Has anyone here used Plant Wash?

We always rinse the plants before and after.
 
We water before during and after and then water some more. Just to be clear I am not asking about plant wash preventing the plants from being killed. Out of 100 roofs we might kill 1 or 2 plants total and we replace them. Plants dying is not a problem. What I am trying to prevent is burnt leaves on specific types of sensitive plants like bougainvilleas, topiary trees, certain species of hedges and other sensitive plants. We cover these types and water aggressively before, during and after. However when I check back a week later sometimes there are some lines in the plants were burning has occurred. Nothing that won't grow back after 3 or 4 months but when customer's and neighbors see burn lines in plants they sometimes think they are dead and gone. We do a good amount of homes with impeccable landscaping and strict HOA's. We usually keep our mix between 30%-40% and only go to 50% on really black tile roofs. The ground guy does his job well. I just like the idea of another safeguard to prevent burnt leaves. I appreciate everyones input and will probably give 30-10-10 and Plant Wash both a try and share my feedback.
 
One thing I have found that no amount of watering will help is St. Augustine grass below a dirty tile roof with no gutters. In this situation soo much mix is required and 99% of it ends up in the same area below the drip line. It pools up quicker than it can drain into the soil and permanently damages the St. Augustine. There is no practical way to cover or shield grass that I have found. If anybody has any advice on preventing burnt St. Augustine in this type of situation I would greatly appreciate it.
 
I agree about the false sense of security, SH is a potent plant killer, you do what you have to do and the more precautions you take to protect the plants the better but there is always a chance for damage to happen when using it as accidents happen, someone did not water enough here or there, they did not spray the plants with the protectant, it wat too hot, etc.....

Like Ron said, get the roots soaked, that will help a lot but I would also water the plants' leaves before, during and after because the leaves can get burned by contact and turn brown quick so the more you do to protect the plants the better off you will be.
 
greg/sd said:
Flood the ground under the drip line then throw a tarp down to catch the runoff and flood the tarp with water.
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I thought about trying that at one time Greg but the watery chemical mix has to go somewhere. If it is a property with well kept St. Augustine what would you do with all that runoff?
 
HavertysRoofCleaning said:
I don't usually have problems with burnt leaves on plants, but it does happen from time to time. The only times that I have is when the following rain is just light enough to loosen the roof cleaning mix onto the plants leaves. If its a heavy rain then no issues. I was looking into trying Plant Wash made by Softwash Systems but I wanted to get some input from some fellow roof cleaners who have used it firsthand. Does it actually help prevent burnt leaves? From what I have researched it is mainly 30-10-10 fertilizer with some other ingredients. I know that 30-10-10 fertilizer is great for lowering the pH of the soil and making it more acidic which is good because sodium hypochlorite increases pH. I never have issues with plants dying due to soil contamination so I don't see how any type of fertilizer would help protect the leaves from roof mix exposure.
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Here we are, way back in 1999, asking this question http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jul99/932670591.Bt.q.html
And, here is the answer http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jul99/932670591.Bt.r.html

The answer then was NO, and the answer now is still NO!

If you think you can simply spray some fertilizer on plants to "provide an additional level of protection" from the SH, you need your head examined.
The best way to protect plants from run off, is to stop the run off from hitting them in the first place (tarps)
Duh

The second best way to protect plants is with plenty of water, before, during, and after the roof cleaning.

Dilution is the solution, to pollution.

To the uneducated and inexperienced, spraying the plants with an acidic fertlizer "sounds good", because SH is very Alkaline, and it "stands to reason" the acidic fertlizer "will neutralize" the roof cleaning chemical, maybe render it more harmless ?

But, this is not how it works, in the real world!

Maybe in a labratory situation, where you know the EXACT strength of the run off, you could apply just the right amount of acid to get to a neutral PH (but then you still have the sodium salt to worry about).
But, in the real world, it is next to impossible to apply just the right amount of the acidic fertlizer, because of about a zillion variables we have little or no control over.

Now, if you apply too much acid fertlizer, it can and will supercharge the SH, and turn it into an oxidizer(plant killer)100 times more powerful then what you started with !!!!!

In fact, back in the old days (working outside with eye protection and respirators), we would acidify the river rock around swimming pools by first spraying it with muriatic acid, and then hit it with a 50/50 SH/Water mix.

This 2 step cleaning method is very very dangerous, (do NOT try this, you can be killed) but trust me, you have never seen even the worst looking river rock whiten up, as it does when the SH is intentionally acidified.

We also add acid to our swimming pools to INCREASE the activity of the chlorine, so tell me, WHY would you ever want to add an Acid of any kind, where SH is dripping, or has dripped ?

