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The Carrot Stick gets starring role on QVC
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Times file photo Brad Ross, Monroe, shows off his lawn fertilizer invention in 2006. The Carrot Stick, which he designed himself, will be featured 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday on the QVC networks spring and garden special. Order photo
MONROE - Brad Ross has made it to national television.

The Monroe resident's invention to fertilize lawns will be part of a Patio and Garden special on QVC, Charter Cable Channel 11, from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Ross is excited about the fact a product he created himself will be featured nationwide.

"Who knows who will be watching," he said. "There could be someone from Home Depot or Wal-Mart watching, and they might be interested in selling it in their stores.

"It's really exciting that the first time out of the box it ends up on QVC."

Ross, who moved to Monroe from Atlanta, came up with the idea for what he called "The Carrot Stick" after he found it difficult over the years to properly fertilize his lawn.

The Carrot Stick is a device that dispenses lawn fertilizer in a controlled manner. It attaches to any size garden hose and any kind of sprinkler. Pellets placed inside the device gradually dissolve and are applied to the grass.

The advantages of his product, he said, are that it eliminates hauling heavy bags of fertilizer and messy powders, and provides constant fertilization.

The product is also safe. It doesn't hurt if it comes in contact with a person's skin, and it won't hurt the yard if too much is applied to one area.

Ross has spent the past seven years in the design and production stages. His hard work has paid off.

The Carrot Stick had to pass a quality test at QVC before it could be featured on the shopping network.

Ross said he doesn't know what QVC will charge for the product but hopes the fact people will see it will make it a popular item for nationwide stores. Only about 2 percent of people end up getting a patent and get an invention on the market, Ross said.