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What is OCEANGRO™?
OCEANGRO™ is a 5-5-0 “Exceptional Quality” Class A granular biosolid
fertilizer produced by The Ocean County Utilities Authority in Bayville
New Jersey. OCEANGRO™ is named from the fact that it is produced in Ocean
County New Jersey.
What is an “Exceptional Quality” or “EQ” Biosolid?
Biosolids are Sewage Waste Water solids that are processed into a
beneficial fertilizer product. “Exceptional Quality” Class A biosolids
are found by the EPA to “pose no reasonable risk to the environment or
human health”. The designation and parameters of being an “Exceptional
Quality” Class A biosolid fertilizer is set by the EPA and can be found
in the EPA 503 Biosolid Rule. Class A Exceptional Quality biosolids are
sold and used just as any fertilizer on the market. While the EPA has
approved this class of biosolids as safe for use on vegetables, OCEANGRO™
is labeled for use on turf and ornamentals only.
What is the difference between “Milorganite®” and OCEANGRO™?
Milorganite® and OCEANGRO™ are both Exceptional Quality class A granular
biosolids. Milorganite® is a 6-2-0 fertilizer produced in Milwaukee
Wisconsin by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewage District. OCEANGRO™ is a
5-5-0 fertilizer produced in Bayville New Jersey by the Ocean County
Utilities Authority.
I’ve heard about Heavy Metals in Sewage Waste Water—are there Heavy
Metals in OCEANGRO™?
Heavy metals are found in nearly all fertilizers—both organic and
synthetic. Heavy metals are naturally found in soils and detectable
levels are found in drinking water. Many heavy metals such as copper and
zinc are necessary for human health (check the label on your vitamin
bottle) and are necessary micronutrients for plant health. Other heavy
metals such as lead are dangerous and are unnecessary to human or plant
health. Just as heavy metal limits are set at what is considered safe
for drinking water, limits are also set for what is considered safe for
biosolid fertilizer use. The EPA and DEP set threshold limits for
acceptable levels of heavy metals in biosolids. OCEANGRO™ is tested
monthly for heavy metals and is consistently within limits set by the
EPA and DEP.
Where do Heavy Metals come from and why not take them out?
Heavy Metals come from both domestic and industrial waste sources. Trace
amounts of copper and lead are leached from soldered copper piping from
older homes—this same copper and lead are part of the drinking water
people consume. Heavy metals also come from industrial waste sources.
Waste Water Treatment Plants are not designed to extract heavy metals
from wastewater—it is more cost effective and practical to limit the
amount and type of heavy metals from entering the waste stream to begin
with. Years ago, heavy metals from businesses such as metal plating and
photographic film processing were disposed in waste water, now they are
collected and recycled. The Ocean County Utilities have strict rules for
industrial customers who send us wastewater. Very stringent pretreatment
programs are in place, which limit the quantities of contaminants
entering our process. We will not allow any customer of The Authority to
jeopardize the quality of OCEANGRO™.
Could you sell me OCEANGRO™ but with less Phosphorus?
OCEANGRO™ is what it is. The Ocean County Utilities Authority only
accelerates and separates what would be a natural breakdown of
wastewater. With 5-5-0 OCEANGRO™, we don’t add nutrients and we can’t
take them out. The system collects wastewater, stabilizes the mix
through biological breakdown then separates the water from the solids.
The solids are then sent to the fertilizer plant for heat-treating to be
turned into a granular product. The fertilizer is then marketed to golf
courses and garden centers for ornamental plant use. Phosphorus cannot
be extracted from OCEANGRO™ but Nitrogen and Potassium can be added to an
OCEANGRO™ blend to lower the Phosphorus ratio. While OCEANGRO™ will grow
turf and ornamentals quite nicely on its own, OCEANGRO™ makes a beautiful
fertilizer base for a blended fertilizer product.
What is the pH of OCEANGRO™?
OCEANGRO™ is neutral with a consistent reading of 7 on fertilizer testing
analysis.
What is the percentage of Organic Matter in OCEANGRO™—can it amend a poor
soil?
The organic matter of OCEANGRO™ is about 68%. If you have a poor soil
condition requiring organic matter replenishment, keep in mind that
OCEANGRO™ is a nitrogen based organic fertilizer. The amount of OCEANGRO™
you would apply to amend a poor soil would far exceed the nutrient
requirements of any plants being grown. A better solution for organic
soil enhancement is to use composted wood chips or leaf mulch. A ready
source of such materials can be found at Municipal or County recycling
centers. OCEANGRO™ when mixed with composted wood chips or leaf mulch and
incorporated into the soil will give you a permanent solution to a poor
soil condition and is less costly than trucking in topsoil. Don’t buy
topsoil—make your own.
Are Odors a problem when using OCEANGRO™?
