Yard Care for Dummies

[nocsious3]

So, I live in the western suburbs in a newer development, moved in during the fall of 2016. The lawn was sodded back in 2013 when the house was built. From what my neighbors have told me, it's essentially all clay directly beneath the sod. I do my normal fertilizers/milorganite 4 times a year and aerate/over seed each fall. The bare spots and weeds that were present when I moved in have pretty much cleared up and the lawn looks great (minus the dormant stages in the summer), however, it still seems that if I were to take a heavy rake to the lawn I could tear up the sod pretty easily. I'm the type that mows at the same height pretty much all year long (3 inches), so it seems like in the early spring when the grass is starting to green up, it takes awhile longer than the rest of the neighborhood to green up. I've been contemplating renting a dethatcher to take out the thicker dead grass from the prior year, but I'm afraid that if I do that I'll tear the heck out of the sod. Should I drop the mower deck down to a lower setting to mulch up the brown stuff or just be patient with it and let it come in?

Make your last mow in the fall/winter on a low setting and mow low again sometime in the early Spring well before green up on the same low setting. Also, a feeding of nitrogen late in the year like after October can really set your grass to green up early in the Spring.

Can you take a plug or slice out and measure the thatch layer thickness? I wouldn't worry about it if less than 1/2 inch or so. Some thatch isn't a bad thing.

Instead of renting, buy something like this on Amazon. I've used these and been pleasantly surprised. If you even get 2 uses out of it, your are likely ahead of renting.
www.amazon.com/Greenworks-14-Inch-Corded-Dethatcher-27022/dp/B0030BG1HM/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=dethatcher&qid=1556133665&s=gateway&sr=8-3

 

[wxman1]

Make your last mow in the fall/winter on a low setting and mow low again sometime in the early Spring well before green up on the same low setting. Also, a feeding of nitrogen late in the year like after October can really set your grass to green up early in the Spring.

Can you take a plug or slice out and measure the thatch layer thickness? I wouldn't worry about it if less than 1/2 inch or so. Some thatch isn't a bad thing.

Instead of renting, buy something like this on Amazon. I've used these and been pleasantly surprised. If you even get 2 uses out of it, your are likely ahead of renting.
www.amazon.com/Greenworks-14-Inch-Corded-Dethatcher-27022/dp/B0030BG1HM/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=dethatcher&qid=1556133665&s=gateway&sr=8-3

I have the same one and agree that it does great. My only complaint is that the bag is quite small. Spend just as much time emptying it out as you do using the machine.

 

[khardbored]

If it's bluegrass it should fill in. As far as slow green up, it could be a number of factors including a specific variety or "cultivar" that's just slow. I'm making some assumptions, but typically fescue doesn't accumulate that much thatch so my best guess would be you have bluegrass. If you have fescue it won't fill in, however the fescue plant does sort of get bigger and more full during good growing conditions.

If you really need to fill in some areas, I can give you some tips on how to grow grass even after putting down pre-emergent.

Would be glad to hear the tips.

 

[BCClone]

It shouldn't hurt the grass assuming the herbicide you're using is compatible with your type of turf and you spray at the right rate, and during the right temperature windows. Triclopyr is great on violets too. Triclopyr is fine for tall fescues and bluegrass. It's probably fine on rye grass too, but honestly I don't remember without looking at the label.

I like using a surfactant in your tank mix but once again "read the label". Any Ace Hardware should have a surfactant. It's normally about $8 for a small bottle but it really helps make the spray more effective at killing weeds. Surfactant in this case is basically just a soap to break water tension which will create find drops on the weeds. Bigger drops aren't as effective as they tend to join up into globs of liquid and then flow off the leaf surface. Finer drops stick and the plant absorbs the herbicide better.

I would advise against most homeowners combining triclopyr and other herbicides like 2,4-D in the same tank mix. It's possible, but introduces greater chances of turf injury for those not versed in herbicide use. In other words, don't home brew your own weed killer.

triclopyr and 24D is basically Crossbow. If you don't want to mix it yourself just buy that.

 

[nocsious3]

Would be glad to hear the tips.

(edit: Site One does have field conditioner)

You'll need to find some field conditioner. It's a bag of clay basically and it's typically used to make wet baseball infields playable. I've never checked Site 1, but they may have it. Site 1 is a retailer catering to lawn pro's but homeowners can shop there too and they are national chain. Some specialty nurseries will carry it. I use a brand called Primera FC as that's what I can find locally.

1. Spread a layer of the clay on your bare spot around 1/2 thick.
2. Lay down your seed on top of the clay.
3. Cover seed with just enough field conditioner to cover seed.
4. Water and throw down some starter fertilizer if you have some.
5. Keep moist for the next 1-2 weeks until germination.
6. Water daily or every other day as needed.

The clay layer creates a physical barrier to your pre-emergent. Once the grass germinates the pre-emergent has basically no impact.

 

[nocsious3]

I don't think you'll find crossbow at a home depot or walmart and it's more targeted to people with pastures or big acreage in my opinion and I've only seen it larger bottles. It's easy to do turf damage with that combo if a homeowner isn't diligent about following directions but it is labeled for turf use. I'm not saying don't use Crossbow, but there is a reason you won't find that combo readily available at big box retailers. I've seen turf damage with crossbow and even drift damage.

