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OT: Getting my yard back

TheStateUofMS

TheStateUofMS

All-Conference
Dec 26, 2009
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I live in Central Florida near the Atlantic Coast. We had a bone dry winter with a severe cold snap towards the end and an extremely dry summer up until the past few weeks. I have two dogs (one large and one small). I have St Augustine grass. The grass was decent when I moved in a little over 2 years ago. I've had a couple of drainage lines dug where the grass didn't come back and there's a bare spot from the cold snap kill we had that hasn't filled in very well. We do get some high water from minor flash flooding a couple of times a year and I know that's known for spreading weeds like mad as well.

My back yard is full of weeds though. The weeds are thriving. I have nutsedge, some type of vine, chamberbitter, crabgrass, and spurge weed. I do have some good patches of St Augustine, but overall it's in bad shape right now. Currently my treatment has been Scotts Triple Action in the late winter and late fall months. I do some spot spraying ("Kills Weeds Not Lawns"), but I really don't want to spray too much on the actual yard, so that's pretty minimal. I also pull weeds by hand and gardenging tools. I've used the Image brand Ready To Spray treatments as well (the ones that attach to the water hose), but only once or twice a year as it's hard on lawns to do it often.

Is it just a matter of a bad season and living with dogs or is there something I can do? My front yard is pretty good although it has some dollar weed.

Appreciate the feedback in advance!
 
willi13

willi13

All-Conference
Sep 24, 2003
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I, too live in FL but on the other coast. Have lived in this house for six years. Yard is St. Augustine and was in rough shape when we moved in. I did all the treatments myself, with many trips to Turf Shop. Have done the Sunday program now for three years and yard is immaculate. I recommend looking online at their service because it is easy and low-maintenance.
 
TheStateUofMS

TheStateUofMS

All-Conference
Dec 26, 2009
10,451
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willi13 said:
I, too live in FL but on the other coast. Have lived in this house for six years. Yard is St. Augustine and was in rough shape when we moved in. I did all the treatments myself, with many trips to Turf Shop. Have done the Sunday program now for three years and yard is immaculate. I recommend looking online at their service because it is easy and low-maintenance.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Are you talking about this: https://www.getsunday.com/custom-la...Qlk2ZuenayGL0ASlHZfBcxdOI-Ro0AkBoCMTcQAvD_BwE
 
The Cooterpoot

The Cooterpoot

Heisman
Sep 29, 2022
7,417
12,988
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2-4-D a good weed killer?
I've got patches of ****** grass in my St Augustine and I wonder if transplanting some in would thrive and spread because that stuff crawls all over my driveway, St Augustine "vines"
 
OopsICroomedmypants

OopsICroomedmypants

All-Conference
Sep 29, 2022
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I just put st Augustine potted plugs in part of my front yard this spring. I have so much shade that the Bermuda is nearly gone. It's spreading nicely. As far as your question, based on my previous house and a full front and back yard of St. Augustine, I learned to just fertilize and water the crap out of it. I would grab the water hose and spot water new growth to help it spread. Once it's thick enough, nearly no weeds can grow up through it. I also mowed it high to make sure it shades out weeds. My neighbor who lived there for 50 years said the yard never looked better.
 
greenbean.sixpack

greenbean.sixpack

All-American
Oct 6, 2012
9,411
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Hire a local yard spraying guy (not a chain). It'll be cheaper in the long run. Around here it's $300-$500 per year.

If it's your "forever" home, invest in the chemicals and equipment, if not hire it out.
 
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TheStateUofMS

TheStateUofMS

All-Conference
Dec 26, 2009
10,451
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OopsICroomedmypants said:
I just put st Augustine potted plugs in part of my front yard this spring. I have so much shade that the Bermuda is nearly gone. It's spreading nicely. As far as your question, based on my previous house and a full front and back yard of St. Augustine, I learned to just fertilize and water the crap out of it. I would grab the water hose and spot water new growth to help it spread. Once it's thick enough, nearly no weeds can grow up through it. I also mowed it high to make sure it shades out weeds. My neighbor who lived there for 50 years said the yard never looked better.
Click to expand...
I'm thinking this is the biggest problem. We had back to back extremely dry winters, plus this year's cold snap and we never got our spring time thunderstorms. Weeds thrived, the St Augustine didn't.
 