As for your answer to the question "Does the Plant Wash from Softwash Systems work", let's let a Softwash Systems Authorized Contractor answer that for us!
http://www.squeegeesquad.com/upload...-tampa-1.pdf?gclid=CNrNzfHP6roCFUkV7AodMVYA6g

If you take the time to READ the PDF Files first paragraph, you can see that they kill plants too (by their own admissions), despite being connected with Softwash Systems, LOL
In fact, they even have a "service truck" they claim, just for replacing plants !

So everyone, now you have your answer to "Does The Plant Wash From Softwash Systems Work"
LOL, "Straight From The Horses Mouth"!
 
Chris, no one has said that Plant Wash is the be all end all to plant damage....some have have simply stated that the product works...to conclusively say that plant wash a) doesn't work or b) can't help in reducing plant damage is simply wrong. If it didn't work or help I'm sure a) it would not be sold and b) many that use it wouldn't use it.

Also I may have missed, but don't see it in the attached PDF Anything about a truck dedicated to plant replacement. Again I may have missed it. What I do see is a form that helps to set customer expectations very well.

That is something I spend a lot of time on is teaching guys how to set customer expectations.. You do that and things like plant Issues are much more manageable.
 
Doug Rucker said:
Chris, no one has said that Plant Wash is the be all end all to plant damage....some have have simply stated that the product works...to conclusively say that plant wash a) doesn't work or b) can't help in reducing plant damage is simply wrong. If it didn't work or help I'm sure a) it would not be sold and b) many that use it wouldn't use it.

Also I may have missed, but don't see it in the attached PDF Anything about a truck dedicated to plant replacement. Again I may have missed it. What I do see is a form that helps to set customer expectations very well.

That is something I spend a lot of time on is teaching guys how to set customer expectations.. You do that and things like plant Issues are much more manageable.
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Doug, making a Product that Works, is not always a requirement for selling it.
Spanish Fly does not work, and yet it is sold.

Sorry to step on the toes of your buddy, but Softwash Systems has quite the history of making and selling products that don't work, or don't work as claimed.
I am sure you remember the Bleach Wash ?

Here is some of what the PDF File From Softwash Systems says.

. If you need grass or plant replacement
or have questions regarding this topic, call
SoftWash Systems’ Customer Care Unit



Now, that's a pretty clear admission to me that they kill grass and plants Doug (and they use the softwash systems plant wash too)!
LOL, if they didn't kill plants, why would they even NEED a "Softwash Systems Customer Care Unit" for Grass and Plant Replacement ?
So much for the Softwash Systems Plant Wash (re labeled fertilizer) protecting anything, except perhaps the owners bank account, EH ?

As far as your assertation that "if it doesn't work, many who use it would not use it goes", I think it is safe to say that I know many many more roof cleaners then anyone does, because I have been teaching roof cleaners longer then anyone else has.
I have never ever had any of these roof cleaners call to tell me that since they started using the Softwash Systems Plant Wash, they have stopped plant loss/damage.
Not one!

And for that, I am Glad, because I like to think I have taught my roof cleaners not to buy into, or rely on, snake oil type products.

To protect yourself from the rain, you use an umbrella, to protect plants from chemical run off, you use Tarps.
Yes, if you water very very well, control run off, and be sure the mix is not overly strong, you can get by w/o tarping.
But, to think you can spray some re labeled acidic fertilizer on the plants as you water, and have it stop or even reduce plant damage, is just plain incorrect.

For even IF the re labeled acidic fertilizer could neutralize the roof cleaning chemical run off (it can't), it can do nothing about the other component in Sodium Hypochlorite - The Salt!

Only copious quantities of H2O (water) can dilute the Salt enough, to make it harmless to plants.
 
Apple Roof Cleaning said:
Doug, making a Product that Works, is not always a requirement for selling it.
Spanish Fly does not work, and yet it is sold.

Sorry to step on the toes of your buddy, but Softwash Systems has quite the history of making and selling products that don't work, or don't work as claimed.
I am sure you remember the Bleach Wash ?

Here is some of what the PDF File From Softwash Systems says.

. If you need grass or plant replacement
or have questions regarding this topic, call
SoftWash Systems’ Customer Care Unit



Now, that's a pretty clear admission to me that they kill grass and plants Doug (and they use the softwash systems plant wash too)!
LOL, if they didn't kill plants, why would they even NEED a "Softwash Systems Customer Care Unit" for Grass and Plant Replacement ?
So much for the Softwash Systems Plant Wash (re labeled fertilizer) protecting anything, except perhaps the owners bank account, EH ?

As far as your assertation that "if it doesn't work, many who use it would not use it goes", I think it is safe to say that I know many many more roof cleaners then anyone does, because I have been teaching roof cleaners longer then anyone else has.
I have never ever had any of these roof cleaners call to tell me that since they started using the Softwash Systems Plant Wash, they have stopped plant loss/damage.
Not one!

