LOCKED - OT: Lawn Care

[ronpolk]

Does anyone here use Scott's or TruGreen? I had Scott's leave a quote on my door the other day and it seemed reasonable. Is the service they provide worth it?

I'm from Florida and grew up with St. Augustine grass, which is thick and rarely has weeds. However, this Bermuda grass in MS is much different.

 

[beachbumdawg]

Does anyone here use Scott's or TruGreen? I had Scott's leave a quote on my door the other day and it seemed reasonable. Is the service they provide worth it?

I'm from Florida and grew up with St. Augustine grass, which is thick and rarely has weeds. However, this Bermuda grass in MS is much different.

dude Bermuda is the worst....when i moved from Birmingham back to MS and built a house I made sure it wasnt bermuda...

 

[PBRME]

I've never used their service but I use their products. Does a really good job. I learned the hard way not to use the max green product unless you want to cut the grass every 3-4 days all summer.

 

[ronpolk]

dude Bermuda is the worst....when i moved from Birmingham back to MS and built a house I made sure it wasnt bermuda...

I would agree with you about Bermuda. Didn't know anything about it other than it looks good when taken care of properly. However, it really is a pain in the ***.

 

[mcdawg22]

I like Bermuda

I have a sprinkler system and like to mow though. It doesn't decline like centipede and is way more play friendly than St. Augustine. I do like the new Zoysia hybrids though, a neighbor had it sodded and it looks great. As far as the OP, I use a local guy and he has completely brought my back yard back, also if I notice a problem he'll come out and diagnose it and take care of it for no extra charge.

 

[ckDOG]

TruGreen is okay actual service but generally poor customer service.

There's a lot of variability from branch to branch so check with someone in your hood if they are solid or not. Unless you live in the sticks, you should have plenty of options so just ask neighbors.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I've had zoysia and Bermuda. Both have their pros and cons. I treat both the same with spraying a and fertilizing and both look great.

 

[Seinfeld]

I use Scott's in Olive Branch, and I've been happy. I had tried Lawn Doctor among a few others, and Scott's ended up being the best combo of price and service.

 

[moturfdog]

Bermuda is a lot more forgiving than Zoysia, St. Augustine, or Centipede. The disease resistance is much better and if problems do arise it will recover much quicker. Zoysia while a slower grower, also has shallower root system and is more prone to drought. St. Augustine is a quality grass that can't handle as much traffic. Centipede is well suited for central to south MS, in a winter like this one damage could be seen in the northern reaches of the state, and can give troubles if it is given too much nitrogen. It is also cheaper than the other mentioned grasses, when purchased as sod.
If seeding a yard the best choice by far is Bermuda and from sod the choice is up to your pocket book. Centipede is the cheapest followed by Bermuda then St.augustine and Zoysia.

 

[BulldogBacker]

Mississippi State University develops different hybrid grasses. They have a hybrid zoysia which does very good in Starkville. I would suggest you take samples of your lawn soil to the nearest USDA or MSU extensions and have it tested. They can probably match soil to grass for you.

 

[RocketDawg]

Does anyone here use Scott's or TruGreen? I had Scott's leave a quote on my door the other day and it seemed reasonable. Is the service they provide worth it?

I'm from Florida and grew up with St. Augustine grass, which is thick and rarely has weeds. However, this Bermuda grass in MS is much different.

If you live in Mississippi, you've pretty much got to have a warm season grass. It's possible the very northern tier of counties are in the transition zone, but the climate has been warming so it's best to stick with the tropical grasses. That said, I'm not sure St. Augustine is a good choice unless you have sandy soil.

Regarding TruGreen ... I had them do my lawn one year and they promptly sprayed something on my fescue that promptly killed it. You'd think they had used Roundup it was so thorough. They claimed the chemical had been in the tank too long and that screwed up the pH, but even if that's true that's a strike against them. I never have used Scotts. I used a local guy now and he does a really good job. He's not part of a national franchise.

I now have Zorro Zoysia, after the fescue homicide, and I really like it but it's dormant half the year. Would have to overseed with rye to get green virtually year-round.

