Crabgrass help!

[QC]

Re: Crabgrass help!

Did you read my post.

Yes. Not sure how I have not followed, I understand about the Crab till as that is what happened to my beautifully fresh seeded lawn. But I didn't say till, I said kill. As in a small nuclear reaction to prevent life of any form for a temporary period, then sod over that. I guess I am confused. When a builder comes in here and bulldozes a hill, they stick sod on top of the newly "tilled" (read bulldozed) earth. What have I missed? I was gonna have him pre-emerge kill and roundup kill everything, then sod over that nuclear waste of a yard . . .

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Crabgrass help!

Have you looks into Trugreen Chemlawn? I don't know if they operates in your areas but they do a very good job for me. They come out and apply whatever neccessary to keep the lawn looks good 4 times/year at a cost of 30 bucks for each application. This should be a much more economical alternative.

 

[turfman]

Re: Crabgrass help!

Yes. Not sure how I have not followed, I understand about the Crab till as that is what happened to my beautifully fresh seeded lawn. But I didn't say till, I said kill. As in a small nuclear reaction to prevent life of any form for a temporary period, then sod over that. I guess I am confused. When a builder comes in here and bulldozes a hill, they stick sod on top of the newly "tilled" (read bulldozed) earth. What have I missed? I was gonna have him pre-emerge kill and roundup kill everything, then sod over that nuclear waste of a yard . . .

You can certainly resod; but you'll still have to get on a program. Do you think your guy can get you on a program and get the present turf stand back in shape. Realistically you are still tilling the soil when you strip sod, prep, and lay new sod.

What I mean is, unless you have 80% infestation; there is no need to resod and spend more money. You just have to establish a program that inhibits the seed from germinating. Even if you missed it this year, your turf guy can spray a herbicide like drive and clean it up for the time being until the program can be started. Any good turf guy can work with what you've got and turn you around within a year.

I don't know how big your property is, but lets say its 5000 ft of turf. I would bill $100 for a crabgrass program for the year including post emerg clean up. Now lets throw in the rest of the stuff. Grubs, fert, trees & ornamentals, broadleaf, etc. You're looking at $700 - 1000 for the year depending on what you want; and you're done.

I'll guess new sod can be laid for roughly .50 - .75 cents a foot. You're looking at $2500 right out of the gate and still have to get on a program.

All I'm saying is stop giving the gardner your money. If he can't get you on a program to your satisfaction; then its time to find someone else.

I'll also say that most of my customers are guys like you; frustrated with their previuos lawncare company and need a change. Most have wanted to go the same route as you and resod the lawn; after I explained the pro's and cons of both sides, most have let me work with what is already there. And that is really what it's all about in the first place.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Crabgrass help!

I've had good luck killing crabgrass by ensuring that my whole lawn is dead... yeah, that hasn't really been working out too well for me.

Hmmmm..... That sounds like a good idea. I hate grass cutting. If I had the money I would pave it with blacktop!

 

[QC]

Re: Crabgrass help!

All I'm saying is stop giving the gardener your money. If he can't get you on a program to your satisfaction; then its time to find someone else.

That I totally agree on . . . I mentioned that I want to get something out of this guy as I already spent a grand, sooooo, I want him to do the back breaking work.

I need to regroup here for you guys as this thread was sooooo dead . . .

Initially I only had a crabgrass problem, and I was trying to stop that in its tracks as my new seed had taken hold and looked pretty good. That's when I probably should've switched to a service like Chemlawn. Good advice and one that I should've followed 20 years ago when I bought my first house and it was first suggested. Like my boat though, I figure I can do these things myself . . . This is one that I obviously can't.

I am guessing now that I do have in the neighborhood of 80% infestation, including dead spots from the dormant crab that went nuts last year when the guy seeded. I don't want to do sod, although I probably only have about 3500 Sq. ft. to cover. If I could save what I have I would do it in a heartbeat. I hate the rip it out, tear it down, trade it in, buy new syndrome . . .

 

[turfman]

Re: Crabgrass help!

80% is a discusting amount of weeds. Like you said, make him do the work to put it back right. If any of my lawns had 20% crabgrass, I'd be out of business.

Another thing. Chemlawn, Scotts, Lawndoctor and big box companies like them do a good basic job; but it ends there. For a hard case like yours, I'd go with a good reputable private company.

 

[QC]

Re: Crabgrass help!