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DAWGSANDSAINTS

DAWGSANDSAINTS

All-Conference
Oct 10, 2022
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my St Augustine would look immaculate if I could keep my male Labrador from pissing all over 20 times a day.
He very rarely bothers to go to the tree or to a trellis with Jasmine growing up it.
Nope, just hikes his leg wherever he feels like it, especially if I have tried putting down some new sod pieces. Those he loves!
 
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DawgNsuds

DawgNsuds

Senior
Jun 4, 2007
964
708
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Things to consider, first is the obvious, know what chemicals your grass can tolerate. Temps are key, when it's hot and dry, grass is more susceptible to chemicals. Celcius is very good, I haven't had good luck with it on sedge, so know your weeds and what your chemicals will impact. sometimes you need to combine chemicals (sedge hammer is one) Also a thing to consider, when I lived in Florida, I fought mole crickets, the little alien looking bugs can do some serious damage, so look for signs of pest damage also. One last suggestion, St. Augustine does not like to be cut low, make sure you don't scalp it like one would Bermuda. This site is helpful Do my own. Fertilizing and watering at the right times are key as well. But the short answer is generally St. Augustine thrives in Florida, just get you a calendar and plan and follow it. Apologies for run on sentences and spelling but I may have started happy hour early today.
 
D

doobeeadawg

Redshirt
Dec 8, 2022
78
43
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DawgNsuds said:
Things to consider, first is the obvious, know what chemicals your grass can tolerate. Temps are key, when it's hot and dry, grass is more susceptible to chemicals. Celcius is very good, I haven't had good luck with it on sedge, so know your weeds and what your chemicals will impact. sometimes you need to combine chemicals (sedge hammer is one) Also a thing to consider, when I lived in Florida, I fought mole crickets, the little alien looking bugs can do some serious damage, so look for signs of pest damage also. One last suggestion, St. Augustine does not like to be cut low, make sure you don't scalp it like one would Bermuda. This site is helpful Do my own. Fertilizing and watering at the right times are key as well. But the short answer is generally St. Augustine thrives in Florida, just get you a calendar and plan and follow it. Apologies for run on sentences and spelling but I may have started happy hour early today.
Click to expand...
Certainty is another fantastic herbicide that knocks out the sedge and the other weeds Celsius misses on. Those 2 is mostly all you need.
 
The Usual Suspect

The Usual Suspect

Junior
Sep 1, 2011
2,538
240
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I have St. Augustine in TX and nutsedge is my big problem. Entire neighborhood has St. Augustine, but I believe bermuda would do better here.
 
TheStateUofMS

TheStateUofMS

All-Conference
Dec 26, 2009
10,451
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DAWGSANDSAINTS said:
my St Augustine would look immaculate if I could keep my male Labrador from pissing all over 20 times a day.
He very rarely bothers to go to the tree or to a trellis with Jasmine growing up it.
Nope, just hikes his leg wherever he feels like it, especially if I have tried putting down some new sod pieces. Those he loves!
Click to expand...
Could be my problem. My GSP has to pee everywherer.
 
TheStateUofMS

TheStateUofMS

All-Conference
Dec 26, 2009
10,451
2,469
113
DawgNsuds said:
Things to consider, first is the obvious, know what chemicals your grass can tolerate. Temps are key, when it's hot and dry, grass is more susceptible to chemicals. Celcius is very good, I haven't had good luck with it on sedge, so know your weeds and what your chemicals will impact. sometimes you need to combine chemicals (sedge hammer is one) Also a thing to consider, when I lived in Florida, I fought mole crickets, the little alien looking bugs can do some serious damage, so look for signs of pest damage also. One last suggestion, St. Augustine does not like to be cut low, make sure you don't scalp it like one would Bermuda. This site is helpful Do my own. Fertilizing and watering at the right times are key as well. But the short answer is generally St. Augustine thrives in Florida, just get you a calendar and plan and follow it. Apologies for run on sentences and spelling but I may have started happy hour early today.
Click to expand...
Thank you for this. I've been very careful about temps and not over treating the lawn. I haven't tried any celcius stuff. I think I may try the Sunday Lawn plan and see where I get. I'll look into Celcius too.
 
