Asked on May 04, 2017

Is it true that spraying Tide detergent on grass makes it greener?

Marcos
by Marcos
  8 answers
  • Tgs1610824 Tgs1610824 on May 04, 2017

    my experience has been detergent helps eliminate grubs

  • Andy Andy on May 04, 2017

    Applying laundry detergent, such as Tide, to the lawn helps to regrow areas of dying grass by allowing moisture to soak into the ground. In addition, one of the main ingredients in Tide is phosphates, which plants love. Landscapers have been known to use it.

    • See 1 previous
    • William William on May 21, 2018

      Modern laundry detergents no longer contain phosphates due to a ban passed in 1993. The law, however, did not apply to dishwasher detergents, many of which still contain phosphates; some states are moving to ban (or at least limit) phosphates in such detergents.

  • Nancy Gramm Nancy Gramm on May 04, 2017

    Wow, Andy! That's cool. In what proportions would one use it?

    • See 1 previous
    • Nancy Gramm Nancy Gramm on May 22, 2018

      Glad to hear it, William. We'--humanity-- have long been nature's worst enemy. Almost takes acts of Congress to make good things happen and for quite a while Congress hasn't been known for making good things happen.

  • William William on May 04, 2017

    When you think of a fertilizer to put on your lawn, a laundry detergent such as Tide may not immediately spring to mind. However, a study by the University of Arizona has shown that gray water leftover from laundering clothing in detergents such as Tide may help to green up your lawn. Scientists at the University of Arizona theorize that this may be because detergents contain phosphates that are commonly found in fertilizer. Adding detergents such as Tide to your lawn is a simple process. Actually any detergent that contains phosphates will work.


    Pour 1 gallon of lukewarm tap water into a 5-gallon bucket. Using lukewarm water makes it easier to dissolve the Tide detergent.


    Pour 1 tsp. of Tide liquid or powder laundry detergent into the bucket. Stir the water and Tide mixture well to completely dissolve the detergent into the water. Stir slowly so as not to create soap bubbles. The powdered detergent will take slightly longer to dissolve than the liquid detergent.


    Fill a hose end sprayer with the Tide and water solution. Since most hose end sprayers only hold approximately 36 oz. of liquid, you will not use all of the solution.


    Attach the hose end sprayer to a garden hose and turn it on.


    Spray the solution evenly across the lawn in a thin coat. Then, focus on areas of dead or dying grass and apply additional solution in these areas.


    Refill the garden sprayer with additional solution from the bucket when it runs out. Continue watering until all of the solution from the bucket is gone.



  • Jeannie Herman Jeannie Herman on May 05, 2017

    I am going to try this as soon as it STOPS RAINING!!!!!!

  • LeeannandWilliam Hale LeeannandWilliam Hale on Jun 10, 2017

    But tide nor any other laundry detergent has phosphates. Phosphates in detergents was banned years ago. Tide doesn't contain phosphates.

  • Jan Clark Jan Clark on Jun 10, 2017

    Yes, soap is good for your lawn. Here's what I do. It comes from Jerry Baker's book "The Impatient Gardener". Works like a dream.

    1/2 cup liquid dish soap, 1 cup household ammonia, 1 cup Epsom salts, 1 cup mouthwash, 2 cans of cheap beer. Mix the Epsom salts with the ammonia and mouthwash first so it will dissolve. Add the soap and then the beer. Mix it all together and put it in a hose end sprayer. The soap breaks helps the roots grow deeper and the lawn will be healthier. The Epsom salts and beer feed the grass. Don't know about the mouthwash and ammonia, but I sure don't have many bugs in my yard. Each recipe will cover about 1000 square feet.

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