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Nothing & Everything => Open Discussion => Topic started by: KnuckleBuckett on September 15, 2007, 11:33:59 AM

Title: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 15, 2007, 11:33:59 AM
Keeping the grass in good shape takes a lot less effort than most folks think.

Tip  #1:  Mow at at least 3.5".  Mow high and mow often. 

Tip  #1A:  In draught conditions do not mow.  Let it get tall here and there, but don't mow it under such heavy stress.

Tip  #1B:  If possible water during a draught.  Get at least 1.25" to it in the evening or wee hours of the morning.  Laura and I have to do this by doing one patch at at time on a rotating basis.  If you don't water long and deep, don't water at all.  To figure out how long your sprinkler takes to do this use a measuring cup placed in the sprinkle pattern.

Tip  #2:  Feed it and weed it at half rate.  I do not like dry weed killer.  I prefer the spray that screws onto a garden hose.  Safe, simple, effective and clean.  To use at half rate just walk faster as you distribute the spray.  I recommend
 http://www.spectracide.com/ProductCategories/Herbicides/WeedStop2xConc/  if you can get it.  As far as food, most brands are of equal value.  Try to keep the Nitrogen content mid to low.  A good fall lawn food is Milorganite, but you have to use alot.  Use a rotary spreader.  Drop spreaders can be a very difficult to use.

Tip  #3:  When you feed it mix in a few handfuls of epsom salts.  Mix it in well.

Tip  #4:  Get the lawn core aerated yearly.

Tip  #5:  After aeration, put lime and iron down every two to three years.

Tip  #6:  Use the mulching blades rather than removing the grass from the lawn.  It provides very necessary organic matter. 

Tip  #7:  This is area and year specific, however your local greenhouse may be able to advise you for your area.  Grub control.  You can apply it or have it applied by the pros.  Grubs can wipe our a lawn in a few weeks.  If you see dead patches appear and you can pick up the remains like loose carpet, seek help immediately.  That day.

FYI  #1:  Over time weeds will simply be pushed out and the need for herbicides will decrease.

FYI  #2:  Earthworms and nightcrawlers are your lawns buddies.  Add a few thousand when the weather is mild to warm and the ground is moist.  Do this in the evening.

FYI  #3:  Keeping your grass high not only promotes much deeper root structure, and increases soil water retention, but it also inhibits weed germination.

See Tip #1.

If anyone needs more specific advice, lemme know and I will do whatever I can.

Good book on lawn care.  Gets into tonics way too much but a good overall reference.

http://books.google.com/books?id=keXwtOUaZ4oC&pg=PP1&dq=inauthor:Jerry+inauthor:F+inauthor:Baker&sig=EPPsKcxMeZEaac4OmSricIsgUe4

Another famous read.  If this had color photos this might be the perfect lawn reference.
http://www.amazon.com/Lawn-Bible-Groomed-Growing-Season/dp/0786888423/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/002-5789399-5088857?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1189869493&sr=1-3
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: hans on September 15, 2007, 12:00:02 PM
I'm not very good at keeping up my lawn (or anything that grows). My neighbor is really anal about it. He cuts he grass really short like twice a week and waters all the time and fertilizes etc. I've found that simply mowing my grass higher does a good job at keeping it easier to manage. I do very little fertilizing, crab grass and a weed and feed in the spring and this year I'm going to do a turf builder and over seed too before winter (see if it makes any difference). During the summer I just spot kill weeds when they pop up. My grass stays green with minimal effort. It's not the prettiest but it looks alright. Oh and I mulch, never bag. Even the leaves I try and mulch as much as possible (mostly because I don't like raking it).

Good tips.

What does the epsom salt do?
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 15, 2007, 12:16:06 PM
Epsom salt allows for better sulfide production allowing for better end product. Sulfur is needed for protein synthesis.

Note do not use alot.  Mix in a couple handfulls per feeding, no more.  With lawns too much of anything can be detrimental.