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

I have both, Augustine in front and Bermuda in the back. I think the St. Augustine looks and feels far nicer. Last year the SA started to take over the Bermuda in back, but the drought knocked it back. I just raked and thatched some dead spots (I quit watering it was so bad at one point) and re-seeded, so this thread is appropriate. Also planted two trees today. My forearms are completely cramped from raking and digging. Damn the soil is tough here.

 

[Digging dog]

Both of these companies are only as good as their regional owners / managers. With 20 years in the green business I can say that I've heard positives as well as horror stories from both.
I would recommend finding a local nursery with a good reputation to get a schedule to "do-it-yourself". You will save money and it is not complicated.

 

[Sutterkane]

One thing about bermuda:

if you get the wild bermuda, good 17ing luck getting it out of your yard. That **** comes back more than herpes.

 

[Digging dog]

One thing about bermuda:

if you get the wild bermuda, good 17ing luck getting it out of your yard. That **** comes back more than herpes.

Atrazine will take it out of centipede.
Use poast if it is in your landscape beds.

 

[WrapItDog]

Can I spot treat some weeds with 24D that are starting to grow now in my zoysia? I'm in N. MS if it matters and have low temps in the 20s & 30s predicted for the upcoming week.

 

[Digging dog]

Can I spot treat some weeds with 24D that are starting to grow now in my zoysia? I'm in N. MS if it matters and have low temps in the 20s & 30s predicted for the upcoming week.

2-4d works better at 70+ degrees. Use "weed free zone". Has 24-d + trimek works better in cooler temps. Also put out pre-emergent now for summer weeds before they germinate.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

Is fescue a good grass? Just built a home and put down fescue sod in november with a sprinkler system.

 

[whosyourdawgy]

Does anyone here use Scott's or TruGreen? I had Scott's leave a quote on my door the other day and it seemed reasonable. Is the service they provide worth it?

I'm from Florida and grew up with St. Augustine grass, which is thick and rarely has weeds. However, this Bermuda grass in MS is much different.

Where do you live now? If it's in the Jackson/Madison/Brandon area, call Brad's Green Machine. Local self employed guy that does a great job and is very reasonable and trustworthy. I gotta find his dang number though.

 

[mcdawg22]

It's really easier than you think

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/Brads.Green.Machine.Jackson.MS.601-238-5668

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

You can spray roundup and 24D if the grass is still dormant. With cold temps it will just take a little longer to work. That's what I do to my yard.

 

[whosyourdawgy]

Ha, it's in my phone. I didn't have it with me. Brad's a good dude though

 

[WrapItDog]

2-4d works better at 70+ degrees. Use "weed free zone". Has 24-d + trimek works better in cooler temps. Also put out pre-emergent now for summer weeds before they germinate.

What pre-emergent would you recommend for a lawn with a mix of zoysia and st. augustine?

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

How does that mix look? I may go that route

Someone said to plant both, let them fight it out. But I've got some extremely sunny and some shady spots. Does it look ok mixed?

 

[moturfdog]

Roundup on dormant grasses

Can I spot treat some weeds with 24D that are starting to grow now in my zoysia? I'm in N. MS if it matters and have low temps in the 20s & 30s predicted for the upcoming week.

This time of year and with the past weather, your Zoysia is dormant and can be sprayed with roundup to kill the actively growing weeds. Roundup is taken into actively growing plant tissue so therefore it is safe on your dormant turf. Rates vary from a pint up to a quart per acre. (about 1.5 to 2 oz per gallon of water per 1000 sqft.

 

[ronpolk]

Where do you live now? If it's in the Jackson/Madison/Brandon area, call Brad's Green Machine. Local self employed guy that does a great job and is very reasonable and trustworthy. I gotta find his dang number though.

Thanks. I'm in Madison, so I'll give him a call.

 

[Dawg1976]

OT question. What can I put on old shubbery that has been cut down to the ground but keeps coming back? This is at my moms old house and some of the stuff cut down looks like wild crap that she let get out of hand. I have sprayed weed killers on it, but a year later I'm having to go back and cut more crap off the stump of the old shrub. Way too much to try and did up.

Maybe I will just sell the house and let the new owner deal with it.

 

[mcdawg22]

Tordon RTU, you can get in on amazon, or Tractor Supply.

