Spreading Mag Cl

I just spread 500 # of Mag Cl by hand. I’m looking for an easier method. I tried a fertilizer spreader, both a hand push and and ATV pulled one (which I had used to fertilize the pasture with no issues). The MgCl was too much for either of them. I don’t really want to spend 500+ on a 3 point spreader. Does anyone have something that works well?

Do you have a sprayer, and could you use the liquid form?

I have another 500 lbs of the flakes already :frowning:

We used a spreader that you tow behind a ATV or lawn tractor. We took the little grate out in the bottom and my husband walked behind it while I drove and shook the shit out of the spreader every so often. It was the best method we found, we just did it over the weekend!

I used an old hand-push fertilizer spreader. It worked like a charm on a big indoor. Had to shake it once in a while, but nothing crazy. Guess you could have someone drive the ATV while you have a few bags already split. Use a small garden trowel or hand spade to fling the flakes out of the bags as you’re moving along. It’s not like the MagChlor has to be super evenly distributed like grass seed. You can always use the rake or drag to redistribute or even things out if you’re worried.

Thanks, hand push spreader could not handle it. I’m trying to avoid hand flinging, but that might be what I have to do. Already did one coat that way… I’m not worried about distribution, it’s just a pain to throw 500# out by hand…

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Thanks, I tried that (sort of, it was just me shaking and driving and getting off again to shake), but it only goes about a foot before totally gumming up and stripping the gears… There is no grate and I had it wide open.

I wonder if people are using a better flowing MgCl?

Anyone have a specific brand? I bought what the feed store sells for arenas

And how much do you use in your arena? and size?

I might try this in a test area, see if I can dissolve some and use a sprayer… I don’t want to use too much water though…

I have always used a regular lawn/garden spreader. Max load in spreader is about 1/3 of a bag. More than that and it can not handle the weight. Multiple small loads is your answer.

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We used the Mag Flakes from the meltsnow.com guy which we ordered from our feed store. I used 12 bags in a 80x80 indoor arena.

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Could the flakes be mixed with some sand, before spreading. The mixing might be as much of a pain as flinging it out by hand, though.

Tried smaller loads, still no go… I think it has more to do with the flow properties of the MgCl that the weight itself. The spreader I used can hold over 100 lbs of fertilizer with no problem, but it balks at 25# of MgCl. It’s just weird…

thanks

That might work, I think it would flow better. But yeah, that’s a pain too! :slight_smile:

I’m just lazy :slight_smile: I want to dump it in and go, but it seems that isn’t going to happen :slight_smile:

I would not mix them with sand!!!

As soon as the flakes touch something that can hold water they get wet. That would a mess inside your spreader and not in your arena. I still have clumps of wet sand in my barn aisle floor when we drove the spreader out and let it set for a bit.

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When we used to spread it at work I know the boys would use a salt spreader mounted on the back of a pickup truck, with one of them riding in the back loading. Didn’t seem to have much trouble. I wonder if the ones you got are heavier than others? It’s been a long time, we switched to watering quite a few years ago.

yeah, every time I walk into the barn from the arena, I track in bog globs of sticky arena dirt. it definitely clumps up

Everyone I know pretty much spreads it the way I spread, by hand, or with a 3 point spreader. It just clumps up and is bigger flakes so it’s the best way.

yeah, I’m resigning myself to that… :slight_smile:

thanks for responding

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The results are worth it! The two person method worked well for us if you have a willing victim.

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