Roses like epsom salts too.  Bout a tablespoon per plant 2x per year with the same of rose food.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 15, 2007, 06:33:17 PM
oh god

 :threadsucks:

Beats moobs any damn day dooder.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Rob on September 16, 2007, 06:29:03 AM
Just remind us again Knuck: How old are you?

:devil:
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 16, 2007, 07:03:24 AM
39

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Rob on September 16, 2007, 12:06:29 PM
'K, I was gonna guess 50 :)
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 16, 2007, 06:15:42 PM
'K, I was gonna guess 50 :)

Er.  Why?
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: ober on September 16, 2007, 08:30:15 PM
I'm pretty much like tgm when it comes to lawn care.  I generally like things to look nice, but I don't have the time or energy to do it perfectly right now.  Maybe a few *cough* 30 *cough* years down the road...
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: ober on September 16, 2007, 08:32:12 PM
Me or Rob?
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: stealth on September 16, 2007, 08:39:57 PM
>>In draught conditions do not mow.  Let it get tall here and there, but don't mow it under such heavy stress.<<

Do you meant drought? :)

Our lawn is just weeds thanks to the drought.  I mow the weeds not the grass.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: ober on September 16, 2007, 09:43:33 PM
How?
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on September 16, 2007, 10:32:44 PM
Knuk ain't dissed.  Think I am older or younger I'm cool.  Sup ethic?

My spelling can really bloe sumtimes...
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Steve on September 17, 2007, 01:28:03 PM
while i read that i saw an old guy in overalls with straw in his mouth. At any rate, fuck leaving it high. I jump on my commercial 0-turn, drop the deck to the bottom setting, and mow it. Sometimes twice a week. I water it every other day when it doesnt rain, and i leave the cut grass behind. Green as hell, healthy as hell, no weeds.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: micah on May 15, 2016, 06:27:54 PM
1) Ants.  Everywhere.  What do I do?  My entire 1/2-acre yard is just covered in ant hills.  In the back there a few hundred square feet of just dirt where the grass wont grow that giant ant holes.  Everywhere else the grass is growing but there are brown patches and ant hills though out the entire yard!

I don't want to spend a ton of money but I want an an effective way to get rid of them.  Thoughts?

2) Weeds.  Dandelions are freaking everywhere. Basically my front yard is white and yellow. After my first mowing a couple weeks ago I spread some weed & feed but the weather forecase was wrong and I think it rained to hard to soon.  Within a week they were back even worse!  Would a second round of weed & feed help? or do you recommend a weed specific treatment?

Again, I don't want to spend a ton and I'm fine with not having a perfect lush lawn, but I'd like a healthy lawn that doesn't look worse than my neighbors :)
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Mike on May 15, 2016, 06:38:12 PM
1) Fire
2) Fire

3) Don't listen to me
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on May 16, 2016, 05:57:52 AM
Borax works well as does Diatomaceous earth.  The earth is used in pool filters commonly.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: hans on May 16, 2016, 11:12:26 AM
This year seemed really bad for dandelions in my yard/area too. Must have just been the right conditions. A second round will probably help though. That's probably what I'm doing tonight in my backyard.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Perspective on May 16, 2016, 03:58:28 PM
This is the first year we've had a lawn. I had some brown spots after the snow melted so I threw down some seeds. Well, the seeds have grown and the lawn is healthy and green, only I now realize that the seeds I bought are a completely different type of grass than what was already there. I now have patches of dark green mixed in with the lighter and softer green of the original grass. I didn't even know there were different kinds of grass!
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on May 16, 2016, 07:34:42 PM
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Perspective on May 18, 2016, 11:31:44 AM
I have quite a bit of clover growing in my lawn as well, is there a way to get rid of that?
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Mike on May 18, 2016, 12:03:04 PM
Fire ;)
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on May 19, 2016, 06:10:50 AM
Hit it with this.

http://www.spectracide.com/Products-and-Solutions/Lawn-Weed-Killers/Spectracide-Weed-Stop-for-Lawns-Concentrate-RTS.aspx

