Lawn Care Tips (1 Viewer)

[The_Hunchback]

We built new last year and I made an attempt at seeding a new lawn, but it didn't turn out so hot. I spent a lot of time on it, for little results. I don't want to have to put in that same amount of time this spring/summer, so we're going to sod the yard.Any tips on sod care?

You'll still need to spend time on the sod to get it growing like it should. Water, water and more water is what I remember about a small area I laid. The company should also give you tips of what to do. Trying to get a great looking yard takes time and patience.

 

[The Commish]

We built new last year and I made an attempt at seeding a new lawn, but it didn't turn out so hot. I spent a lot of time on it, for little results. I don't want to have to put in that same amount of time this spring/summer, so we're going to sod the yard.Any tips on sod care?

Not sure what kind of time you spent on it last year, but you're gonna be spending a good amount of time on sod too. You'll have to water, water and water some more. I'd probably do a deep watering in the early am (5ish) then as it begins to dry out during the day, do lite waterings.

 

[The Commish]

Right now dandelions are the bain of my existence. Filled four 5 gallon buckets with just the ones from the front yard last night.

SPRAY, DON'T PULL!!!

Yes...get some weed 'b gone and be done with them.

Just laid down some weed and feed but I pretty much eliminated dandelions in the last few seasons. It was more for the damn clover and weed grass I have growing everywhere.What kind of grass/weed goes to seed right about now in SC? My yard is full up of it. Soon it will die off and the creepy weed/grass takes over. I'd like to eliminate them both but more concerned with the stuff that is seeding now.

It's not that straw grass is it? A picture would help. Could be just about anything at this point. Though I am seeing a new weed at the top of my hill in the trees. Never seen it before.

 

[D_House]

Radical approach to dandelion control:

Getting Rid of Dandelions the Smart Way: Harvesting Dandelion Greens

The scientific name for dandelions is Taraxacum officinale. When you see the word, officinale in a name, it means the plant has been prized for its medicinal properties. In the case of dandelions, the roots, flowers and "dandelion greens" not only have medicinal uses, but also culinary uses. Dandelion greens are, in fact, quite nutritious. All of which may make some readers receptive to an approach to dandelions that differs markedly from that explored on Page 1.

On Page 1 we considered how to get rid of dandelions. But before expending energy on eradication efforts, perhaps a more fundamental question needs to be asked first: Should we get rid of the dandelions in our lawns? How you answer that question depends on your aesthetic tastes.

The war on lawn weeds in general -- not just dandelions -- is based on the notion that "the lawn is meant to showcase the diligence of the person who owns it," as I remark in my brief History of Lawn Mowers. According to this view, lawns should be uniformly composed of grass, with no "intruders" permitted. Clover in lawns, e.g., is persecuted as a weed, even though clover, in many ways, is superior to grass as a lawn plant.

But others would argue that dandelions bear rather attractive flowers, whose yellow hue complements a green lawn nicely. "While the flower isn't bad," perhaps you object, "the seed head that succeeds it is unsightly." Even so, there are easy ways to minimize the impact of dandelions on the lawn, as long as you're willing to show some tolerance toward their presence. One way is to pluck the flowers as they appear. Another is to eat your weed problems away!

All parts of the dandelion are edible:

* Dandelion root can be roasted as a coffee-substitute, or boiled and stir-fried as a cooked vegetable.

* Dandelion flower can be made into a wine, or boiled and stir-fried as a cooked vegetable.

* Dandelion greens (i.e., the leaves) can be boiled, as you would spinach, and used as a cooked vegetable, in sandwiches or as a salad green with some "bite." Consult recipes for dandelion greens for ideas. About's Guide to Low Carb Diets discusses how to cook greens.

Of the 3 parts of the plant, the leaves are the most widely used. For those curious about the proposition of "eating their weed problems away," I'd suggest focusing only on the dandelion leaves at first. Experiment! I'm not asking you to become a Ewell Gibbons overnight. And you can continue (half-heartedly, to be sure!) trying to get rid of dandelions while you're at it, just in case you decide to give up this more tolerant approach to dandelions.

