i have fescue grass (Rebel supreme) and I have weeds and bare spots. Put me on a program this year so that I'm not an embarrassment to my anal-retentive neighbors. Fertilizer? weed control? Lime? Who, what, when?
Snow, I'm tired of having the worst lawn on the block....
- Thread starter RichardPeterJohnson
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I need to set a Spring plan as well. I've got some weeds cropping up in an area we seeded while building that are getting out of control. I was going to try and tackle it myself, but now I may just call a lawn care company.
I had one of those services for a couple years where they'd show up now and then with a big tanker truck and spray. It was a waste of money.
Snow is definitely the expert here but since this is one of the things I have spent many hours attempting to understand, I will give my opinion. Take it for what it is worth.
Your grass is a non spreading grass meaning each blade is a separate plant with its own root system. You need to overseed in order to fill in the bare spots. Then you need to understand what nutrients are missing that is causing the issue of an unhealthy lawn and address that for future health. Weeds are invading simply because the lawn is not healthy and the grass is giving an opportunity to grow since it is thin or bare.
Your grass is a non spreading grass meaning each blade is a separate plant with its own root system. You need to overseed in order to fill in the bare spots. Then you need to understand what nutrients are missing that is causing the issue of an unhealthy lawn and address that for future health. Weeds are invading simply because the lawn is not healthy and the grass is giving an opportunity to grow since it is thin or bare.
I always run into the dilemma of the timing of overseeding/fertilizing/weed control. It is my understanding that overseeding should be done in the fall. yet, weed control and fertilizer also need to go down in the fall as well?
i called TruGreen when i bought my new place. They seed, aerate, lime, and fertilize. When the guy showed up the first time my lawn looked like absolute ****. I basically pointed at my neighbors yard and said make it so. It's been 18 months and my lawn looks better than his now. I'm pretty happy with them. There is only one area that still needs a little work and that's mostly due to a lack of quality top soil.
For fescue this is mostly true. Overseeding in the fall gives you two growing seasons to establish the new seed (fall and spring). Additionally in the Fall you should aerate, fertilize in say September, October and December plus apply a good weed killer. Then in late winter (feb) you want to put down your pre-emergent for crabgrass and other weeds. Also start your fertilizing program for the spring and summer. With all that said, my lawn looks like crap, I really don't have time to take care of it anymore which is why I may be looking into a service this year.
Probably going to have to get your soil tested to see what you're dealing with. We moved into a new place in October and our lawn is crap. What I was told is a lot of times the developer comes in and takes a lot if not all of the top soil and sells it...then the homeowner is left with crap soil. So I'm looking at having someone come in and re-grade my lawn a little and put down some top soil so we can start growing some good grass.
What has happened to this place and the people ITT? Hire a poor to take care of it for you. It's that easy.
I use truegreen and my yard looks pretty good and we have the same type of grass. I bought a half interest in an aerifier with my yard guy. For years he did it at no charge, it was only about a $400 investment. Aerify in the fall, fertilize and overseed every year. I spread my own grub control, too expensive from Trugree. You are in a tweener area, too far south for fescue and too far north for Bermuda. Tough area to grow in. I have the same problem.
Male dogs urine is less damaging than females. Type of dog also is a contributing factor. I know of nothing that will help with your issue in terms of repair.
There is that and I'm on the end of a peninsula to the bay. The soil in general is terrible. The people who built the house did themselves (and now me) no favors with their soil management.
We all should have a soil analysis first. I didn't but have used lime pellets, very cheap, and it does help.
Yep. This is great advice. Throwing lime down when you may not need it is a waste of time and money. Good call Airport.
Yes, all good advice. And you know lime is not a fertilizer. It adjusts the ph level of the soil making the plant greener and allows fertilizer be more receptive which will feed the plant.
Pet stores sell products that you put in their food so as to not kill the grass. It's worked for me with my male dog.
Thanks I'll look that up...I have a male and he burns the crap out of my grass.
What kind of grass and dog? My yellow lab male has no effect on my bermuda. My beloved female Weineramer used to kill every plant she would pee on. My neighbor has both a male and female Standard poodle and my yard is their favorite bathroom. The male never hurts my grass. The female pees in the same two spots and burns out the bermuda every summer. I googled this and the information I found is exactly what I wrote previously so this has very interested.
Don't know what type of grass we currently have - this was at the old house and we haven't been outside much lately to see how he's impacting the grass at the new place. I'm just preparing for that may happen.
He's a male Yorkie-poodle mix.