Lawn Care Advice Thread

[Cobrabit]

Soil tests are back for my front, middle, and back yards, shown below, respectively. Looks like I didn't need the Mag-I-cal application earlier this week on the middle and back yards with pH levels of 6.4 and 6.7, but it shouldn't raise it too much. The front needed some at 6.1, so I may look to add a little pelletized lime this fall in that area, but not much.

Everything else looks to not have any deficiencies, so I should be able to space out fertilizer applications a little more.

I do plan to add my second split app of pre-emergent this weekend with soil temps getting into the upper 60s and low 70s.

 

[Cobrabit]

After soccer and mowing, the wife started painting the 10 foot 4x4s so we can set them in planters with concrete. Third one is setting up now and we'll do the other 2 tomorrow, since we're going to light the first fire in the pit tonight for the kiddos and didn't want them to be anywhere close to these while curing.

Plan to string Edison lights all around the back patios and have flowers at the base of each post. Should allow for some portability and different light configurations than using the sheds and house as anchor points for the lights.

I'll update once it's all finished, but it's time for bourbon right now.

 

[Cobrabit]

Enjoy the fruits of your labors!

Had to throw in the color pack for the kiddos.

 

[Cobrabit]

Looks like I'll need another bag of concrete for each to help lower the center of gravity while the posts are under tension from the string lights. As a back up, I'll add some eye hooks to the barrel before adding the concrete to use as anchors for guy wires if needed to help prevent tipping.

This honey do list project to appease form over function is a pain in my ass.

 

[Cobrabit]

Added another 50 lb bag of concrete to each planter and that seems to lower the center of gravity enough for the tension in the string lights.

Got it finished right before a thunderstorm is rolling in now. Now it's the wife's job for dirt and flowers to go into each.

Can't let a gratuitous picture of the front lawn go to waste either.

 

[outofyourmind]

Looking good

 

[Wizardhawk]

This was a section of the small side of my front yard in 2019, before last summers reno. This was right in the heart of summer and I had not used fert for a while because I wasn't looking for it to grow a lot in the heat. Just posting this as a bit of a before, showing it wasn't THAT bad. I did reno on this section because it was prone to heat stress and this area specifically had a couple of patches that got fungus/disease every summer (later than this pic).

That is what reno looked like. While it looks quite drastic, much of that is just dormant grass cut very short. I intentionally let it go to full dormant/dry, almost scalped it, and ran the electric dethatcher over it several times to remove the weakest grass. The hope was to leave behind the stronger established grass and clear out older weaker areas. Most of the dirt in this picture is actually covering seed. Some of the loose straw is also covering to help keep moisture in. I mean OF COURSE the f'n heat had to turn up after I started this. It was dry as fuck the entire time I was pushing this seed.

Just one week later. Pushing water 4-5 times a day really woke up the dormant grass. Most of that yellow is still loose cover for the seed. Some seed has already emerged at this point.

2 weeks later after the first mow (very tall). Lots of bare areas, but also quite a bit of new coming in.

Two more weeks and it was nearly full. I did end up replanting a few patchy areas, not all of which ever did fill in fully last year, but aren't really visible at this angle and weren't bad. I hit those this spring and for some reason it took two weeks to even see any sprouts, but they are now filling in nicely. The color I have now is similar to this picture. I think it will be 1-2 more weeks before the color hits the point I want and I should be able to hold it there through to August at least.

As an aside, the neighbors yard you can see at the top of the last pic is basically dead. He's Ukrainian I believe. Nice guy, but he was trying to follow what I was doing last year because he liked my yard and thought he would try to do what I was doing, of course without asking questions. He dried off his yard and hit it with his dethatcher and I think even put seed down, but didn't water it. It's completely a waste land now lol. Hard as a rock. He's screwed.

I won't know how successful this project was until at least late summer this year, and really the full effect will come next year. One thing to keep in mind is grass doesn't entirely fully mature for more than one full year. It will continue to fill in thicker and grow more resilient into next spring. So far I can say the black beauty ultra (TTTF) came through the winter quite well and has responded this spring to minimal added product. I still need to get more potash down and probably another pH boost before the end of spring. Both were quite low and need two treatments to get right.