That is, even if you wish to harvest only the dandelion greens, you can still work, at the same time, on controlling the dandelions in your lawn, so that fewer will go to seed. When you're harvesting the dandelion leaves, pull up a good chunk of root, while you're at it. You don't have to fuss over it, the way I instructed you on Page 1, because the objective is now different: we're not aiming for the total eradication of dandelions, we're just trying to slow down their growth, thereby hindering seed production. The dandelion plant may still recover (regeneration can occur from the slightest bit of root remaining), but it won't be able to reproduce for a while. Bring the dandelion leaves inside for washing and dispose of the portion of root you extracted.

Why is harvesting dandelion greens in this fashion the smart way of solving the problem of getting rid of dandelions? Because it allows you to kill two birds with one stone. Getting rid of dandelions (or even just hindering their seed production) means work. By my reckoning, if you can derive something from such work that saves you money, then you're that much further ahead.

And harvesting dandelion greens can save money. They're high in vitamins A and C, and iron. Why pay extra at the store to purchase foods with similar (or, often, inferior) nutritional value, when you have a free source in your yard? Just avoid harvesting near roads, since road salt and/or toxins may be present. Likewise, you obviously shouldn't harvest from a lawn where herbicides have been used.

But what about the taste, you ask? Dandelion greens taste like other salad greens with a "bite," such as chicory and escarole. And how you go about harvesting and cooking them also plays a role in the taste. You should harvest dandelion greens in early spring, before the flowers appear. That's when they're the tenderest and least bitter. After the first frost in fall is another time when dandelion greens aren't so bitter. Boiling them will further reduce their bitterness.

Does the thought of tolerating the presence of dandelions in your lawn leave a bitter taste in your mouth? If so, the approaches outlined on Page 1 will be more suited to your tastes. But if you give harvesting dandelion greens a try, you just might end up being glad that dandelions are so darned hard to get rid of!

I've been hand pulling the dandelions as they come up this spring and then tossing them into the compost pile, but I'm seriously considering trying some of the greens.

 

[Nigel]

Just cut my grass for the first time this year....and it looks like ####...Patchy as hell in the front yard. From what I am gathering here...I cant do anything until I start over in the fall..right?I bought the house last summer and it was ok, but I didnt do anything to it before the winter.

You can still seed. Just don`t use halts or weed and feed until later in the season.

If you don't use Halts now you're screwed. Sure, you can seed now, but the crabgrass will take over, and you'll be back in the same spot next spring. I was in this cycle for a few years. I would spread the Halts now, deal with some patchiness this year, then seed in the fall.

 

[beer 30]

Right now dandelions are the bain of my existence. Filled four 5 gallon buckets with just the ones from the front yard last night.

SPRAY, DON'T PULL!!!

Yes...get some weed 'b gone and be done with them.

Just laid down some weed and feed but I pretty much eliminated dandelions in the last few seasons. It was more for the damn clover and weed grass I have growing everywhere.What kind of grass/weed goes to seed right about now in SC? My yard is full up of it. Soon it will die off and the creepy weed/grass takes over. I'd like to eliminate them both but more concerned with the stuff that is seeding now.

It's not that straw grass is it? A picture would help. Could be just about anything at this point. Though I am seeing a new weed at the top of my hill in the trees. Never seen it before.

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

 

[derek245583]

Just cut my grass for the first time this year....and it looks like ####...Patchy as hell in the front yard. From what I am gathering here...I cant do anything until I start over in the fall..right?I bought the house last summer and it was ok, but I didnt do anything to it before the winter.

You can still seed. Just don`t use halts or weed and feed until later in the season.

If you don't use Halts now you're screwed. Sure, you can seed now, but the crabgrass will take over, and you'll be back in the same spot next spring. I was in this cycle for a few years. I would spread the Halts now, deal with some patchiness this year, then seed in the fall.

So...what is "halts"??

 

[Dark Matter]

Just cut my grass for the first time this year....and it looks like ####...

Patchy as hell in the front yard. From what I am gathering here...I cant do anything until I start over in the fall..right?

I bought the house last summer and it was ok, but I didnt do anything to it before the winter.