OK, I am going to reassess my level of infestation. I want my kids to learn stuff from this too, as again I hate the always gotta have new deal.

BTW, I have dogs too. Any advice in this area regarding lawns? I have tried to train them to relieve themselves in a certain area and on concrete, they actually get it . . . However, my problem is Mrs. QC, she is actually pretty much potty trained, but she won't stick with the dog program and lets them out in the back . . . She's right though as of course they need to run and supervise the fence etc.

 

[DJ]

Re: Crabgrass help!

QC,

Turfman is right. The problem lies in what was tilled under and is still there.

For serious infestations, you have to really treat the soil. That really means sterilizing it and starting over building the nutrient base back. I liken it to chemotherapy for the lawn.

That is also expensive. You can get the infestation under control, in other ways but it will take time, a lot of time.

If it were me, I'd till it and kill it. Then start over.

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Crabgrass help!

my two cents..

there are 2 types of grasses..

warm
centipede, zoysia,
grow in the summer months
dormant in winter (brown lawns)
produce very thick lawns
need full blasting sun
IMPORTANT - spread by stolons - they put out a branch, root, branch root, they eventually fill in (creep) in the entire lawn.

Cool
fescue, rye, bluegrass
grow in fall and spring and (winter if it is not too cold)
dormant in summer (it goes brown)
does not like high summer heat.
IMPORTANT - grows from SEED only, it will not spread or creep, it may clump but that is it.

The bare dirt in between your fescue is PRIME real estate for ANY thing to grow, think about it , good soil, water, fertilizer...

There are two ways to combat crabgrass - remember crabrass is an annual in the winter it will die back, so premergent in the early spring and it spreads by seed so NO BARE DIRT

1 - pre emergent - This creates a chemical barrier on the lawn so that ANY plant trying to grow dies.

There are 3 keys to premergent
1 - you have to apply it evenly, miss and spot and weeds will grow, so get a good rotary NOT DROP spreader, apply 1/2 in 1 direction 1/2 in the other

2 - it only lasts for so long, the bag usually states how long, but heavy rains will wash it away quicker, so you may need to reapply.

3 - If the crab grass is already there it will not kill it, remember it is only a pre emergent.


2 - weed killer - Once the crab grass is established - it is getting the same nutrients as your lawn so it will take some time to die out. Again good rotary spreader, 1/2 one way 1/2 the other. Make sure it is prior to a LIGHT rain, a heavy rain will wash it away.

Plus if it rains heavy after that you may need to reapply.


3 - once summer is here you can go with spot treatments.

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THe main issue is bare dirt, any bare dirt will be a prime spot to grow crab grass.

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Fertilizers - the more expensive brands have better quality mfg and you get a better more consistent coverage area.

--------------------

In the fall - or early spring, rent a slit seeder, use that, 1/2 one way 1/2 the other.

Read the seed bag - any bag older then 6 months do NOT buy.

Good luck

TOmatolord

 

[turfman]

Re: Crabgrass help!

As far as the dogs go I'm at a loss also. My lawn looks like a golf course fairway;( Low Mow Bluegrass) with the excetpion of tinkle spots from the females. I've tried everything as a suppliment to neutralize the uratic acid, but I don't think its possible and safe for the dogs. One thing that seemed to make it better was giving the dogs tomato juice. Doesn't make sense either; giving an acid an acid. But it does seem to work, and the dogs are now addicted to a little tomato juice in their food. Its the salts in the urine combined with the uratic acid and estrogen that kills the grass in one way or the other.

There is a safer roundup type chemical that uses the same principle using a slightly ionized salt solution. I called them and asked if there is a neutralizing solution for this chemical. The awnser was, no.

 

[QC]

Re: Crabgrass help!

Thanks guys, I am digesting, then I'll update with progress etc.

Not sure why I ever buy Roundup, I should simply bottle up some of that ***** **** . . . stuff is amazingly effective.

Edit: The forum automatically eliminates the word for female dog which in this case I was using correctly . . .

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Crabgrass help!

males pee ON things posts, trees, bushes, etc and they dont pee all at once. they hold it back to mark things, moving around the yard etc.

females squat and release all at once in one spot.

There are products that help with this pills and other treatments.

The reason the dogs pick the grass is because it is a nice soft place to "go"

You can train them to go to particular spot and "go" outside of the grass.

Tomatolord