 

[Cobrabit]

View attachment 29456
This was a section of the small side of my front yard in 2019, before last summers reno. This was right in the heart of summer and I had not used fert for a while because I wasn't looking for it to grow a lot in the heat. Just posting this as a bit of a before, showing it wasn't THAT bad. I did reno on this section because it was prone to heat stress and this area specifically had a couple of patches that got fungus/disease every summer (later than this pic).
View attachment 29457
That is what reno looked like. While it looks quite drastic, much of that is just dormant grass cut very short. I intentionally let it go to full dormant/dry, almost scalped it, and ran the electric dethatcher over it several times to remove the weakest grass. The hope was to leave behind the stronger established grass and clear out older weaker areas. Most of the dirt in this picture is actually covering seed. Some of the loose straw is also covering to help keep moisture in. I mean OF COURSE the f'n heat had to turn up after I started this. It was dry as fuck the entire time I was pushing this seed.
View attachment 29459
Just one week later. Pushing water 4-5 times a day really woke up the dormant grass. Most of that yellow is still loose cover for the seed. Some seed has already emerged at this point.
View attachment 29460
2 weeks later after the first mow (very tall). Lots of bare areas, but also quite a bit of new coming in.
View attachment 29461
Two more weeks and it was nearly full. I did end up replanting a few patchy areas, not all of which ever did fill in fully last year, but aren't really visible at this angle and weren't bad. I hit those this spring and for some reason it took two weeks to even see any sprouts, but they are now filling in nicely. The color I have now is similar to this picture. I think it will be 1-2 more weeks before the color hits the point I want and I should be able to hold it there through to August at least.

As an aside, the neighbors yard you can see at the top of the last pic is basically dead. He's Ukrainian I believe. Nice guy, but he was trying to follow what I was doing last year because he liked my yard and thought he would try to do what I was doing, of course without asking questions. He dried off his yard and hit it with his dethatcher and I think even put seed down, but didn't water it. It's completely a waste land now lol. Hard as a rock. He's screwed.

I won't know how successful this project was until at least late summer this year, and really the full effect will come next year. One thing to keep in mind is grass doesn't entirely fully mature for more than one full year. It will continue to fill in thicker and grow more resilient into next spring. So far I can say the black beauty ultra (TTTF) came through the winter quite well and has responded this spring to minimal added product. I still need to get more potash down and probably another pH boost before the end of spring. Both were quite low and need two treatments to get right.

Looking good. I've got some weaker spots in my 10k+ sqft yard after my overseed last fall with Black Beauty Ultra in mostly a tall fescue yard. It's starting to wake up now that soil temps are in the mid to upper 60s. Waiting for it to mature even further, along with another round of overseed this fall.

My neighbor across the street has a nice dark green color, which I believe is mostly a KBG lawn, but has a TruGreen plan here every few weeks. I've got some liquid iron I may spray on mine in the future to help with my color once all the POA dies off, especially as we head to summer without pushing a lot of nitrogen. I have a feeling that's also what TruGreen is doing with his lawn as well.

My two neighbors to the immediate left and right of me threw down some seed/fertilizer a couple weeks ago for the first time since I've lived here (5 years). I guess this is what is considered peer pressure as an adult.

 

[Cobrabit]

What spreader do y'all use/recommend?

I've been using a Scott's DLX edge guard for a few years, but I ripped the edge guard off after the first few uses as it seemed to collect/drop more fertilizer in the center when not engaged (most of the time) leading to streaks. Then the agitator broke and I had to engineer a replacement. Doesn't seem to throw a consistent spread with more going right of center and also calibrated low where I have to open it up a few notches to put down the correct amount.I

Maybe mine was a lemon since others have had good experience with them. Wondering if their elite model would be better, or to go a different brand. Really don't want to spend $200+ on a spreader for a 10k sq ft yard.

 

[Wizardhawk]

I just use the scotts edge guard mini. I don't have a big enough space, nor use one enough to need anything more expensive. I don't use one for spreading seed, nor any type of ice melter. That spreader does fine and the edge guard on it works reasonably. The worst part about all of their units are the back legs. They are weak and shaky. Require you to be cautious at filling while sitting on the lawn. I just won't spend the money on a bigger/better unit when these cheap ones are working for me.

 

[Cobrabit]

The elite is currently on sale for $90 on amazon, so I may give that a try.

 

[PnkPanther]

I try to not use chemicals on my lawn/gardens etc.

But I broke down and bought sprayer and some tenacity to declare war on creeping charlie. Shit is taking over, should arrive this week and based on reviews, should start clearing out weeds quickly

I was looking at more expensive sprayer that is battery operated, but for now went with mid range pump style

 

[Cobrabit]

I try to not use chemicals on my lawn/gardens etc.