You can still seed. Just don`t use halts or weed and feed until later in the season.

If you don't use Halts now you're screwed. Sure, you can seed now, but the crabgrass will take over, and you'll be back in the same spot next spring. I was in this cycle for a few years. I would spread the Halts now, deal with some patchiness this year, then seed in the fall.

So...what is "halts"??

Halts is a pre-emergent herbicide called pedimethaline. It will also prevent a number of other weeds from emerging or germinating.Scotts Turf Builder with Halts

 

[derek245583]

Ah...Scotts TurfBuilder with Halts...that makes more sense.

I went to Lowe's and couldnt find anything that said Halt's....I did see a ton of the scotts turfbuilder though...

 

[belljr]

Ah...Scotts TurfBuilder with Halts...that makes more sense. I went to Lowe's and couldnt find anything that said Halt's....I did see a ton of the scotts turfbuilder though...

Halt's is basically Scott's version of "Dimension"

 

[Wild Young Billy]

Right now dandelions are the bain of my existence. Filled four 5 gallon buckets with just the ones from the front yard last night.

SPRAY, DON'T PULL!!!

Yes...get some weed 'b gone and be done with them.

Just laid down some weed and feed but I pretty much eliminated dandelions in the last few seasons. It was more for the damn clover and weed grass I have growing everywhere.What kind of grass/weed goes to seed right about now in SC? My yard is full up of it. Soon it will die off and the creepy weed/grass takes over. I'd like to eliminate them both but more concerned with the stuff that is seeding now.

If your weed/straw grass is anything like the crap that I have in VA it is almost impossible to get rid of it. From what I have read, the rhizomes for that wiregrass stuff is viable for 2 years so you would need to kill it for 2 consecutive growing seasons. FMLI just enjoy my lawn in April-May and then let the wriegrass take over and overseed heavily in the fall trying to block the wiregraas out.

 

[beer 30]

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

Looking at them none really show what it looks like very well, need some kind of backdrop behind it so you can see it better.Grass1

Grass2

Grass3

On the other hand, this thing looks pretty freaking awesome right now.

 

[Wild Young Billy]

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

Looking at them none really show what it looks like very well, need some kind of backdrop behind it so you can see it better.Grass1

Grass2

Grass3

On the other hand, this thing looks pretty freaking awesome right now.

I would ask the guys at your Home Depot, Lowe's or whatever to see what seed they recommend. Your could take a soil sample to the extension office and get it analyzed to see if your PH is good for the grass you're trying to grow.

 

[beer 30]

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

Looking at them none really show what it looks like very well, need some kind of backdrop behind it so you can see it better.Grass1

Grass2

Grass3

On the other hand, this thing looks pretty freaking awesome right now.

I would ask the guys at your Home Depot, Lowe's or whatever to see what seed they recommend. Your could take a soil sample to the extension office and get it analyzed to see if your PH is good for the grass you're trying to grow.

Yea, I need to ask a local. I keep thinking it's some kind of rye grass becasue it dies out around the time the creeping stuff comes to life which is right around now.

 

[flapgreen]

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

Looking at them none really show what it looks like very well, need some kind of backdrop behind it so you can see it better.Grass1

Grass2

Grass3

On the other hand, this thing looks pretty freaking awesome right now.

nice. what is that thing

 

[shuke]

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

Looking at them none really show what it looks like very well, need some kind of backdrop behind it so you can see it better.Grass1

Grass2

Grass3

On the other hand, this thing looks pretty freaking awesome right now.

I would ask the guys at your Home Depot, Lowe's or whatever to see what seed they recommend.

I take it you've never talked to the average Home Depot or Lowe's employee.What type of weed & feed are you using b30? A spray? I can't imagine a granule doing anything to that.

 

[beer 30]

nice. what is that thing

Rosa Banksiae Lutea - Yellow Lady Banks Rose. Props to my GB Team for the ID on the thing.

I take it you've never talked to the average Home Depot or Lowe's employee.What type of weed & feed are you using b30? A spray? I can't imagine a granule doing anything to that.

