Fertilizing my lawn for initial spring application

[Donqluione]

If you're putting down urea that's not coated, it needs heavy watering AFTER application to wash it in, or it will evaporate. There's no particular advantage to watering a day prior to application, won't "wake up" the grass or anything, a week prior might.

But, it's late enough in the year that non-coated may not get fully absorbed still this fall, may just wash out through the soil (nitrogen is water soluble). Depends on how long it is before the grass becomes dormant, a combination of day length and temperature, assuming you have a cool season grass lawn.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Assuming you're physically able to...Why don't you do it yourself? Save money and do it right.

I used to but now it costs more to rent an aerator than what it costs to have someone come out, so I save money and don't have to move that thing around my yard

 

[FallOf81]

I used to but now it costs more to rent an aerator than what it costs to have someone come out, so I save money and don't have to move that thing around my yard

I hear you. Depends where you live and competition. Used to live on a quarter acre. Me and a neighbor would split an $80 daily rental. Yard company wanted over $100 (15 years ago) and they always rushed it. Said no after that first rip off by them. Now live on an acre. Quote is $400 and higher to do it. One company wanted $800. That's nuts. New neighbor and I found an awesome ride on unit that even has a hopper for over seed. $250 for 24 hours including trailer. Machine was a beast. Really amazing to use it. Good luck!!!

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

I hear you. Depends where you live and competition. Used to live on a quarter acre. Me and a neighbor would split an $80 daily rental. Yard company wanted over $100 (15 years ago) and they always rushed it. Said no after that first rip off by them. Now live on an acre. Quote is $400 and higher to do it. One company wanted $800. That's nuts. New neighbor and I found an awesome ride on unit that even has a hopper for over seed. $250 for 24 hours including trailer. Machine was a beast. Really amazing to use it. Good luck!!!

Last time I rented an aerator it was $96 (Home Depot has a 4 hour minimum)
Today I paid a guy $75 to do it. He had a standup one as well so he was able to get through it pretty quick

 

[JP4CY]

We have fiber now that is barely below grass level, like many of you, that I may have to spray paint its location so the plug cutter doesn't go over it and cut it.

 

[JM4CY]

If you're putting down urea that's not coated, it needs heavy watering AFTER application to wash it in, or it will evaporate. There's no particular advantage to watering a day prior to application, won't "wake up" the grass or anything, a week prior might.

But, it's late enough in the year that non-coated may not get fully absorbed still this fall, may just wash out through the soil (nitrogen is water soluble). Depends on how long it is before the grass becomes dormant, a combination of day length and temperature, assuming you have a cool season grass lawn.

Not planning on using urea. I think it's 22-0- 10 stuff I got a while back. I watered yesterday. Probably about 35% of it looks bleek but the rest still has some decent green to it. I wonder if I waited to long for the final fertilizer application.

 

[spierceisu]

I paid someone to do my yard this fall for $100 (1/3 acre). I tried to rent one and it would cost me more and would be a lot bigger headache. One year a group of people in my neighborhood rented a ride on one for a day and we passed it around to about 8 people and the cost was about $30 a person.

 

[wxman1]

Had an older guy do ours for $55 a few weeks ago. He said it started as a job for his son to pay to go to Philmont and he just kept doing it.

 

[Pat]

We have fiber now that is barely below grass level, like many of you, that I may have to spray paint its location so the plug cutter doesn't go over it and cut it.

I’m not an expert, but that seems like someone cut some serious corners. There’s no way that’s how deep it’s supposed to be.

 

[JM4CY]

We have fiber now that is barely below grass level, like many of you, that I may have to spray paint its location so the plug cutter doesn't go over it and cut it.

So, basically.... it was supposed to be in more but you couldn't get it in deep enough?

 

[JP4CY]

So, basically.... it was supposed to be in more but you couldn't get it in deep enough?

 

[BigBake]

Well add me to the list of people who are done with APlus out of DSM. They did my Fall core aeration about a week and half ago. The machine had some type of flat tire (or a bracket was broke) but the tech did the whole yard anyway. Which resulted in my lawn being scraped and tore up to heck.