OCEANGRO™ is an organic based nitrogen fertilizer and like all organic
fertilizers can present an odor concern. In heavily used public areas
where odors may be an issue, following best management practices and
common sense will minimize or eliminate complaints. The time of year and
rate OCEANGRO™ is used is an important consideration when planning an
organic fertilizer application.
Is it true the smell of OCEANGRO™ will keep deer away from my property?
Some customers have told us OCEANGRO™ will repel deer but it’s never been
tested and it’s not a labeled use.
What’s the best time of year to apply OCEANGRO™ to Turf?
Many golf course turf managers apply OCEANGRO™ as a dormant fertilizer so
that winter freeze/ thaw cycle works the material into the soil profile.
Applying OCEANGRO™ during an aerification will work the fertilizer closer
to the root zone where it can do the most good. Some people split an
OCEANGRO™ application between spring and late fall. Still others will
make a light application in the summer months because OCEANGRO™ will not
burn turf and does not have to be watered in. In high public use turf
areas, summer month applications are not suggested because of potential
odor issues.
Can OCEANGRO™ burn my plants?
OCEANGRO™ fertilizer has a salt index of 1.24 A fertilizer salt index is
a measure of a fertilizers ability to burn—it’s not a percentage of how
much salt is in a fertilizer. Potassium Chloride has an index of over
100. Urea has a salt index of 75. If you use OCEANGRO™ according to label
rates, there is a very low burn potential. Because of the low salt
OCEANGRO™ will encourage beneficial soil microbial activity.
Is OCEANGRO™ a slow release fertilizer?
4.5% of the 5% nitrogen in OCEANGRO™ is water insoluble—which means that
soil microbes break down most of OCEANGRO™ to make it available for plant
uptake. When used on turf, OCEANGRO™ works best in the thatch layer or
under the soil where microbial activity takes place. In thin turf areas,
OCEANGRO™ will work best if lightly topdressed or worked into the soil
via aeration, vertical mowing or slit seeding. Only a small percentage
of OCEANGRO™ will break down by water and sunlight. For this reason,
OCEANGRO™ is environmentally friendly because of less chance for the
fertilizer to leach into groundwater sources.
Why Should I keep OCEANGRO™ out of my Golf Course Bunker Sand?
Because bunker sands are generally dry and sterile, it will take awhile
for OCEANGRO™ to break down (fewer microbes working for you). OCEANGRO™ is
also black to dark gray in color, making the granules stand out when in
a light colored sand. If your greens committee is fussy about ultra
clean and white bunker sands, turn the spreader off when near them.
Is OCEANGRO™ available in a Greens Grade size?
At this time OCEANGRO™ is only available in a standard grade prill size.
The fertilizer granules vary in size up to 2 mm. OCEANGRO™ is planning a
greens grade in the 1mm and under range and will be more practical for
use on bentgrass greens and low cut fairways. The greens grade will also
be an ideal divot mix additive.
How does OCEANGRO™ spread?
OCEANGRO™ is lighter than synthetic fertilizers so be cautious when
applying in windy conditions to assure a consistent throw pattern.
Do I need special equipment to apply OCEANGRO™?
OCEANGRO™ can be applied with any standard broadcast spreader—large-scale
applications can be made with a Lely® or Vicon® spreader at proper
rates. However, because of the low fertilizer ratio in OCEANGRO™,
applicators will fill the hopper frequently. High volume topdressing
spreaders such as a Tycrop® or Dakota® are ideal for a golf course or
athletic field application. Wet lime agricultural spreaders work equally
well. Some municipalities apply OCEANGRO™ using a V box salt spreader. A
typical OCEANGRO™ application will look similar to a granular lime
application.
Organic Fertilizers are too expensive—why should I bother with
OCEANGRO™
if the higher ratio synthetics do the same job?
Synthetic chemical fertilizers and organics each have their place and
their advantages and disadvantages. For optimal plant growth and health,
fertilizer-buying decisions should be based on soil test recommendations
as well as economics and ease of use. Few straight synthetic chemical
fertilizers include micronutrients where OCEANGRO™ will supply them.
Consider using synthetic fertilizers for macronutrient needs and
OCEANGRO™ for the micronutrients. Decisions should begin and end on soil
testing and sound agronomic practices
How will turf respond to an application?
Most of the initial green up from OCEANGRO™ comes from the 2% (non
staining) iron in the fertilizer. Because of the slow release nature of
OCEANGRO™, turf managers can expect a good spring green up without
excessive blade growth. OCEANGRO™ should be applied at rates no greater
than the nitrogen requirement of the plant. Microbial activity and
breakdown of the fertilizer will throttle the release of the
fertilizer—microbes can only break down so much OCEANGRO™ at a time and
therefore there are less peaks and valleys in turf growth and color.
What rates are recommended for OCEANGRO™ use?