Just the standard Scott's weed & feed. It always worked well for me in OH and it does here in SC as well but it needs re-applied at least once here. There are also some weeds that are just a flat out ##### in my yard that will not go away. They die, they come back, they die, they come back, lather, rinse repeat. I agree that while the weed & feed will set them back it doesn't necessarily kill them forever.After a few years of messing with the backyard I've decided to take a new approach this year. I'll maintain the back 40 during the summer because frankly, the summer here is brutal to try and do anything other than kill ####. So around August/September I will begin applying some kind of killer to the suspect area, let it die off and then overseed heavy around October/November. I have two problems with the yard, 1.) the weeds that pop up around March and last until Mayish because of 2.) the creeper grass that doesn't awaken until the end of April/May to choke them out. It's kind of like a wild Bermuda but is damn near impossible to get rid of. Not bad grass once established but these first few months before it comes back are just weedapalooza at my house. My hope is with two seasons of overseeding I might be able to keep the weeds out in the early season and maybe choke out some of the creeper grass.

 

[The Commish]

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

Looking at them none really show what it looks like very well, need some kind of backdrop behind it so you can see it better.Grass1

Grass2

Grass3

On the other hand, this thing looks pretty freaking awesome right now.

My good man...this looks like annual bluegrass. The guys just around the corner at Organic Plant Health can tell you exactly what it is.LINK

Pic

 

[beer 30]

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

Looking at them none really show what it looks like very well, need some kind of backdrop behind it so you can see it better.Grass1

Grass2

Grass3

On the other hand, this thing looks pretty freaking awesome right now.

My good man...this looks like annual bluegrass. The guys just around the corner at Organic Plant Health can tell you exactly what it is.LINK

Pic

Winner winner chicken dinner!That's the stuff exactly. Thanks.

 

[Al Czervik]

Anyone ever fight Creeping Bentgrass? I've been battling it ever since we move into our house... all I have found that works is killing it with Roundup and re-seeding. Anyone have a better solution or at least a way to keep it from spreading?

 

[shuke]

Anyone ever fight Creeping Bentgrass? I've been battling it ever since we move into our house... all I have found that works is killing it with Roundup and re-seeding. Anyone have a better solution or at least a way to keep it from spreading?

That stuff sucks.You can always try this, but you might have to stick with roundup/re-seeding.

 

[Da Guru]

Every year my lawn looks pretty good until around the middle of July. About then I start getting what I call "wild grass" this grass grows about 5 times faster than the regular grass and sticks up all over the place.

Any idea what that is??

 

[texasheat]

My brother is a college baseball coach and was having some pesky weed issues in his outfield a few years back. He asked a friend of his, who is the super at a local golf course, what he could do to control the weeds each year. He recommended MSMA. It works very well. Spray your whole yard.

MSMA

 

[texasheat]

Every year my lawn looks pretty good until around the middle of July. About then I start getting what I call "wild grass" this grass grows about 5 times faster than the regular grass and sticks up all over the place.

Any idea what that is??

Crab Grass?

Dallis Grass?

 

[Al Czervik]

Anyone ever fight Creeping Bentgrass? I've been battling it ever since we move into our house... all I have found that works is killing it with Roundup and re-seeding. Anyone have a better solution or at least a way to keep it from spreading?

That stuff sucks.You can always try this, but you might have to stick with roundup/re-seeding.

Yes, it does suck. Been killing off and re-seeding various parts of my lawn for a few years now.

 

[beer 30]

My brother is a college baseball coach and was having some pesky weed issues in his outfield a few years back. He asked a friend of his, who is the super at a local golf course, what he could do to control the weeds each year. He recommended MSMA. It works very well. Spray your whole yard.

MSMA

Yea, I've used a similar product. Be judicious, it kills. . .everything.

 

[texasheat]

My brother is a college baseball coach and was having some pesky weed issues in his outfield a few years back. He asked a friend of his, who is the super at a local golf course, what he could do to control the weeds each year. He recommended MSMA. It works very well. Spray your whole yard.

MSMA

Yea, I've used a similar product. Be judicious, it kills. . .everything.

Not according to my lawn (Bermuda) the last 3 years it doesn't.

