| Frequent
Questions |
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What
is the FertiGator?
What is fertigation?
What are the benefits of fertigation?
What is wrong with fertilizing the old way?
Where can I buy one?
How do I install one?
What must be done to keep it operational?
Are there any systems on which the FertiGator
can't run?
Where is the fertilizer kept if I install a
FertiGator Pro Model?
What kinds of fertilizers do you have to use?
Do you recommend organic-based fertilizers?
Can it deliver other lawn-care products?
How is contamination of water-supply avoided?
What kind of backflow prevention is required?
I have a poor irrigation system. My sprinkler
head spacing is less than perfect. Will the fertilizer cause
green circles around the heads?
Will the nutrients burn the grass if I have
a blow-out or a head sticks on?
Will the fertilizer in the lines cause damage
to irrigation system heads or valves?
Does fertigation only aid in leaf growth? Will
it produce poor roots? |
|
What is the FertiGator? |
| FertiGators
are automatic fertilizer injection systems that attach to
any in-ground sprinkler system. They allow you to "spoon
feed" your lawn and/or landscape every time you
water. It is ideal for residential systems and can also be
used for commercial, municipal, sport turf applications. |
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| What
is fertigation? |
| Fertigation
is a time-tested process of "spoon feeding": Delivering
small amounts of fertilizer through an irrigation system each
time the system is operated. Fertigation has been used extensively
in agriculture for more than 30 years and has gained wide
acceptance in the golf course, nursery, turf and athletic
industries over the last 10 years. |
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| What
are the benefits of fertigation? |
| Supplying
grass and other plants with small amounts of fertilizer on
a frequent basis through an irrigation system allows plants
to thrive in a constantly nutrient-rich environment. Plants
use nitrogen and other necessary nutrients quickly. Fertigation
keeps the nutrients readily available to the plant resulting
in strong root growth and better plant health. This is what
slow-release fertilizers try to mimic. It is also less time-consuming
and more affordable for the homeowner than walking behind
a spreader or using a lawn care company. |
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| What
is wrong with fertilizing the old way? |
| The traditional
method of monthly fertilization results in substantial over
feeding as the plants use up the nutrients in the first few
days following treatment. After a week or so, the lawn must
endure a period of near starvation, until the next chemical
release or treatment in several of weeks. Another huge dose
of chemicals is followed by another stressful low nutrient
period. This sequence of peaks and valleys can be difficult
for the plant. This process is also more time-consuming for
the do-it-yourself homeowner and more expensive for everyone. |
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| Where
can I buy one? |
| FertiGator
is currently available at over 500 wholesale distributors
across the nation and available for purchase on line as well.
Please click here for our Store Locator page for a distributor
or recommended FertiGator Contractor near you who can install
a FertiGator for you.. |
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| How
do I install one? |
| All FertiGators
are easy to install. The Flo model is especially easy and
only requires cutting and gluing PVC pipe to install it. The
Pro Model is a little more difficult as it also requires wiring
of the injector and FertiGator controller to your irrigation
controller. If you don't want to install it yourself, we very
likely have an authorized installer in your area who can install
it for you. |
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| How
does it work? |
| The FertiGator
Pro Model is composed of two main parts - an injector and
a controller. The controller reads the sprinkler system timer
to determine what zone is on. It then tells the injector how
many times to pulse in order to deliver the right amount of
product to that zone. The injector pulses the proper number
of times, drawing the fertilizer through a tube from the fertilizer
jug and injects it in one milliliter pulses into the sprinkler
system line. |
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| What
must be done to keep it operational? |
| Nothing!