Mow low enough to nick the clover bloody.  Spray it it.  Then repeat a day or three later.  Be patient and thorough.  Mow as high as you can afterwards.  You should see clear changes.  After that you may have to repeat or you might get lucky and can work on just the remaining spots.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Jake on May 20, 2016, 10:03:56 AM
a few years ago I got one of those lawn services and my lawn has never been nicer. I pay for the entire year in advance (which saves me like 15% over paying by the visit) and that comes out to be less than $250 for 8 visits. After the first year no weeds, no clover, just nice lush lawn. I highly recommend it.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on May 20, 2016, 08:06:54 PM
Damned services are hit and miss.  Careful.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Perspective on May 20, 2016, 08:17:24 PM
My yard is fairly small and I'm enjoying it at the moment... if it becomes a pain I'd consider trying a company.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: hans on May 20, 2016, 09:53:46 PM
I give it one season.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Jake on May 20, 2016, 11:30:39 PM
My yard is fairly small and I'm enjoying it at the moment... if it becomes a pain I'd consider trying a company.

my yard is small too (my lot is .18 acre) and I could not keep up with the dandelions - I just could not get rid of them by myself. One year with the service and they were gone.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Perspective on May 21, 2016, 07:31:39 PM
I give it one season.

:D

It takes me about 20 minutes to cut my grass, front and back. I've got all the dandelions out, just have to deal with the clover. If don't get any results with the spray I'll call a company.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: ober on May 23, 2016, 01:45:18 PM
I like my big lawn, but it takes me an hour or more to mow (partly because the battery is drained 2/3 of the way through).  I don't mind a random weed here or there but I wouldn't say my lawn has any major problems either.  Looks pretty good.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on May 23, 2016, 02:44:54 PM
Roughly a 35 minute mow.  45 with full trim, which I only perform every third or fourth mow.

Ben you been keeping the blades sharp?
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: ober on May 23, 2016, 11:25:40 PM
Yeah, although I didn't do it yet this year.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Perspective on July 11, 2018, 08:24:40 AM
I give it one season.

:D

It takes me about 20 minutes to cut my grass, front and back. I've got all the dandelions out, just have to deal with the clover. If don't get any results with the spray I'll call a company.


I still love cutting my lawn :D  But I did end up hiring a company to fertilize and weed spray. Had too much clover taking over. Now it looks great (aside from the extreme heat killing half of it, but that's the norm here).
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on July 12, 2018, 06:02:52 AM
I give it one season.

:D

It takes me about 20 minutes to cut my grass, front and back. I've got all the dandelions out, just have to deal with the clover. If don't get any results with the spray I'll call a company.


I still love cutting my lawn :D  But I did end up hiring a company to fertilize and weed spray. Had too much clover taking over. Now it looks great (aside from the extreme heat killing half of it, but that's the norm here).

How high do you mow?
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Perspective on July 12, 2018, 08:28:51 AM
I give it one season.

:D

It takes me about 20 minutes to cut my grass, front and back. I've got all the dandelions out, just have to deal with the clover. If don't get any results with the spray I'll call a company.


I still love cutting my lawn :D  But I did end up hiring a company to fertilize and weed spray. Had too much clover taking over. Now it looks great (aside from the extreme heat killing half of it, but that's the norm here).

How high do you mow?

Probably around 2.5".  We've been having extremely hot weather (like 46 C = 115 F) and almost no rain. Pretty much everyone's south facing lawn is brown. My north facing backyard is in better shape since it gets some shade from the house. I watered it last night which I don't typically do (kinda feels like a waste), but it's at the point now that I don't want to risk root damage.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: KnuckleBuckett on July 14, 2018, 05:05:59 AM
Might be wise to bump it up an inch.
Title: Re: Lawn stuff...
Post by: Perspective on July 16, 2018, 10:23:54 AM
Might be wise to bump it up an inch.

Yeah, I think 3" is ideal but I try to go a little lower so I don't have to cut as often. With the heat we've been having I should just stop mowing all together (I haven't for a couple of weeks now already).