And for that, I am Glad, because I like to think I have taught my roof cleaners not to buy into, or rely on, snake oil type products.

To protect yourself from the rain, you use an umbrella, to protect plants from chemical run off, you use Tarps.
Yes, if you water very very well, control run off, and be sure the mix is not overly strong, you can get by w/o tarping.
But, to think you can spray some re labeled acidic fertilizer on the plants as you water, and have it stop or even reduce plant damage, is just plain incorrect.

For even IF the re labeled acidic fertilizer could neutralize the roof cleaning chemical run off (it can't), it can do nothing about the other component in Sodium Hypochlorite - The Salt!

Only copious quantities of H2O (water) can dilute the Salt enough, to make it harmless to plants.
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That was Powdered Bleach, not Bleach Wash. Bleach Wash is the Bleach Neutralizer. While the Powdered Bleach did work, it was the white scale left behind that was the problem. I to this day will never use it and will never recommend anyone use it due to the white scale it leaves it behind as well as the work involved to a) prevent the white scale or B) the work involved to get rid of the white scale.

In the PDF the Soft Wash systems care unit looks to me like that company's customer service department. It is also mentioned in other areas, but does not mention a truck specifically for plant replacement, or that the Customer Care Unit is just for grass and plant damage. They are simply setting expectations and letting customers know SHOULD there be a problem how they will take care of it, just like they are for windows, brass fixtures, paint, etc etc.

As I said, no one has said that the Plant Wash is the be all end all to plant issues or damage. Only that the product DOES work. And some have even stated here that it helped them. To say it doesn't work or is snake oil is wrong. Again, NO ONE is saying that because they use Plant Wash their plant damage issues have stopped.

In the few roof cleaners that call me about their plant damage, (I know I haven't taught or know anywhere the number of roof cleaners you have taught), 95% of all plant issues are due to carelessness or lack of education, The other 5 are beyond their control.
 
Kory said:
Over watering can kill plants too! Also water softners are bad for plants.
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You can. But where we live Kory its very hard to over water a plant . If the water isnt seeping into the ground in a timely manner then its over watered.
Kinda unlikely in Florida. Seems as if our soil is anticipating water and the minute it hits it soaks in. Once again im not saying over watering isnt possible
but unlikely with us.
 
fullwoodpcs.com said:
You can. But where we live Kory its very hard to over water a plant . If the water isnt seeping into the ground in a timely manner then its over watered.
Kinda unlikely in Florida. Seems as if our soil is anticipating water and the minute it hits it soaks in. Once again im not saying over watering isnt possible
but unlikely with us.
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I think Kory was referring to House Plants.
He lives and works here in Tampa, and surely he knows that is it darn near impossible to "overwater" outside plants here in this part of Florida.
Our Sandy Soil makes that dam near impossible.
We get torrential rains down here from Tropical Storms and Hurricanes quite often, and if Overwatering were possible with outside plants, Golf Courses would be decimated.

The Plant Wash from Softwash System works, for what it was intended to be for, and that is a Fertilizer, as can be clearly seen by clicking on this PDF File http://softwashsystems.com/MSDS-PlantWash.pdf
Softwash Systems seems quite adept at taking common, easy to buy anywhere chemicals and fertilizers, and making questionable claims for them.
If you read the very last 2 sentences in the MSDS Sheet, you will see that the people who make and package this for Softwash Systems are quick to add " MSDS UPDATE DATA
7/27/2011

SPECIAL NOTES:

THIS PRODUCT IS A PLANT FOOD AND IS DESIGNED TO BE MIXED ONLY WITH CLEAR WATER

You will also notice that the manufacturers of this Commmon Fertilizer for Softwash Systems, actually took it upon themselves to issue this special UPDATE to their MSDS on 7/27/2011 !!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, this is highly unusual to update the MSDS Sheet for an item as common and completely understood as simple yard fertilizer.
Perhaps when they found out their product was being used to "protect plants from Roof Cleaning Chemical Exposure" they wanted to cover their asses from any possible lawsuits over the misuse of their products ?

OK, let's say I am a roof cleaner who buys this mislabeled fertilizer, and then depends on it to protect 200,000.00 in Landscaping, and it doesn't work ?
The customer then sues me, so I file suit against Softwash Systems, and maybe I also try to sue whoever made this stuff for them ?

LOL, the makers of this stuff for Softwash Systems have just "covered their asses" with this

MSDS UPDATE DATA
7/27/2011

SPECIAL NOTES:

THIS PRODUCT IS A PLANT FOOD AND IS DESIGNED TO BE MIXED ONLY WITH CLEAR WATER


 
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