 

[beer 30]

My brother is a college baseball coach and was having some pesky weed issues in his outfield a few years back. He asked a friend of his, who is the super at a local golf course, what he could do to control the weeds each year. He recommended MSMA. It works very well. Spray your whole yard.

MSMA

Yea, I've used a similar product. Be judicious, it kills. . .everything.

Not according to my lawn (Bermuda) the last 3 years it doesn't.

I'm pretty sure my lawn is all weeds so take my advice with a grain of salt.Really just don't want somebody to zap their lawn, always make sure you read & make sure you put down what you should instead of just measuring with the old Kentucky windage ya know?

 

[JerseyToughGuys]

my lawn is FINALLY starting to look good.

Put on Stage 1 three weeks ago or so. My area is up in a little higher elevation than surrounding town. Was starting to get nervous looking at other folks and their green yards.

Still need to fix my poor drainage side. grass still looks thin and trampled.

 

[PRAE]

Wow...trying to do a little research on what to do with my lawn this year and I am a bit lost!! Last summer was the first in our home so I didnt do much with the lawn. I read a post above that said something along the lines of not applying "halts or weed n seed" until later in the season. What is the best thing to apply now? My goal is simply to eliminate as many weeds as possible and thicken the lawn (obvious right?)... I live in Michigan and honestly have no clue what kind of grass makes up most of my lawn now. I am looking in some local fliers and see Scotts Turf Builder, Scotts Turf Builder Plus 2 Weed Control, some Scotts 4-Step Annual Program. Then also the "Halts" mentioned above. Whats a guy to do here?

 

[Bluesbomber]

Halts goes on first then Weed and Feed a month or two later.

I was wondering if it was too late for Halts in Illinois already?

 

[the hairy scotsman]

Make it rain....a lot.

 

[fsufan]

just finished laying 2 pallets of sod, my ### is kicked

 

[beer 30]

just finished laying 2 pallets of sod, my ### is kicked

I hear you man, this was a small part of my day in the yard today. Whoever invented this device of masochism should be shot. Trimmed some trees, sharpened the mower blade, mowed the yard, spread about 8 bales of pine straw. My ### is oficially kicked as well.

 

[The Commish]

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

Looking at them none really show what it looks like very well, need some kind of backdrop behind it so you can see it better.Grass1

Grass2

Grass3

On the other hand, this thing looks pretty freaking awesome right now.

My good man...this looks like annual bluegrass. The guys just around the corner at Organic Plant Health can tell you exactly what it is.LINK

Pic

Winner winner chicken dinner!That's the stuff exactly. Thanks.

So, this crap is popping up everywhere in our neighborhood now. Even the guys who have sodded their lawns, which I find pretty funny. They are freakin' out the most. What did you do (if anything) to get rid of it?

 

[Da Guru]

I just used regular Turf Builder this spring and after cutting the lawn yesterday it has never looked better. Of course we have had lots of rain but we always do in April. Hope I don`t regret not putting Halts down.

 

[Al Czervik]

Anyone becoming dissatisfied with Scotts? I feel like I'm seeing a lot of dandelions in my lawn the last couple years even though I use their Step 2 plus weed control. I wonder if they are reducing the potency based on environmental pressures (or maybe the directions are making me set the dial so less comes out)?

 

[=Smackdown=]

I fought the lawn and the lawn won.

For 7 years I've battled my front lawn. I've aerated, thatched, weeded, seeded and I get the same results each year - starts off great and by July it's full of weeds, has brown spots from fungus problems, etc. It feels like I'm trying to grow lawn over a nuclear wasteland.

It's time to completely start over. Anybody start from scratch?

Not looking forward to Rototilling the entire front yard and then raking up all the old stuff and throwing it out.

ugh

Edit to add: If someone could invent a grass seed that grows like crabgrass they'd make millions.

 

[beer 30]

I don't know, something like that. The weed and feed is killing it (course I might have laid it down a tad heavy ). I'll try and snap some pics of it tonight.

Looking at them none really show what it looks like very well, need some kind of backdrop behind it so you can see it better.Grass1

Grass2

Grass3

On the other hand, this thing looks pretty freaking awesome right now.