Contacted customer service the next day to complain. They sent a supervisor out next day who confirmed that yes, they did tear up my yard and even missed spots. Apparently the tech did this to 3 different customers before being stopped. He said he put in a work order to have another tech/crew stop back and "fix it" by reseeding and repairing what they could.

I emailed customer service a couple days later as I'm expecting the charge for the aeration to be removed. Nope, they are still going to change me $75! WTF? Yep, done with them.

Anyone got a recommendation for a local company/owner operated lawn care company that uses an organic program? I have a dog and don't like the application of heavy chemicals on my lawn.

 

[Donqluione]

Not planning on using urea. I think it's 22-0- 10 stuff I got a while back. I watered yesterday. Probably about 35% of it looks bleek but the rest still has some decent green to it. I wonder if I waited to long for the final fertilizer application.

OK, the nitrogen (first number) in consumer fertilizers usually is primarily non-coated urea, since it's cheap. If "top application" urea isn't fixed by water via rain or watering it'll evaporate: in a new lawn it could be incorporated into the soil and fixed by soil moisture. Fertilizer bags usually say to water after application, that's why. If you already knew all of that, the other primary factor is soil temps, microorganisms have to break down the N for plant use, need water and warmth. Don't know where you live, most of the Midwest is in killing frost range, producing rapidly dropping soil temps and seasonal plant dormancy. There you go, lots of generally useless information.

 

[JM4CY]

OK, the nitrogen (first number) in consumer fertilizers usually is primarily non-coated urea, since it's cheap. If "top application" urea isn't fixed by water via rain or watering it'll evaporate: in a new lawn it could be incorporated into the soil and fixed by soil moisture. Fertilizer bags usually say to water after application, that's why. If you already knew all of that, the other primary factor is soil temps, microorganisms have to break down the N for plant use, need water and warmth. Don't know where you live, most of the Midwest is in killing frost range, producing rapidly dropping soil temps and seasonal plant dormancy. There you go, lots of generally useless information.

NE Iowa. Lawn greened up a ton today so I plan to put on the fertilizer tomorrow and then maybe. Lawn isn’t new. But soil temp will be dropping soon it seems so I figured I should make it priority to put it on this week.

 

[Clonehomer]

We have fiber now that is barely below grass level, like many of you, that I may have to spray paint its location so the plug cutter doesn't go over it and cut it.

If the fiber is that shallow they did it wrong.

 

[CycloneDaddy]

If the fiber is that shallow they did it wrong.

MetroNet does this. Buddy hit a unmarked line in Grimes the other day.

 

[brianhos]

Any business recommendations for fall aerating and overseeding in the DM metro? I've been using A+ and I'm done with them. Last year they sent out some new kid the day after some heavy rains, and he tore up my yard so bad it looked like I had hosted a monster truck rally. This year they came out and forgot to aerate a large portion of my front yard, and missed the overseeding entirely (yet still build my credit card). Ready for a new service.

I just had Rasmussen do my yard, they did a really nice job, and cleaned up after themselves. $135 but I have a big yard.

 

[brianhos]

MetroNet does this. Buddy hit a unmarked line in Grimes the other day.

I watched MiFiber install mine, they dug down 2 feet.

 

[StevieISU23]

Got lazy one spring, and called A+ to do the spring weed/feed.
My yard never looked worse.........

Now, i just spread some Menards/Home Depot bagged stuff on the yard every other month, or so.
Yard looks Much better than A+'s piss poor attempt.

 

[khardbored]

I did "Weed Man" last year (2021) just because I was busier than usual. Meh. Seems like they basically bought the Scott's 1-2-3-4 and put it in their ride-on machine and spread it. Nothing I can't do myself.

Plus, in the extreme summer heat, their machine made nasty track marks because the pressure killed the fragile grass. When I pointed it out, they blamed it on a fungus. I dunno, seemed pretty suspect. Never had it before or since.

And even if it was a fungus, I bet they tracked it in.