Lawncare/Landscape Thread

[Beefsteak1138]

I might throw down some milorganite since it's slow release (I'll have to go back and see what LCN recommends). I don't want to encourage growth at this point and am not really concerned with weeds until late winter/early spring.

[GSUdawg521]

Originally Posted by M. Steng

Depending on how big of a lawn you have, I'd say just rent the aerator and do it yourself. The machine is very efficient, I think it only took about 20 minutes to do both my front and back yard. I rented it for half a day for about $60. Seed and fertilizer should run you in the $150-$200 range (again depending on how big your yard is and how much seed you need). So you'd really only be out about $200-$300 to have someone else do it, all things considered. If you think that's worth not busting your ass for a half a day then it doesn't seem too bad to me.

Originally Posted by M. Steng

Eh, fuck it, this was my mow today compared to prior to aerating about a month ago.

http://imgur.com/fp6DIMM
http://imgur.com/0DXhyXd

Forgot to come back to this thread after last posting. I got the name of a guy who does a neighbor's lawn (which I am envious of) and asked him to give me a price for aeration/seeding. I thought he would come in less than my weed control company, but he said $600. I'm not saying he's wrong or trying to gouge me, I just don't feel like I can drop that kinda coin at this time.

For some reference, if that picture you posted above is all of your front lawn, my front lawn is at least 3x that (and largely on a slope). My back yard is maybe 2x that size and flat.

I just dunno if aeration is in the cards this year.

[Ascf33]

Post a picture of your trash cans. I miss them.

[Beefsteak1138]

Originally Posted by Ascf33

Post a picture of your trash cans. I miss them.

I wonder how the owners of my old house are doing with that situation.

[scrock25]

I wish I lived closer to you so I could piss on your lawn on the reg.

[Beefsteak1138]

The weather has been warm recently. I'm thinking I'm going to have to start my lawn care regimen a bit earlier this year. Temps are going to be consistently in the 50's - 60's over the next couple of weeks, and some of my grass is already coming out of dormancy.

[scrock25]

Your fucking face is coming out of dormancy.

[Beefsteak1138]

STFU.

[Chumlee67]

Just bought a house and boy does this yard need work. Gonna be needing you guys!

[jmc419]

I'll be getting my yard machines out of storage and starting preseason maintenance soon. Anyone else work on their own equipment?

[M. Steng]

Originally Posted by jmc419

I'll be getting my yard machines out of storage and starting preseason maintenance soon. Anyone else work on their own equipment?

What does this typically entail for you? This will be my first full year at the new house and I want to make my lawns a priority. I took pretty good care of the front yard and rehabbed it from a ridiculously negligent condition beginning in April. The back yard was unsalvagable and is a mud pit at the moment so I'm going to be starting from scratch (it is also incredibly shaded back there).

[jmc419]

Originally Posted by M. Steng

What does this typically entail for you? This will be my first full year at the new house and I want to make my lawns a priority. I took pretty good care of the front yard and rehabbed it from a ridiculously negligent condition beginning in April. The back yard was unsalvagable and is a mud pit at the moment so I'm going to be starting from scratch (it is also incredibly shaded back there).

Typically consists of:

Oil change and filter
Air filter cleaning/change
Scrap/clean deck
Sharpen or change mower blades
Remove guards and blow out engine compartment and around belts
Replace any belts that may blow this season

I've got a 48 inch JD rider, a 60 inch Hustler zero turn and a push mower to go thru.

[M. Steng]

Originally Posted by jmc419

Typically consists of:

Oil change and filter
Air filter cleaning/change
Scrap/clean deck
Sharpen or change mower blades
Remove guards and blow out engine compartment and around belts
Replace any belts that may blow this season

I've got a 48 inch JD rider, a 60 inch Hustler zero turn and a push mower to go thru.

Ah, understood. When you mentioned "maintenance" I thought you meant regarding the lawn itself, not the equipment. But I should definitely start getting my mower in order in the next month or so.

[jmc419]

The only thing I do to the lawn in the spring is apply broad leaf herbicide in April or early May.

[Nick@Night]

John Deere has $500 off their X-series tractors until the end of Feb, and debating whether or not to get a X330 in place of my Cub Cadet.

[Foreverford05]

Anyone putting down any pre-emergent crabgrass pesticide this year? If so, around what time do you normally put it down? Seems like warm weather's hitting the mid-atlantic a little earlier this year.

