I am, but turf isn't my specialty by any means.
Looking at the long range forecast, I would probably get my pre-emerge down sometime in this window before the next rain.
Fertilizing my lawn for initial spring application
- Thread starter spierceisu
- Start date
Looking at the long range forecast, I would probably get my pre-emerge down sometime in this window before the next rain.
I agree. I was more or less just throwing it out there. Its close enough for me IMO.4 inch test is better for corn and soy. 2 inch is better for grass IMO.
Soil Temparature Maps | GreenCast | Syngenta
www.greencastonline.com
Let’s say, hypothetically, that one’s spouse has not let one put chemicals down for a few years because pets (and chickens) had a tendency to meander through one’s yard, and there was already a fair amount of weeds and crabgrass. Hypothetically. Is there any point to pre-emergent, or is it better to apply treatment once the grass is growing?
I feel your pain with another adult in the house giving yard advice. Hypothetically speaking, of course.
Pre-emergent should be applied based on ground temperature not the calendar. You're better off being a week early than a week late because once the weeds have germinated and established a root the pre-emergent is useless. If I was doing it, I would get it down before the next rainfall. Looking at the forecast, I think end of April is going to be on the late side this year. If you're worried about it not lasting long enough into the season, you can do a second application mid-season. But the majority of her crab grass is going to germinate in the spring.
I got one of these tests just to try it. Here is my pH results. I took 15 samples from my garden and combined them sifted the chunks and debris out. Looking through the front compared to back/side seems a different color, not a huge difference but still looks about the same.
I'm trying this one (just did my sampling today): https://www.waypointanalytical.com/HomeOwners
Their lab is in Atlantic. Ryan Knorr has recommended them in the past.
Far from an expert here but here’s been my experience the past 2 years. My yard sounds similar - lots of patchy areas
Year 1 - didn’t know **** about pre emergent other than I should put it down to prevent weeds was a thing. Laid grass seed down a week or two later. Seed never came in. Would not recommend
I threw seed down again and it came in well in the Fall. Fall is very much the time you want to get your seed down if it can wait.
Year 2 - went the patchy route and it actually kind of held well. I laid seed where I needed it and made sure pre emergent wasn’t near the seed when I laid the pre emergent. Overall, this route worked well, but pre emergent wasn’t as effective as I had to be careful about where to spot it.
The professional lawn care company that takes care of the business I work at I dethatched the lawn a week ago today. If they’re going I assumed I’m safe too so I dethatched yesterday. Need to add fertilizer soon now, according to my research.
I tried one of those tests, along with the N,P, and K tests of the same kind and couldn't tell anything. Everything looked off and pretty much stayed brown.
I am planning on digging a flower bed and using some of the chunks of sod to patch a few small (6" diameter or smaller). Would it be OK to put pre-emergent down prior to putting the chunks of sod in? I heard it will hinder root growth, but it is not trying to get new seed to germinate so I thought it would be OK.
I bought my fertilizer over the weekend. Plan to put down crabgrass preventer this week as well.
And some seed, but in different parts of the yard!
And some seed, but in different parts of the yard!
Just finished tilling my garden. Got at 16' x 22' patch in the back yard. My nitrogen test looked below average so I added 10 bags of topsoil, 10 lbs of chicken manure, and some blood meal. P and K tests looked adequate or above average. Will mix some calcium in with Miracle Grow raised bed soil when I start planting tomatoes in a couple of weeks.
I bought my fertilizer over the weekend. Plan to put down crabgrass preventer this week as well.
And some seed, but in different parts of the yard!
Thinking about putting crabgrass preventer on this evening, but not sure if we’re going to get rain now this weekend? I’m near CR.
If we don’t get rain this weekend, will that be bad?
It does, but it was for Sat and Sun before, but now just Sat, and it's down to a 40% chance.
