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MY LAWN
BY
Usually in March I run my column on “Lawn Care by Holidays”. I
have been properly informed that doing lawn care on certain dates may be
easy to follow, but may not be the most efficient and economical. I
agree with them but I have found that with certain stipulations it is an
easy way to remember
approximately
when to do what.
The lawn care companies have been on the phone and calling all
their old customers as well as new ones. Their advertisements are
starting to come in the mail and be in all the newspapers. Also the
garden centers, hardware stores, and box stores are all stocked up and
ready to sell you a 4-step program, a 5-step program or even a 6 step
program. Remember that these heavily advertised, 4-step, 5-step, and
6-step programs have been great marketing tools for the garden centers,
hardware stores, box stores, lawn care companies and especially the
fertilizer manufacturers but are not necessarily good for your lawn and
the environment. Whether you do it yourself or have a lawn care service,
do not contract for more chemicals and services than you really need.
More is not better, and do not put the first step on too early. Also
remember you are the one paying the bill and should be the one to decide
what and how to take care of your lawn.
MY RECOMMENDED 5 STEP PROGRAM
1.
Arbor
(a) Team or Pendimethalin is the active ingredient in
(b)
(c) Bonide now has a product called “Weedbeater Complete” that
prevents the germination of Crabgrass seed in the spring
and suppresses
the germination of the Yellow Nutsedge nutlets. The active ingredients
in “Weedbeater Complete” are Prodiamine (found in Barricade), and
Sulfentrazone (found in Dismiss that is an agricultural/farm product).
Sulfentrazone is a pre-emergent that also has some post-emergent
qualities. This has been used in agriculture for a number of years and
now is being used on turfgrass. As mentioned above, it
will suppress the germination of
the Yellow Nutsedge nutlets.
Prodiamine is a very good
pre-emergent product and has the longest residual (about 90 days) of any
turfgrass pre-emergent. This product with Sulfentrazone costs almost the
same as the regular Barricade pre-emergent.
When you apply “Weedbeater Complete” and other pre-emergent
crabgrass products, is important!!! Both Crabgrass and Yellow Nut Sedge
starts to germinate when the
soil temperature is
55 degrees F. for 4 or 5 consecutive days. This product, when applied at
the right time and according to label instructions, will also control or
suppress the germination of Chickweed, Foxtail, Knotweed, numerous
Sedges, Pigweed, Purslane, Speedwell, Prostrate Spurge, and Goosegrass.
If you apply it too early the chemicals will be weak in
2.
Memorial
When we have a Spring that is wet and cool, Crabgrass and Yellow
Nutsedge germinate later than usual and this second application of
pre-emergent is extremely important. The years I have not put on a
Memorial Day application I had a bumper crop of weeds germinate in late
June, July, and for the rest of the Summer.
3.
July 4th:
Apply a preventative grub
control containing Merit or Mach II but without fertilizer, between July
4th and July 15th. Most of the grubs we have are the Masked Chafer
larvae from eggs laid by
4. LABOR
5.
This same lawn schedule will work with a Turf Type Tall Fescue
lawn. In future articles I will deal with mowing, watering, weeding,
fungus control and other lawn care practices.
For more information on planting, growing, and maintenance of
cool season grasses such as Kentucky Bluegrass, and Turf Type Fescue
contact your local County Extension Office or go to
“www.ianrpubs.unl.edu”. On the left in the search box type in the kind
of grass you have. Click search and many University of Nebraska-Lincoln
publications will be available for viewing and printing. Copyright 2013 |