[Beefsteak1138]

Usually mid to late March, but probably early March this year. I use Lesco pre-emergent.

[Beefsteak1138]

Originally Posted by Beefsteak1138

Usually mid to late March, but probably early March this year. I use Lesco pre-emergent.

I ordered this product for this year:

https://www.domyown.com/crabgrass-co...e-p-18791.html

Gonna throw it down this weekend.

[Foreverford05]

Originally Posted by Beefsteak1138

I ordered this product for this year:

https://www.domyown.com/crabgrass-co...e-p-18791.html

Gonna throw it down this weekend.

When you do this, do you seed afterward? Or how long do you wait?

[Beefsteak1138]

Not sure of the timing, but you won't to seed afterward. Seeding in the fall, pre-emergent in the Spring is the best option. Otherwise you probably would want to seed now, then apply the pre emergent later in the Spring.

[Beefsteak1138]

Pre-emergent went down yesterday. Hopefully I got the timing right.

[jmc419]

I've got one mower out of storage. Deck's off. Scraped clean. Welded one pinhole rust spot and am waiting on new blades and slip plate to show up so I can put it back together.

Sounds like we will see 70's next weekend.

The grass is slowly turning green again. Bring on the mowing season.

[collinsat12]

Originally Posted by Beefsteak1138

Not sure of the timing, but you won't to seed afterward. Seeding in the fall, pre-emergent in the Spring is the best option. Otherwise you probably would want to seed now, then apply the pre emergent later in the Spring.

I have a pesticide applicator license... put the pre-emergent down now. If you wait, the soil temperature will get to high and the crab grass will start to germinate. Once it germinates the pre-emergent will not kill it. You can plant grass 6 weeks after the pre-emergent is applied.

[GSUdawg521]

Originally Posted by jmc419

I've got one mower out of storage. Deck's off. Scraped clean. Welded one pinhole rust spot and am waiting on new blades and slip plate to show up so I can put it back together.

Sounds like we will see 70's next weekend.

The grass is slowly turning green again. Bring on the mowing season.

That's cute. I've been mowing since the end of February

But my front lawn is looking the best it has since we moved in. Got a few compliments over the last couple weeks.

Also bought a nice new Honda mower from a guy off Craigslist. The self-propel blows my last one out of the water. I don't even have to push up the hill, just walk behind it. Cuts so much better too. Got $120 for my old one.

[jmc419]

I'd just wait till mid May and apply a heavy mix of broadleaf herbicide.

I usually mix in insecticide at the same time for a few bands around the house.

[TimHonks]

Just purchased my first home which has a huge backyard. I'm interested in taking pride in my yard, but am a complete noob on anything outside of mowing. I plan on doing a back-read of this thread, but any tips for a beginner to get a great looking lawn?

[jmc419]

I never apply fertilizer because my yard is mainly sand and the grass grows fast enough without it.

If your yard is smaller and you don't mind mowing twice a week you could weed and feed early. Burn off any other weeds with broadleaf herbicide in May with another application in the fall.

Applying insecticide with the broadleaf helps fend off moles by keeping the grubs under control along with killing off some other annoying insects.

I would invest in a roundup sprayer as well to keep the perimeter looking nice. It also saves the time of trim mowing or running the string trimmer. Just keep up on it every few weeks, if the weeds get too tall they may need knocked down after they turn. Also worth noting that Roundup only works when the temp. is above 60º.

I use one like this - https://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-2-Ga...FYpIAQodJSsCFw

I have one dedicated to Roundup and one dedicated to broadleaf for spot spraying if needed between full yard applications.

[Foreverford05]

Originally Posted by collinsat12

I have a pesticide applicator license... put the pre-emergent down now. If you wait, the soil temperature will get to high and the crab grass will start to germinate. Once it germinates the pre-emergent will not kill it. You can plant grass 6 weeks after the pre-emergent is applied.

I just laid down pre-emergent yesterday, I hope it's not too late. It's been hovering around 30's/low 40's in the night and not really creeping much above the 40's recently until today. I just hope I got enough down early enough for the MD crabgrass breeding period. Which is terrible.

[M. Steng]

Raking and pre-emergent today. A little chilly but it’s great to be back outside working the yard!

[Beefsteak1138]

Nice! I literally just ordered some Ringer Lawn Restore, and am going to pick up some Milo today.