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Lawn Food Shelf Life

Posted by Jeff Mennell on June 4, 2016 at 9:47am in Turfcare

Can anybody help with this query please? In an effort to reduce costs I was thinking of buying a bulk amount of granulated slow release lawn fertilizer (6 x 25 kg bags). The problem is that it would maybe take a couple of years (or more) to use it all. Will it degrade and lose it's effectiveness over time even when stored in a dry location?  I cannot find any definitive answer on t'internet Any ideas? Many thanks.

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Replies

  • Busy Bee Garden Services Limited June 4, 2016 at 11:19am
    We buy by the pallet and can take a few years to use and not noticed any issues just make sure it does not get damp or it won't spread!
  • Jeff Mennell June 4, 2016 at 1:34pm

    I thought that might be the case thanks. By the way which brand do you use, Marathon?

  • Busy Bee Garden Services Limited June 4, 2016 at 2:10pm
    We chop and change according to price but last time was Lebanon
  • PRO
    Nick @ NM Garden Services Ltd June 5, 2016 at 9:07am
    We also buy by the pallet but dry storage is essential.
  • PRO
    Phil Voice June 5, 2016 at 10:23am

    Jeff

    Is it really worth tying up capital for 2 years - and risk losing some, or all, of your remaining stock - just to save a few quid?

    If you were a high user and were consuming a pallet load a season, for example, I'd say buy in advance. In your case, as it's only 6 bags, I'd say buy using a just-in-time method. You can still make a mark-up on your material anyhow.

    • Jeff Mennell > Phil Voice June 5, 2016 at 5:45pm

      Phil, the problem is the expense of slow release granuled fertilizer. If you buy Scott's lawn builder it's about £30 a sack so it's cheaper to buy something like Marathon but the minimum order to qualify for free postage is 6 bags. I'm hoping to start lawn treatments as a separate business proposition so would perhaps need to lay out a certain amount on capital anyway with equipment.

      • PRO
        Gary RK > Jeff Mennell June 5, 2016 at 5:57pm

        I understood the Scotts Lawnbuilder products was a domestic marketplace product  and they used do another range called "Landscaper Pro range" which is more a direct comparison. Now they been taken over by Everris I am not sure ?

      • PRO
        Phil Voice > Jeff Mennell June 5, 2016 at 6:57pm

        Is there an opportunity to get together with local LJN members and share a batch?

      • PRO
        Robbie > Jeff Mennell June 5, 2016 at 8:42pm

        Surely you can get something local for 5 or 6 bags?

  • PRO
    Gary RK June 5, 2016 at 9:04pm
    What I meant to say is that if you compare coverage, rather than bag cost I think it changes the equation hence cost per m2
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