When giving lawn advice to people I don't know, I tend to steer them in a direction where messing up isn't likely to cause substantial harm. I often run my own stuff but I'm assuming I'm a bit more educated on the topic than your typical homeowner. I like to only use as little of chemical as possible to get a kill, recognizing that their is sometimes an entourage effect when mixing different modes of action and mixing is sometimes the best solution.

It's not just the active ingredient that comes into play sometimes, as different formulations have things to consider. Take the ester vs. amine formulations of 2,4-D for example and drift concerns, or using methylated seed oil in your mix or not.

 

[BCClone]

I don't think you'll find crossbow at a home depot or walmart and it's more targeted to people with pastures or big acreage in my opinion and I've only seen it larger bottles. It's easy to do turf damage with that combo if a homeowner isn't diligent about following directions but it is labeled for turf use. I'm not saying don't use Crossbow, but there is a reason you won't find that combo readily available at big box retailers. I've seen turf damage with crossbow and even drift damage.

When giving lawn advice to people I don't know, I tend to steer them in a direction where messing up isn't likely to cause substantial harm. I often run my own stuff but I'm assuming I'm a bit more educated on the topic than your typical homeowner. I like to only use as little of chemical as possible to get a kill, recognizing that their is sometimes an entourage effect when mixing different modes of action and mixing is sometimes the best solution.

It's not just the active ingredient that comes into play sometimes, as different formulations have things to consider. Take the ester vs. amine formulations of 2,4-D for example and drift concerns, or using methylated seed oil in your mix or not.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Southern-Ag-24863-Crossbow-Herbicide-1-Quart/112254804

Its at Walmart in quart containers. Usually the biggest issues are dropping something like trimec which as dicamba in it and letting the dicamba legs get up and start walking on hot humid days.

 

[jdcyclone19]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Southern-Ag-24863-Crossbow-Herbicide-1-Quart/112254804

Its at Walmart in quart containers. Usually the biggest issues are dropping something like trimec which as dicamba in it and letting the dicamba legs get up and start walking on hot humid days.

I’ve never seen it at Walmart and the link you provided is from the Walmart “marketplace”. It’s not sold or shipped by Walmart.

 

[NWICY]

I've got some 2nd yr transplanted rhubarb but some creeping charlie is growing right next to it. What would you recommend I mix up in a hand sprayer to carefully spray next to the rhubarb?

 

[Gunnerclone]

I’ve never seen it at Walmart and the link you provided is from the Walmart “marketplace”. It’s not sold or shipped by Walmart.

I think locally you would go to the “Co-op” or equivalent “Ag supply” for the Crossbow.

 

[BCClone]

I've got some 2nd yr transplanted rhubarb but some creeping charlie is growing right next to it. What would you recommend I mix up in a hand sprayer to carefully spray next to the rhubarb?

Cut a bucket up and place around the rhubarb then spray some roundup on it

 

[nocsious3]

Cut a bucket up and place around the rhubarb then spray some roundup on it

Yup. Create a shield of some sort. Glyphosate (traditional Roundup) would be my first recommendation assuming you can avoid spraying turf or your rhubarb. The premixed roundup with the built in spray gun is handy, but avoid the "Roundup for lawns". Roundup introduced the "for lawns" a few years ago and it's bit confusing in my opinion as Roundup used to equal Glyphosate. There are off name brand glyphosate products as well, even at big box stores, so you can use that instead if you find it.

 

[NickTheGreat]

I’ve never seen it at Walmart and the link you provided is from the Walmart “marketplace”. It’s not sold or shipped by Walmart.

Home Depot lists it in stock in Urbandale
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Crossbow-32-oz-Concentrate-Brush-and-Weed-Killer-100509322/203070324

 

[Chipper]

Any of you residental guys do controlled burns?

Curious what you use for ignition. Most everything I've come across seems to be geared to larger ag burns and can't justify the cost of a $150 drip torch for the small area I'd like to burn.

 

[BCClone]

Any of you residental guys do controlled burns?

Curious what you use for ignition. Most everything I've come across seems to be geared to larger ag burns and can't justify the cost of a $150 drip torch for the small area I'd like to burn.

Best to wait until early August when it gets drier, burns easier and better that way.

 

[Gordilly]

I've got some 2nd yr transplanted rhubarb but some creeping charlie is growing right next to it. What would you recommend I mix up in a hand sprayer to carefully spray next to the rhubarb?

Personally, I'd spray the rhubarb too!

 

[wxman1]

Any of you residental guys do controlled burns?

Curious what you use for ignition. Most everything I've come across seems to be geared to larger ag burns and can't justify the cost of a $150 drip torch for the small area I'd like to burn.

Is this an actual thing? I have never heard of anyone doing it.

 

[somecyguy]

Is this an actual thing? I have never heard of anyone doing it.

My neighbor and I actually plan on doing it to our drainage ditch this summer. We are getting rid of the knotted weeds and planting wildflowers in them.

 

[brianhos]

I planted new grass a week ago, it was starting to spout yesterday, the sprouts are brown today. Do I need to put down more seed because it froze last night?

 

[CYdTracked]

If you have a Bomgaars nearby that is where I buy 24D and they may have Crossbow and other more commercial herbicides. Mills Fleet Farm may have it too. 24D will kill everything but grass, have used it for years - good stuff!