 

[Dawg1976]

Ahhh thanks.

 

[Digging dog]

What pre-emergent would you recommend for a lawn with a mix of zoysia and st. augustine?

The exact name and maker is something like crabgrass and weed preventer. But it wl say "with Dimension" by HY-Yield.
Whole key to pre-emergent is timing.
Apply late February or very soon for summer weeds. (Has to be out before the seeds germinate).
Late October for winter weeds.
I also usually apply again around Christmas / New Years.
Doesn't matter what you use if you wait too late. It will be ineffective.

I work through a local nursery. Therefore I have allegiance toward local manufactures such a fertilome as opposed to national manufactures such as Scott's.

 

[moturfdog]

2,4-D and roundup question

Why mix 2,4-D and roundup? Round up is a non selective herbicide that must translocate down the plant to the roots. 2,4-D works in much the same way just on broad leaf plants and not on grasses, I never have understood the reason for tank mixing the two. If you are chasing poa annua, volunteer rye, or fescue this time of year 2,4-D will not have any affect on them, how ever if all you have is henbit, chickweed, or any other winter broad leaf annual 2,4-D would be a good choice on a warm afternoon. Round up will handle all of these grasses and broad leaf materials. Be sure to apply before any green up of your desired turf as round up will be detrimental and 2,4-D will severally inhibit spring green up.

 

[ColMuldrow]

I have some zoysia that is laid and also plugged in spots. I'm trying to get it it take over my Bermuda and there are also a few thin spots. My yard has a fair amount of shade. If I spray a preemerge will it hurt my zoysia spread rate? I'm in DeSoto county so I think I can get away with spraying preemerge this weekend.

 

[ReedDog]

a close relative of St Augustine is Centipede. It's the most amazingly beautiful lawn I've worked on. It's practically maintenance free. Grows in sun and shade... need no fertilization and has grown for us in places where weeds wouldn't even grow. It can be tough to establish, but once it get going.... it is going. It supposedly a slow grower, but has spread fast for us over the years. We would transplant a large patch or two in areas where we wanted it, and three four years later, it has taken over... while choking out any weeds. Its hardy and holds up well in traffic. It will brown up in droughts, but comes back fast once rain returns. I'm sold on it. We've had it in our families yard for over 40 years.

Does anyone here use Scott's or TruGreen? I had Scott's leave a quote on my door the other day and it seemed reasonable. Is the service they provide worth it?

I'm from Florida and grew up with St. Augustine grass, which is thick and rarely has weeds. However, this Bermuda grass in MS is much different.

 

[ReedDog]

http://www.centipedegrass.com/

 

[RocketDawg]

Depends on where you live. It's a cool season grass, so it won't do well in the vast majority of Mississippi. Have to use a warm season, or tropical, grass there (such as Bermuda, zoysia, etc.) for the lawn to be successful. Zoysia will grow much further north than Bermuda will.

It grows in the transition zones, which includes the northern couple of tiers of counties in Alabama, a few in Mississippi, and most of Tennessee (but not the Memphis area) ... and all points north of there. It's basically in areas that have >3000 heating degree days.

Yes, it's a good grass if you get the fine-bladed variety. Kentucky 31 isn't considered a lawn grass by most, but varieties like the Rebels look really nice. Most likely will need to overseed every year though. You need to mow it longer than Bermuda and zoysia.

I seem to remember that you live in Nashville, which is a good area for fescue. And you sodded at the right time too ... should look great this spring. They wouldn't sell the sod there if it wouldn't grow.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I use 24d for the henbit, sometimes dicamba. Roundup isn't very effective.

.

 

[Wicked Pissah]

Correct rocket. Thanks

 

[joeyB.sixpack]

Yard maintenance can be costly, especially when your lawn is affected with disease. We understand that controlling lawn disease is equal parts treatment and prevention. It can be time consuming and expensive the first year you are doing it, as you have to purchase things like lawnmowers. Though, whatever your plans with your yard this year, make sure you prepare and get going on it today. Learn more: Yard Maintenance.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

Look out for mole crickets **

 

[Optimus Prime 4]

You bumped a six week old thread for that?

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