My good man...this looks like annual bluegrass. The guys just around the corner at Organic Plant Health can tell you exactly what it is.LINK

Pic

Winner winner chicken dinner!That's the stuff exactly. Thanks.

So, this crap is popping up everywhere in our neighborhood now. Even the guys who have sodded their lawns, which I find pretty funny. They are freakin' out the most. What did you do (if anything) to get rid of it?

The only thing I've found that works is hitting it with Scotts Weed & Feed which essentially kills it, thatching up the dead stuff and then pulling any remaining dead/new that comes up. that works for very small areas, sorta. The #### reproduces so fast it's really hard to stay ahead of it. Unfortunately I have large swaths of the #### in my yard and I see it being a very long struggle.I haven't mowed the back in 2 weeks, I'll try to snap a pic of it today to show you what a problem looks like.

 

[perry147]

The only thing I've found that works is hitting it with Scotts Weed & Feed which essentially kills it, thatching up the dead stuff and then pulling any remaining dead/new that comes up. that works for very small areas, sorta. The #### reproduces so fast it's really hard to stay ahead of it. Unfortunately I have large swaths of the #### in my yard and I see it being a very long struggle.I haven't mowed the back in 2 weeks, I'll try to snap a pic of it today to show you what a problem looks like.

I got the same freaking problem with this Bluegrass weed. A huge section of my year as succumb to this and I can not stop it.

 

[The Commish]

The only thing I've found that works is hitting it with Scotts Weed & Feed which essentially kills it, thatching up the dead stuff and then pulling any remaining dead/new that comes up. that works for very small areas, sorta. The #### reproduces so fast it's really hard to stay ahead of it. Unfortunately I have large swaths of the #### in my yard and I see it being a very long struggle.I haven't mowed the back in 2 weeks, I'll try to snap a pic of it today to show you what a problem looks like.

I got the same freaking problem with this Bluegrass weed. A huge section of my year as succumb to this and I can not stop it.

Reading online this morning has me feeling hopeless. This is technically a grass, so I am not sure that the Weed and Feed will work guys. Everything online said it was about preventing germination in the fall. It will die off in the summer because of the heat, germinate in the fall, and show back up in the spring. The solution is putting down pre-emergent in the fall and the spring and that it would take a few years to get rid of all of it. Going to OPH today for my May treatment. I will ask them.

 

[D_House]

I fought the lawn and the lawn won.For 7 years I've battled my front lawn. I've aerated, thatched, weeded, seeded and I get the same results each year - starts off great and by July it's full of weeds, has brown spots from fungus problems, etc. It feels like I'm trying to grow lawn over a nuclear wasteland.It's time to completely start over. Anybody start from scratch?Not looking forward to Rototilling the entire front yard and then raking up all the old stuff and throwing it out.ughEdit to add: If someone could invent a grass seed that grows like crabgrass they'd make millions.

Sounds like you were doing all the right things. Aerating is great for the lawn. In addition to what you listed, did you spray any chemicals on your lawn (insecticides, weed&feed)? Overuse can kill off all the good bugs and fungi that prevent the pathogenic ones from taking over. The more I read the more I am convinced that a healthy lawn is all about healthy soil.Over fertilizing can also be a problem. If you fertilize in the summer when cool season grasses are dormant, all you are doing is feeding the weeds. So I'd be wary of starting over and then just encountering the same problems again if the underlying causes aren't addressed. Instead, if you were dumping chemicals, I'd switch to an all-organic program to try to improve soil health. The first step in that is to get the soil tested (by your county extension office) to see if there are any deficiencies in terms of nutrients. You should also determine what type of grass you are trying to grow, and what types of weeds are taking over. This will also give you clues as to what is missing in the soil. Maybe you're just trying to grow the wrong kind of grass. Overseeding with a mix better suited to your conditions could solve your problems.Alternatively you could try to minimize your lawn area by planting perennial beds. They look nice and take less water and maintenance if you choose plants fit for your local area and conditions. You can just plant in raised beds right over the most affected parts of your lawn. Lay down a few layers of newspaper as a base over the lawn then pile a mix of topsoil and compost over it. Do your planting in the new bed.If you do decide to start fresh, definitely amend your rototilled topsoil with compost.