Maintenance rates start at ½ ton to the acre—this will give you 1.1#
nitrogen total and 0.12 #nitrogen available. A 1-ton to the acre rate is
recommended for first time use, if in areas of sandy soil or if soils
are nutrient poor. Keep in mind the slow release properties of OCEANGRO™—low
initial rates of OCEANGRO™ may not give you the plant response you may be
used to seeing in synthetic chemical fertilizers. It’s better to
initially start at a higher OCEANGRO™ rate to build up a slow release
residual then adjust subsequent applications rates lower as needed—to
match the needs of the plants you are growing.
How should I apply OCEANGRO™ to a flowerbed?
Apply OCEANGRO™ to ornamental beds before adding the next topdressing of
mulch. Incorporate OCEANGRO™ into the soil when planting new nursery
stock or bedding plants. If you are curious but not sure if adding
micronutrient rich OCEANGRO™ will make a difference in your ornamental
plant health, try OCEANGRO™ on a small area and see the results for
yourself.
Is OCEANGRO™ a good starter fertilizer?
All plant nutrient needs are met in using OCEANGRO™ except for
Potassium—this must be added separately per soil test recommendation.
Because of the non-burning nature of OCEANGRO™, it is an excellent
starter fertilizer for new seeding and sod installations.
I understand OCEANGRO™ is sold in bulk—can you ship a truckload to me
next week?
Maybe yes and maybe no. Are you planning an OCEANGRO™ application next
week or do you want to stockpile OCEANGRO™ for future use? While 20 tons
of OCEANGRO™ may look like a pile of gravel or sand, keep in mind that
OCEANGRO™ is a low salt granular fertilizer that encourages microbial
activity—this is good news for a soil ecosystem, not such good news in a
parking lot. Bulk OCEANGRO™ can be stored outside for short periods
providing it is kept dry. Bulk material should be stored on a hard
surface that can be easily cleaned up after use. However, do not store
OCEANGRO™ on a paved area next to a storm drain or in any manner that
will allow rain to carry the granules away.
Who is using OCEANGRO™?
OCEANGRO™ is being used as a grow in fertilizer for golf courses &
athletic fields. It is being used as a maintenance fertilizer for golf
courses and municipal athletic complexes throughout Central and South
Jersey. OCEANGRO™ is available in 50# plastic bags to the garden center
and landscaper trade.
OCEANGRO™ LAWN AND ORNAMENTAL FERTILIZER IN 50 LB BAGS
AVAILABLE AT THESE NJ RETAIL LOCATIONS:
--as advertised in the Asbury Park Press
Our Spring Sale of
OCEANGRO™ will run during the entire month of April, 2008. To
find out which retail locations plan to offer 50-lb bags at the sale
price of $5.99, please call the store directly.
Bayville
A's Hardware and Garden Center
298 Rt 9
(732) 606-9500
Bayville
Cedar Creek Garden Center
600 Rt 9
(732) 606-1010
Bayville
Vick's Greenhouse
60 Hickory Lane
(732) 779-3119
Bricktown
Berry Fresh Farms
151 Brick Blvd
(732) 477-0606
Farmingdale
Thorpe's Jersey Green
53 Georgia Tavern Road
(732) 919-0050
Howell
Twin Pond Farm
1459 Route 9 North
(732) 863-0755
Lanoka Harbor
A's Home and Garden Center
514 Rt. 9
(609) 693-2673
Little Silver
Weisman Landscape Corp. & Nursery
62 Birch Avenue
(908) 433-2409
Manahawkin
Green Tree Garden Center
1412 Hwy 72
(609) 597-5229
Manasquan
A’s Hardware & Garden Center
Rt 35 & Lakewood Road
(732) 528-6909
Neptune
Bahr's Nursery and Landscaping
740 Wayside Road
(732) 918-8088
Point Pleasant
O'Briens Florist & Nursery
2434 Bridge Ave.
(732) 899-3109
Princeton
Kale’s Nursery
133 Carter Rd.
(609) 921-9248
Toms River
Del's Farm Market
2408 State Hwy 37
(732) 270-3703
Toms River
Berry Fresh Too
2278 Lakewood Rd.
(732) 886-8840
Toms River
Blossom Lawn Center
642 Clifton Ave.
(732) 349-3544
Whiting
Country Gardens and Landscaping
1214 Rt 70
(732) 350-1776
Whiting
Shamrock Gardens
640 Route 530
(732) 350-1011
Five to Twenty Ton Bulk Deliveries
OCEANGRO™ Guaranteed Analysis:
Total Nitrogen (N)................................................... 5.00%
0.50% water soluble organic nitrogen
*4.50% water insoluble nitrogen
Available Phosphate (P2O5)..................................... 5.00%
Calcium (CA)........................................................... 2.10%
Total Magnesium (Mg).............................................. 0.33%
Combined Sulfur (S)..................................................
0.58%
Total Copper (Cu).....................................................
0.04%
Total Iron
(Fe)........................................................... 2.00%
Molybdenum
(Mo)..................................................... 0.00045%
Total
Zinc (Zn)........................................................... 0.05%
Derived From: Sewage Sludge
* This product contains 4.50% slow release nitrogen