    12/18/2012 6:12 AM

    The application rate is all personal preference. I will use a layer spread out about 2-3" apart for light ice, and increase rate as the ice gets thicker. I have busted through 6" ice with this method before no problem. The clean-up is easy with snow shovels in the spring, or after the green has cleared. If you wait long enough you will only have to blow away the shells after the birds and turkeys have their fill.

    
    
    
    
13. Jason Baker

    

    12 posts
    
    12/18/2012 9:12 AM

    Greg,
    curious, how many pounds of seed do you use for your light rate? And where do you purchase that amount of sun flower seeds? Farmers supply?

    
    
    
    
14. Venne Gregory

    
    12/18/2012 12:12 PM

    I would have to guess about 10 lbs/m. I could be off though. I've used 300 lbs on a 11k foot green before though with varying ice thickness. I usually purchase them at an ag supplier like Blue Seal or Agway. I'm sure any Tractor Supply will also carry them, especially during the winter. I believe the actual name for them are Black Oil Sunflower seeds.

    
    
    
    
15. Venne Gregory

    
    12/18/2012 12:12 PM

    Hopefully these pics go through.

    
    
    
    
16. Ronald Kirkman

    

    40 posts
    
    12/18/2012 1:12 PM

    Jason Baker said: Greg,
    curious, how many pounds of seed do you use for your light rate? And where do you purchase that amount of sun flower seeds? Farmers supply?

    
    
    Jason,
    
    Try home Depot. P.S. How is Pappy doing? Have not seen nor heard from him in the past 9 months.
    
    Capt Kirk

    
    
    
    
17. Bateman Russell J

    
    12/18/2012 2:12 PM

    Thanks for the pictures. They really are worth a thousand words! I have contacted a large sunflower seed supplier (ADM) who is pricing out sunflower seed by the pallet and by the tractor trailer load. I will post the info when it comes.

    
    
    
    
18. Timothy Walker

    

    0 posts
    
    12/18/2012 7:12 PM

    Email me at timwalker@comcast.net for my sand contact. You could get black sand from a supplier in nj shipped to you in super sacks.

    
    
    
    
19. Timothy Walker

    

    0 posts
    
    12/18/2012 7:12 PM

    Russell,
    
    Contact is Jim Gurzler info is
    5705922473  or jim@gurzler.com

    
    
    
    
20. Jason Baker

    

    12 posts
    
    12/19/2012 7:12 AM

    Capt.
    I doubt I will have a lot of use for the seeds but it sounds like a great idea if it is cost affective. I am curious to see the cost.
    
    Pappy is ok, not great. He has fallen once or twice. Give im a shout if you get a minute, he would love to hear from you.