But I broke down and bought sprayer and some tenacity to declare war on creeping charlie. Shit is taking over, should arrive this week and based on reviews, should start clearing out weeds quickly

I was looking at more expensive sprayer that is battery operated, but for now went with mid range pump style

I was the same way with the sprayer I bought this year being the 4 gallon Field King pump sprayer that had great reviews and also half or a third the price of battery powered ones. With the pressure regulator and consistent hand pumping, it should provide a consistent spray. I also like how it agitates the mix every pump as well. I used it a few weeks ago putting down my second app of pre-emergent with prodiamine.

I have not used my tenacity yet, but plan to do so a month prior to overseeding in the fall to help with some bentgrass and provide a short pre-emergent window while the aerated soil will take the new seedlings. While I know that turning the weeds and possibly the turf white is only for a few weeks, I'm not ready for that while my grass is going well now. Once August comes, I'm happy to have it "snow" since I'll be seeding and watering right afterwards for a green fall.


While you've already bought tenacity, I see there is a generic version that could save some money for those that are interested and haven't purchased yet.

 

[PnkPanther]

I was the same way with the sprayer I bought this year being the 4 gallon Field King pump sprayer that had great reviews and also half or a third the price of battery powered ones. With the pressure regulator and consistent hand pumping, it should provide a consistent spray. I also like how it agitates the mix every pump as well. I used it a few weeks ago putting down my second app of pre-emergent with prodiamine.

I have not used my tenacity yet, but plan to do so a month prior to overseeding in the fall to help with some bentgrass and provide a short pre-emergent window while the aerated soil will take the new seedlings. While I know that turning the weeds and possibly the turf white is only for a few weeks, I'm not ready for that while my grass is going well now. Once August comes, I'm happy to have it "snow" since I'll be seeding and watering right afterwards for a green fall.


While you've already bought tenacity, I see there is a generic version that could save some money for those that are interested and haven't purchased yet.

i found a bundle for tenacity, suffecant, and dye for $85, so not too bad

 

[Cobrabit]

Reminder for anyone that has fought lawn diseases in the past, it's time to look at putting down some preventative fungicide in the near future, if not already. While this has been a dry spring in my area, the weather will be getting into the 80-90 degree range with lows in the 60s soon. If it's humid out, then that is perfect breeding ground for a lot of fungi and if you've ever had an issue with fungus, it's still there in your lawn waiting to become active. A preventative application is typically half the curative rate, so save some money and keep the lawn green.

Sharpen your blades to provide a cleaner cut which helps prevent disease and retain water also as we head into summer.

If you're already dealing with disease, put down a curative rate after identifying what type of disease you're dealing with. Pushing growth through nitrogen, mowing often while also bagging can help if it's a disease that affects the leaves so it doesn't reach the crowns.

 

[Cobrabit]

i found a bundle for tenacity, suffecant, and dye for $85, so not too bad

I've got a similar setup, but not sure I'll be using the dye. While it sounds great in theory, being able to see where you've applied, I've also heard that dye is a pain and you'll be seeing it show up on your clothes, garage, etc for months to come. I'm hesitant on using it for that reason.

 

[outofyourmind]

I have to ask.
Most of these pictures, seem to have plenty of sun for Bermuda.
It's a much easier grass to live with, and just wondering why fescue???

I like the way it looks, but Jesus, it seems labor/chemical intensive.

@Cobrabit

 

[Cobrabit]

I have to ask.
Most of these pictures, seem to have plenty of sun for Bermuda.
It's a much easier grass to live with, and just wondering why fescue???

I like the way it looks, but Jesus, it seems labor/chemical intensive.

@Cobrabit

While there are some lawns in my neighborhood that use bermuda, they have probably 1-2k sqft of flat ground with no trees.

My land had several dozen oak trees previously and while most were removed before I bought the home, I still have over a dozen. It also isn't flat and around 10k sqft. I wouldn't be able to mow bermuda to the low height it would love, nor do I have enough sun for it to thrive. It would be quite expensive to grade and sod my yard compared to improving upon the existing turf to the point it can be in a maintenence mode.


Then every neighbor has some type of cool season grass and bermuda would certainly overtake their yards.

 

[Cobrabit]

And while you can grow both cool or warm season grasses in the transition zone, it's not the ideal conditions for either.

 

[Wizardhawk]

Lawn area with the TTTF testing late spring. I think I have it sitting around 3.5 inches tall, and going to take it to 4.25 from here forward.
Weird how pictures never show the color you see in real life. It looks a lot lighter green and almost like there is yellow/trouble spots at the bottom of the picture.

Just put some grub ex and fungicide down as preventatives going into the summer. Outside of maybe a light iron treatment maybe early July, I probably won't do much more to it until the fall.