Lawns - Fertility
Back to Lawns

  (January) I had a bumper crop of crabgrass in my front yard last year that I don't want to return. I put a pre-emerge on it in the late winter, but it came up anyway. With the dry summer, the crabgrass grew better than my 31Fescue(shade)and common Bermuda(sun). I dragged out the MSMA and it ended up doing a better job on the fescue than on the crabgrass. What would you suggest to take care of this problem ? Also what fertilizer regimen do you suggest for yards? With recent warm  weather...I'm seeing green weeds...can I use roundup on them and not kill surrounding grasses?

  It is easier to deal with crabgrass in warm season grasses than cool. February through March is the time to put out a pre-emergent herbicide for crabgrass, but you need to use caution around the fescue, since we often overseed it. Pre-emergent products are only recommended for well established lawns. If you had tons of crabgrass, you can do a split application of the pre-emergent, using some in February and a lighter dose in April. Any crabgrass that still makes it can be controlled with MSMA, but only on the Bermuda--it is not recommended on fescue. There are some other products that can be used on fescue, but it is usually hard on the fescue, since you are applying them during fescues toughest season--summer. If you have green in your Bermuda now, you can spot spray with Round-up, but only on Bermuda--no other lawn grass, especially fescue, which should be green and growing now. As for fertilization, fertilize Bermuda when it completely greens up--typically April or early May, then again in June and August, if you want to. Fescue is a cool season lawn and we typically fertilize in the fall and early spring, stopping with the onset of summer. You may want to get a copy of the lawn care calendars from your local county extension office, or visit our web site at www.uaex.edu.

  (May) Our lawn grass is starting to green up (zoysia in the front yard and Bermuda in the back). I'd like to broadcast a fertilizer now. Is this the right time? Should I put out a "weed and feed" product or fertilizer only?

  Now that we have had some good rains, the lawns are getting really green. Now is the time to begin fertilizing your lawn. I would opt for a separate fertilizer, instead of the weed and feed. If you do have tons of weeds, you can use a weed and feed, if the product kills weeds -- not prevents them. Keep in mind that many of the weeds now are winter weeds which should begin to die out. If you have perennial dandelions and wild onions, you can still use the broadleaf weed killer, 2,4‑D. There are a few weed and feed products with 2,4‑D in them, but you need a weed killer now, not a pre‑emergent. Many of the weed and feed combinations link the fertilizer with a pre‑emergent, so read the label. I like using the individual products, fertilizer and herbicide separately, but it is up to you. Use a slow release high nitrogen fertilizer.

Back to Lawns