EnviroMax – Snake Oil or Miracle Worker
Written: Oct 06 '09
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Pros: Easy to use, dramatic drainage of standing water, promotes plant growth, eases erosion
Cons: Initial sticker shock - $18.98 per application
The Bottom Line: It works, works well, and has been less expensive and easier than other possible cures for standing water. No, not snake oil – EnviroMax is my miracle worker!
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All natural EnviroMax, formerly SoilMaster RX, really does what it promises: breaks up compacted soil, improves drainage, improves germination and aeration, and promotes root growth. Originally developed for commercial farmers, average homeowners can reap the benefits of their technology. A simple to use spray, it is even safe with septic systems!
The Name
I was not able to nail down why the name was changed, but my guess was that it was either the result of some eco focal group feedback or a bunch of lawyers lurking in the background with copyright infringement suits in their pockets. Either way, I am good with the results. Any time you improve the soil for better plant growth and reduced erosion I guess it would maximize the environment's well being.
How it works
Ideally, soil is not solid - it is laced with pores and passageways for water to pass. But harsh climates and the intervention of well meaning humans can compact the soil, closing off the natural percolator nature designed. Sandy soils can have the opposite problem of not being able to hold moisture long enough to absorb natural (or unnatural) nutrients for plants to enjoy their goodness, so plants fade and erosion becomes inevitable. Applied using the simple garden hose sprayer container, it breaks up the hard packed soil (and clay), allowing the reformation of those tiny pores and passageways for drainage and root growth. Sandy soil becomes more absorbent so that the good stuff stays around long enough for plant roots to take hold. Either way, standing water and erosion are tamed into submission!
How Do I Know So Much?
When the technician from our local garden center came by in the spring to certify the backflow valve on my sprinkler system he noticed the standing water in my back yard. Right off he guessed the whole truth: under the cover of imminent domain an "unnamed former communications monopoly" had compacted the soil while upgrading their buried cable without regard for my property health (yet another reason I use a competing telephone and television provider). With those pores and passageways closed, the compacted soil and clay no longer drained (percolated), leaving me with natural habitat for mosquitoes and mud! He suggested spraying on a bottle of EnviroMax.
By way of further background, I had earlier tried to raise the level of that problem area by building it up with clean compost and a mix of clean topsoil and a bit of course sand (knowing that "play sand" possibly make the problem worse). All that had done was widen the new "water feature" and rot any grass I tried to grow in the area! I was at the point of dumping a layer of river stone to mask the problem. So a last ditch application of what sounded like snake oil seemed as good as anything.
Surprise, Surprise!
Forking over $18.98 for something that "might" work was a little painful. Realizing that I would be spraying it on standing water with the aid of more water from the garden hose defied all logic! But since frustration is a powerful motivator, I slide my credit card and carried the bottle home. A couple of days after spraying the water and EnviroMax solution on the standing water I noticed that it had actually drained for the first time in months! So the following weekend I once again spread new grass seed and fertilizer - followed by another application of the snake oil. Unseasonably heavy rains and daily watering did not appear to deter the percolation of additional water, and within 10 days new grass had started to sprout. Throughout the summer the grass thickened to what I began to look on as real turf, and I continued to marvel at my new dry patch of lawn! With fall in the air, as a new EnviroMax convert, I have applied yet another application of the stuff to fortify the already good work.
It Spreads!
Since cleaning up my own unnatural wetland, two other neighbors have become converts due to AT&T (darn, I wasn't going to mention that name) messing up their lawns. Along with play off baseball, spraying more liquid on standing water has become another over the fence topic in my neighborhood. Logic be tossed away, this stuff works!
Ground Zero
On balance, all my expensive dirty fingernail efforts to promote drainage with topsoil and sand could not compare with a couple of $18.98 applications of EnviroMax. While I cannot vouch for what would happen to sandy soil erosion, I am still amazed at the transformation in my hard packed clay yard. The grass in that area has grown thicker and healthier than in any other part of my lawn, and I have started to use it along with normal fall aeration over the whole yard. The bottom line is that in my experience while your results may not be as effective, it works, works well, and has been less expensive and easier than other possible cures for standing water. No, not snake oil - EnviroMax is a miracle worker!
Recommended:
Yes
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