Application of Controlled Released Fertilizer
Most ornamental plant growers and landscapers use some type of controlled release fertilizer in their operation. Application of the product used will also vary from one grower to the next. Some growers will use “spoons” supplied by the fertilizer company and require hand application. Other nursery workers will simply throw fertilizer into pots by hand. Both of the above methods require the worker to bend over or kneel all day and creates a lot of physical stress on their bodies as well as taking a lot of time to apply fertilizer to hundreds of thousands of plants.
Today there are several hand-held applicators on the market and all need to be evaluated as follows:
- What is the cost to purchase?
- How fast will the work get done compared to the applicator cost?
- Is the applicator easy to use for low skilled workers?
- How easy is the applicator to adjust for dosage?
- Will the applicator last?
- Is the applicator accurate and easy to adjust?
Fertileeze is one of the newer, patented, applicators on the market and meets all of the above criteria. It is made in the U.S.A., very inexpensive, dispenses from the lower end of the wand one shot per second or faster, easy to use, has a simple twist adjustment, made of furniture grade PVC, and dispenses 5, 10, 15, or 20 grams of controlled release fertilizer, or (1,2,3, or 4 teaspoons). Application rates will vary a little depending on the density of your product. Fertileeze will dispense other granular products besides controlled released fertilizer including: granular organics, insecticides, herbicides, and pelletized lime to name a few. One tool for most granular products.