 

[andy_b]

Any recommendations for getting rid of clover in the grass?

 

[shuke]

Anyone becoming dissatisfied with Scotts? I feel like I'm seeing a lot of dandelions in my lawn the last couple years even though I use their Step 2 plus weed control. I wonder if they are reducing the potency based on environmental pressures (or maybe the directions are making me set the dial so less comes out)?

Make sure you calibrate your spreader. Don't be tempted to open it up more than the directions say.I don't rely on granule weed killer anyway, I don't think it works well. I use Scotts with Halts at the beginning of the season, then after that I just use the regular Turfbuilder. For existing weeds, the best thing to do is spot spray. Get yourself an Ortho spayer and a weed killer concentrate.

 

[shuke]

Any recommendations for getting rid of clover in the grass?

Spray with a weed killer.

 

[Random]

Any recommendations for getting rid of clover in the grass?

Spray with a weed killer.

You need a really strong weed killer for clover. Trimec comes to mind but I think I recommended something else earlier in this thread.

 

[SteevieG]

Lesco

Lesco is the supplier of choice for many of the turf professionals here in Georgia (I'm not one). They sell most of their products to the general public but some they only sell to licensed applicators. They have stores all over the place and their people know their ####. Try asking them about any weed problems you may have or what is best to get your lawn in shape.

 

[Random]

I have a bunch of patches of clovers. What is the best way to get rid of this? I already used the scotts w/crabgrass preventer. What is the best way for me to get rid of the clovers and replace with grass? Reseed in the fall or do i have to dig up the clovers and start anew with a patch of some sort? TIA

I had the same problem last year. Tried everything sold at HD/Lowes. Nothing made a dent. Clover is extremely resilient. I ended up going to a farm and fleet and bought Gordons LV400. Wiped it out in nothing flat, without harming the grass. Its 65% 2-4-D (the active weed killer ingredient), compared to .1% in Weed B Gone.

Bumping this for the guys asking how to kill the really tough weeds. Use it and report back.

There it is. This stuff is money.

 

[beer 30]

The only thing I've found that works is hitting it with Scotts Weed & Feed which essentially kills it, thatching up the dead stuff and then pulling any remaining dead/new that comes up. that works for very small areas, sorta. The #### reproduces so fast it's really hard to stay ahead of it. Unfortunately I have large swaths of the #### in my yard and I see it being a very long struggle.I haven't mowed the back in 2 weeks, I'll try to snap a pic of it today to show you what a problem looks like.

I got the same freaking problem with this Bluegrass weed. A huge section of my year as succumb to this and I can not stop it.

Reading online this morning has me feeling hopeless. This is technically a grass, so I am not sure that the Weed and Feed will work guys. Everything online said it was about preventing germination in the fall. It will die off in the summer because of the heat, germinate in the fall, and show back up in the spring. The solution is putting down pre-emergent in the fall and the spring and that it would take a few years to get rid of all of it. Going to OPH today for my May treatment. I will ask them.

The other fun part of this crap is that when you mow, you spread it. So we got that going for us

 

[FavreCo]

I'm in Florida and I have patchy "grass". I don't need a really nice lawn, but I'd like it to be all green (even if the green consists of weeds other than grass).Should I buy one of those spreaders and some grass seed?When should I do this?Do I then water it?

Spend the $, buy Emerald Zoysiagrass. No weeds, no bugs, drought resistant. Only problem is over time it will wipe out anything in it's path. You'll #### your pants when it arrives and looks like astroturf.

Anyone here ever replace their beat-up St. Augustine w/Zoysia?:zoysiaenvy:

Probably not because they do not yet know the power of Empire Turf. If they did, they would in a heartbeat. St. Augustine is a water hog POS grass. Bugs love it. Zoysia needs less water once established. Is resisitant to bugs, needs less fertilizer, less mowing than that St. Augustine garbage that everyone tries. Zoysia runs over the weeds and chokes them out.1 test pallet laid last year has now blended right in with the 8 laid this year.