Homemade wetting agent Cancel The title field is required!

1. McDonagh Patrick

   
   3/25/2014 10:03 AM

   Has anybody used the homemade wetting agent for their course? I have some info on a formula using soda pop , beer, dish detergent, mouth wash and ammonia. Wondering if anyone mixed it up in a 55 gallon drum then injected it into their irrigation system.

   
   
   
   
2. Keith Fellenstein

   

   0 posts
   
   3/25/2014 10:03 AM

   Thats more than just wetting agent. The wetting agent part of the recipe is the soap.

   
   
   
   
3. McDonagh Patrick

   
   3/25/2014 10:03 AM

   It was developed by a former Superintendent and I believe he called it a lawn tonic.

   
   
   
   
4. Larry Allan

   

   0 posts
   
   3/25/2014 2:03 PM

   I'm thinking....ummmmm...not a good idea...unless Costco sells all those products in a 55 gallon drum.
   The big boys do a lot of testing. Phyto, effects on germination, longevity.

   
   
   
   
5. James Schmid

   

   1 posts
   
   3/25/2014 3:03 PM

   Would that be less expensive than just buying an actual wetting agent?
   
   You might also want to consider that having a keg of beer and a bunch of mouthwash in the pumpstation may raise some questions

   
   
   
   
6. Sandy Clark

   

   0 posts
   
   3/25/2014 3:03 PM

   Do you really want to play chemist that bad? Do things you know that work, avoid the risk!

   
   
   
   
7. Steve Nelson

   

   0 posts
   
   3/25/2014 4:03 PM

   by my math that's 55 pints of ammonia, 55 pints of Dawn, 220 sodas, and 220 beers (approximately- must factor employee loss) per 55 gallon drum (I got rid of the mouth wash part to get it to 32oz materials per 10 gallon dilution). I don't think I'd do that.

   
   
   
   
8. McDonagh Patrick

   
   3/26/2014 6:03 AM

   Gentlemen, you are thinking the same thoughts I had on the subject but it has been a long winter and some of the brainiacs around here are trying to think of ways to lighten our expenses.

   
   
   
   
9. Canedo Alberto J

   
   3/26/2014 7:03 AM

   That would be a waste of 10 cases of beer, unless you are starting to brew your first batches of beer and they are not too good. If root beer would count for the soda, they do sell a root beer making kit. For me, I rather play it safe and spend the money on wetting agents.

   
   
   
   
10. Kenneth Ingram

    

    18 posts
    
    3/26/2014 8:03 AM

    Thirty years ago the Supt at Langley Airbase down in Norfolk used to swear by the fire fighting foam used on airplane fires. The stuff had an expiration date and he sprayed the old stuff on the golf course as a wetting agent. I think there might have been an article in the old Golf Supt magazine. I think his name was Mooney.
    
    We've been brainstorming here at UMD for home remedies for earthworm control. When we ask Supt's what problems they have and what they want to see researched earthworms top the list. Nothing is labeled and we need to stop using hard insecticides. Sand topdressing sure didn't work. Kenneth Ingram, UMD

    
    
    
    
11. Brad Marcy

    

    0 posts
    
    3/27/2014 8:03 AM

    I believe that the fire fighting additive is "Water Wetter". We have a fire station that is our neighbor, and there was a lot of it in the chemical room when I came here, Someone was using it for a wetting agent of sorts.