Compost Tea Cancel The title field is required!

1. Stephen Okula

   

   3 posts
   
   9/21/2012 3:09 PM

   Speaking with our British counterparts, compost tea applications are gaining in popularity.
   
   Is anybody anywhere else using this method? Tried it and succeeded? Failed?

   
   
   
   
2. Hardy Andrew

   
   9/21/2012 7:09 PM

   Tried it and was an unmitigated disaster. Didn't reduce any chemical inputs and its a lot of work to "brew" up a batch.

   
   
   
   
3. Stephen Okula

   

   3 posts
   
   9/23/2012 11:09 AM

   Andrew,
   
   Would you mind if I quoted you on that on the British greenkeepers forum?

   
   
   
   
4. Hardy Andrew

   
   9/24/2012 12:09 PM

   Sure. But we did do one 20,000sqft area all season and any disease pressure was not held in check by the tea. Though located in Canada we do have summers similar to parts of Northeastern US. Which means faily heavy pressure for disease from June-Oct.

   
   
   
   
5. Stephen Okula

   

   3 posts
   
   9/24/2012 1:09 PM

   Thanks Andy. I appreciate your help

   
   
   
   
6. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   1/8/2013 1:01 PM

   I've been using compost teas for a couple of seasons with great results. The product is brewed for us by a company called Eco-Tea here in Winnipeg Canada. I really can't say enough about the product as there appears to be short term and long term benefits. Short term would be color, a noticable increase in were tolerance, and it appears to have some surfactant charateristics as greens will accept water easier after an app. Long term rooting is better throughout the year especially during the heat of the summer. The down side of it is the cost ($500/app) and you need to keep the product aerated until you apply. I have been trying to brew my own teas with mixed results as I would like to apply every 14 days instead of monthly.

   
   
   
   
7. Fleegel Timothy

   
   1/8/2013 5:01 PM

   Tony how much area does that $500 app cover and what other fertility products are needed while using the tea?

   
   
   
   
8. Tony Feheregyhazi

   

   7 posts
   
   1/9/2013 9:01 AM

   Hi Tim the app at regular strength will cover about 100,000 sq.ft. I should probably mention how this product is used. 50 Gallons of aerated compost tea is delivered to our shop still bubbling and is transferred to a holding tank that is also aerated. An activator ( 2 liters of molasses, kelp, hygrozyme, and some other bio-stimulants which I have not yet figured out what they are) and a 150 gallons of de-chlorinated water is then mixed into the aerating tea and then you have approx. 24-48 hrs. to apply. The product must be kept aerated right up until application. It is also recommended to not spray any fungicides 10 to 14 days after application or there will be no benefit from any "living" part of the compost tea. I have been told that the tea is brewed using worm castings, high grade compost, and crab meal. My fertility inputs on our greens which are 100% sand have been lowered a little, I have been able to get away with a little less N and have lowered my surfactant applications. I should mention that this product would be a waste of time and money for anyone on a preventative spray program, as well you have to buy into the idea that beneficial soil micro-organisms can be applied through your sprayer. I don't really endorse products but there is something to these Teas if brewed and applied properly.
   There are some superintendents in the area who have been going full strength with the product on quicker intervals. Greg Holden @ Clear Lake Golf Course has been using the product for sometime. If your interested in talking to him let me know and I'll send you his contact info.

   
   
   
   
9. Stephen Okula

   

   3 posts
   
   5/29/2014 11:05 PM

   I recently watched a video on Turfnet about superintendent Mark Hoban at Rivermont in Georgia applying compost tea and other organic amendments through a spray program.
   
   Does anyone have experience using compost teas and did it produce the desired results?

   
   
   
   
10. Steven Huffstutler

    

    11 posts
    
    5/30/2014 1:05 PM

    Man, I tried that one time and it tasted like s##t.

    
    
    
    
11. Brian Holl

    

    0 posts
    
    6/12/2014 12:06 PM

    If you are still interested in compost tea you might want to contact Dean Piller, Superintendent at at Cordova Bay GC - he has certainly used it on his course (not sure if he still is) and I am sure he would be happy to share his experience with you.
    His contact e-mail is dpiller@telus.net

    
    
    
    
12. William Benson

    

    0 posts
    
    6/15/2014 1:06 PM

    I currently do brew biological teas both from compost and lab grown biology. It is part of our program to reduce use of synthetics as mandated by the city government. It does not have immediate results like applying some iron, but by having soil tests done by a soil food web lab you will be able to monitor the increase in the good guy biology in your soil which does produce results.

    
    
    
    
13. Charles Costello

    

    2 posts
    
    6/18/2014 9:06 AM

    I have been injecting "compost tea" and a fish fertilizer for 4 -5 years now, and I swear by it.
    My program consists of 125 gals of tea once a month and 55 gals of fish (organic gem) once a week.
    My tea is produced by a gentleman that operates a bulk composting outfit on the east side of Phoenix.
    We still spray occasional apps of Urea and fe in the winter, but all in all my LELY'S are solely used for over seeding anymore. Some quick benefits...minimal clippings to deal with since changing, no more "transition" issues (ryegrass back to bermudagrass), and my water usage has decreased.
    
    Transition has improved because I am a firm believer that large amounts of fert applied in fall, to insure quality overseeding; creates disease on bermudagrass. This results in a "sick and unhealthy" bermudagrass plant going into dormancy, which is why transition is so poor in the Spring.
    
    My transition from ryegrass back to bermudagrass improved 10 fold the moment I stopped applying the traditional prilled fertilizers. I have not sprayed out my ryegrass in over 5 years.
    
    I have not laid any sod either. Different topic sorta but it makes the story even better.
    
    My analogy is that of someone battling "type two diabetes"...you manage the diabetes with your diet or your inputs. Balance the carbohydrates, limit the "spikes" in one's diet and live a long and healthy life.
    
    Since balancing the diet of my plants life has become better in numerous ways.
    
    Now having said all this I will inject my one caveat. At different times of the year, my golf course is not the prettiest girl at the dance. If aesthetics are more important to you (owner,boss,gm,green comm chair,golf pro,management,etc) than "playability", this may not be your "cup of tea"!
    
    Best of luck.
    
    Charlie Costello
    Phoenix Country Club Golf Course Superintendent