TheStateUofMS

TheStateUofMS

All-Conference
Dec 26, 2009
10,451
2,469
113
The Usual Suspect said:
I have St. Augustine in TX and nutsedge is my big problem. Entire neighborhood has St. Augustine, but I believe bermuda would do better here.
Click to expand...
I thought about throwing Bermuda down but it'll go dormant in winter and yard might be more of a mess with the dogs.
TheStateUofMS said:
I live in Central Florida near the Atlantic Coast. We had a bone dry winter with a severe cold snap towards the end and an extremely dry summer up until the past few weeks. I have two dogs (one large and one small). I have St Augustine grass. The grass was decent when I moved in a little over 2 years ago. I've had a couple of drainage lines dug where the grass didn't come back and there's a bare spot from the cold snap kill we had that hasn't filled in very well. We do get some high water from minor flash flooding a couple of times a year and I know that's known for spreading weeds like mad as well.

My back yard is full of weeds though. The weeds are thriving. I have nutsedge, some type of vine, chamberbitter, crabgrass, and spurge weed. I do have some good patches of St Augustine, but overall it's in bad shape right now. Currently my treatment has been Scotts Triple Action in the late winter and late fall months. I do some spot spraying ("Kills Weeds Not Lawns"), but I really don't want to spray too much on the actual yard, so that's pretty minimal. I also pull weeds by hand and gardenging tools. I've used the Image brand Ready To Spray treatments as well (the ones that attach to the water hose), but only once or twice a year as it's hard on lawns to do it often.

Is it just a matter of a bad season and living with dogs or is there something I can do? My front yard is pretty good although it has some dollar weed.

Appreciate the feedback in advance!
Click to expand...
Sunday Lawn quoted me $289. Certainly not cheap but way less than True Green.

I'm going to call a local guy first and see what type of pricing I get.
 
R

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
20,021
2,794
113
willi13 said:
I’ve just never had good luck finding a service that was worth a damn.
Click to expand...
My lawn guy is really good and is a local, no chain. He comes about 6 times a year and it's about $60 each visit. The plus side is is that he's doing the work, and knows what to use and when to use it. If I did the same thing he does, it would cost at least as much. I have Zorro zoysia (for the most part - after some winter kill, common Bermuda has crept into some places).
 
T

Turfdoc992

Redshirt
Oct 3, 2022
83
46
18
RocketDawg said:
My lawn guy is really good and is a local, no chain. He comes about 6 times a year and it's about $60 each visit. The plus side is is that he's doing the work, and knows what to use and when to use it. If I did the same thing he does, it would cost at least as much. I have Zorro zoysia (for the most part - after some winter kill, common Bermuda has crept into some places).
Click to expand...
If you wan to remove that bermuda from your Zoysia have your guy use recognition + fusilade. works well but not cheap.
 
Dawgpile

Dawgpile

Senior
May 23, 2006
2,415
919
113
The Cooterpoot said:
How you get rid of trash grass? I got some trash *** grass that's in one patch of my St.
Click to expand...
I just bought a new home last year, (South central TN) I'm very rural, and despite a nice stand of Bermuda in patches, I'm covered with weedy field grasses. Dallis grass, Goose grass, hell I've even found Johnson grass in my ditch. I'm doing a pre-emergent next spring to give the Bermuda a chance to spread with targeted fertilizer and water. That might be your ticket to give your St. Augustine a chance like I'm think about my Bermuda. I've got an acre to deal with, so it will be a multi-year project, treating the max area of the product I buy.
 
Dawgbite

Dawgbite

Heisman
Nov 1, 2011
9,890
11,302
113
Per recommendation on this thread I sprayed my centipede lawn this week with Celsius WG. It was getting some patches of weeds. I followed the directions, waited for the dew to dry, sprayed both directions to insure coverage, no rain possible for 24 hours. Yep, rained six hours later and when I say rained, I mean pouring of biblical proportions. Hope it stayed on long enough to work.
 
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