Once it is installed and programmed, the FertiGator Pro Model
and Flo Model will automatically fertilize your lawn each
time the sprinkler system operates throughout the year. The
only thing required is to refill the fertilizer container
periodically as needed. The FertiGator is designed to easy
to use and hassle-free. |
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| Are
there any systems on which the FertiGator can't run? |
| The FertiGator
can be installed on any system and will operate at any water
pressure capable of operating a traditional in-ground sprinkler
system. The FertiGator will not operate properly on the very
rare systems where the mainline pressure is less than 20 psi
or above 130 psi.. |
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| Where
is the fertilizer kept if I install a FertiGator Pro Model? |
| The fertilizer
container is located anywhere (within 100 feet) the property
owner desires, but usually near the injector in an obove ground
enclosure or below ground valve box. The fertilizer can be
drawn from the container it is purchased in or in a separate
fertilizer storage container if you desire. |
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| What
kinds of fertilizers do you have to use? |
| It is
very important to use only clean, all soluble liquid fertilizers
that don't contain abrasives or solids through the FertiGator.
Our FertiGro line of fertilizers are specifically formulated for the
FertiGator. You must use only FertiGro fertilizers to
maintain your warranty protection. We highly recommend
our FertiGro Mojo All-in-One fertilizer formulations.
Click here for more information on recommended
fertilizers. |
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| Do
you recommend organic-based fertilizers? |
Organic
fertilizers are very helpful when applying fertilizers traditionally
through a spreader on an infrequent basis as they provide
a more gradual release than chemical fertilizers. However,
because the FertiGator provides the perfect "spoon feeding"
capability, organic fertilizers aren't necessary and actually
could be detrimental to the results. With the FertiGator you
want quickly available and efficient fertilizers to give the
ideal result. Our FertiGro fertilizers are all formulated
to provide the ideal results with the FertiGator's "spoon
feeding" capability.
Our all natural Enhance® Bio-Stimulant product does provide
the soil enriching benefits of organic fertilizers and is
a great supplement to add to our FertiGro Fertilizers. |
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| Can
it deliver other lawn-care products? |
| No,
applying anything other than FertiGro products could
potentially damage our injector system, and will void the
warranty associated with the product. |
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| How
is contamination of water-supply avoided? |
| Because
fertilizer is being injected into the water stream, a proper
backflow preventer is required in all states. A backflow preventer
is a mechanical device that does not rely on electricity,
but it will keep any liquid containing fertilizer from flowing
or migrating back down the water line into the public drinking
water system. |
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| What
kind of backflow prevention is required? |
| The FertiGator
will not increase the pressure in the irrigation system, therefore
it should only require a pressure vacuum break backflow preventer.
However, each state and local code has different rules for
this sort of system. Each irrigation installer or homeowner
is responsible for meeting the requirements in the area. |
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|
| Michael Chaplinsky in Fertigation Strategies, provides
responses to the most frequently asked questions about fertigation
systems, which are contained within quotations below: |
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| I
have a poor irrigation system. My sprinkler head spacing is
less than perfect. Will the fertilizer cause green circles
around the heads? |
| "This
has been a problem with the old practice of injecting just
a few times a month, but when fertilizer is lightly injected
with each irrigation cycle (micro-dosing) the coverage is
very even. Even coverage is achieved because the sprinkler
impact area will move around slightly with changes in the
wind and fill in spacing gaps. Also, the spray mist will carry
the nutrients to other areas. This light foliar application
will produce a very even coverage and color response." |
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| Will
the nutrient burn the grass if I have a blow-out or a head
sticks on? |
| Unlike
other systems, the FertiGator only works when the irrigation
system timer is intentionally opening zones. In addition,
"the micro-dosing injection rate of the system is designed
to prevent this from ever happening. This means the fertilizer
in that water will be very diluted. You will have a greener
area, but you will not burn or damage the turf." |
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| Will
the fertilizer in the lines cause damage to irrigation system
heads or valves? |
| "Since
the low part-per-million rate is used, it will never harm
the irrigation system." |
|
| Does
fertigation only aid in leaf growth? Will it produce poor
roots? |
| "There
is foliar uptake of about 15 to 25 percent, which improves
nutrient efficiency. The biggest improvement is the light
feeding, which keeps the top growth down and allows the plant
to put its energy into root growth. You are not storing in
the soil large quantities of nutrients that can cause uncontrolled
plant growth, or be leached away by rains." |
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