Help with the lawn
 

Every year I have battled with ground ivy and clover taking over the lawn. Weed killer knocks it down but it comes back. I always mulch or bag the clippings and mow at the highest level but the lawn had a lot of thatch so I used a hard rake to get it out. Here in TN the lawn hasn't started growing but I see a few weeds just beginning. Part of me wants to put down weed/feed but its too early for that and if I wait it will be harder for the seed to take. Part of me says fertilize and put down seed now while the ground is bare. Advice?

Joe, the first thing I thought of when reading your post/questions was how people here often turn to Clemson Univ. Extension for soil analysis and complex questions like that, so I Googled to see if UT has one. Might find some help there...

UT Extension

Good luck. If you can't get any help there, you might find some good advice in the lawn and garden section of Home Depot or Lowe's... or an independent nursery in your area.

Don't waste your time with Home Depot or Lowes, they know nothing and sell generic national brand products. Find a good local nursery and talk to them about your issues, if necessary take in samples of the weeds. They should be able to advise you on products and correct time for application. They will also stock products that are specifically designed for use in your local climate and soil. I frequent a local place that has been a huge help to me.

Dumb question perhaps, but why does it matter? Seriously? What's the point in trying to have a golf course on your front yard if you don't have a golf course?

I'm not saying let the thing go to hell, but I'd let whatever natural plantlife wants to be there, be there. Just go trim it and keep it reasonably neat a couple times a year.

I utterly cannot understand the obsession with wasting one's free time on futile pursuits like trying to have a golf course green lawn - especially in climates that simply don't support it. I mean, if that's REALLY your thing, go for it and best of luck but if you're just doing it because "The Joneses" say so or to live up to some silly ideal that is ultimately unattainable, why are you wasting your time?

I go with indigenous plant species, tasteful rockscaping and edging/wood chips. It looks fine and is virtually zero maintenance in my place. I have better things to do with my time.

What a useful and helpful answer! ;)

I second checking with your local extension service.

I am going with the Scotts treatment process myself. Have seen with my own eyes the results of neighbors who stick with it and even though the stuff is pricey (we have 1/2 acre lot) it is a LOT cheaper than one of those services that comes to your house throughout the year.

btw got sold on the idea when visiting Pelican sailchef and seeing his neighbors unbelievably nice lawn. Told me the guy is a religious Scotts user. Then started asking my neighbors that have nice lawns what they use (thinking soil could be different) and got the same answer.

If your lawn is bermuda, get an industrial strength selective herbicide with MSMA in it. Here in Texas it is called Tri-mec.

Nasty stuff, be careful with it! Kills everything but the bermuda though.

Pre-emergent is key, you've already missed the time for that though, usually it is put down in the fall and then again in late winter, like February. Of course that is for Texas, if you are in a colder climate you might still be able to put it down now.

I use a lawn service to spray my yard. They put down pre-emergent weed killer first. The fertilizer comes much later. I used to have weeds. Now I don't. They also do my shrubs, etc.

It's not that much money and they really keep an eye on things. They can see problems starting way before I do. There's more to it than meets the eye.

JR

I also use a lawn service and found it is cheaper than buying the fertilizer. However, it might be do to the fact that my neighbor and I went in together and got a package price.

My issues are with African Violets. I had to get a special product to control those nasty things. If I didn't they would have taken over the lawn.

concrete the lawn.

Pave the World!

John: Good idea.
Matt: you're right: HD and Lowe's are worthless.
P-O-Phile: thanks for the encouragement. P.S. I hate the color of your house. :p

I figured, I could ask the local lawn and garden but I hoped there might be a knowledgeable Pelican that could give some answers.

Going to modify my earlier statement.

I went to the local herbicide store today and talked to the guy. I have a big issue with poa annua sprouting all over my yard right now. It was there when we moved in, I resodded last season with bermuda after spraying roundup all over the yard and the damn stuff sprouted right through the new turf. It is horrible right now, the weather is too cool for the bermuda and it has been pretty wet so this poa is going nutso. I missed my window for the pre-emergent, around here it has to be early February. I treated in November and thought that would be enough, guess I was wrong.

Anyhow, the guy said MSMA does not work well until the temps are in the 70s consistently. So, I bought some other stuff (expensive as hell btw) that will kill it now and then let the bermuda start to green up in a couple more weeks.

I thought about a lawn service but ChemLawn is about $50 a pop and they want to treat 8 times a year. For $400 I can buy a hell of a lot of fertilizer and herbicide...

Thanks for the heads up Rick. It looks like at this point what I'll do is put down some Turfbuilder fertilizer and seed. I can deal with the weeds later in the year.

If you have a fescue or hybrid fescue lawn, there is no product better that turflon ester.
Its expensive, about $25 for 8 oz but a couple ounces will cover a decent sized lawn.
Unless you have an acre or more, a bottle should last a year or more.

Put an ounce in a hudson sprayer, add a couple of gallons of water, a few drops of kitchen dish washing liquid, (my trick) and spray it sparingly on the lawn. It'll kill almost everything except the fescue over a couple weeks.

Once in the spring, once in the fall, it it keeps everything gone even Bermuda and St. Augustine and clover.

It's not available at big box stores but I can find it at nurseries.


http://www.greenwoodnursery.com/page.cfm/12373

The best time to seed is in the fall.What type of grass do you have?
Put out pre emergent when the forsythias bloom to kill spring germinating weeds.
Look in the Yellow Pages for someone who specializes in turf products.

I'm not familiar with TN but in my area, many older homes have Bermuda grass in the summer that dies back in the winter. Many people (including myself) plant/overseed winter rye grass - primarily for looks. I always plant winter rye because it helps to keep out the weeds by providing some competition in the winter.

I still get some lawn weeds and I prefer to use the hose-sprayed lawn weed killer vs. granules. It could be just my imagination but I feel it works better by wetting every single leaf in the lawn.

I also use crabgrass pre-emergent to keep the crabgrass under control.

Just my .02 cents worth........Vern

I think Matt is on target here. After listening to the Colorado State University extension office and working with a local garden shop on recommendations my yard has looked pretty good for years.
Although still early, I have raked and "plugged" my yard, finished today. Fertilizer and weed treatment today as well. Hopefully this gives me a heads start for the summer.
I do enjoy a good looking yard as well. It balances the rest of the landscaping.

I have to get the back yard started early as the WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP of Croquet, played in early June, (mixed with Badminton) is played here each year :>).

Wife's, Girlfriends, Beer, Cocktails, BBQ, and Cigars. What a way to start the summer.

Yea Baby
Karl
88 Targa

Thanks for all the info. Part of the problem is that I inherited a lawn that is part Fescue and part Bermuda (God knows why he did it). If I use the Turflon I'll be killing 1/3 of my front yard. I understand that Fall is the best time to seed but I didn't have the opportunity to thatch the yard last fall so here I am. I don't have a crabgrass problem, no dandelions, and the ground ivy hasn't started yet. I know that the best weed killer is a healthy thick lawn so I thought that seeding while the soil is exposed is my best bet.