Happy New Year! It’s going to be a great 2014 season for you and your lawn, right? What will be your New Year’s resolutions for your lawn?
We heard a lot of complaints about crabgrass this past year. Did you know crabgrass only grows in sunny areas so you do not need to apply preventer all over your lawn if you have shaded areas? Crabgrass plants can germinate even into the month of August, wow! If you have had a continuing problem with crabgrass, that means you need to follow a split application program or applyJonathan Green Crabgrass Preventer plus Green-Up Lawn Fertilizer two times during the spring season for optimum control. The timing for these applications would be in April and then again in early June to extend control into August. Some crabgrass preventers do prevent or suppress certain broadleaf weeds too. Remember, you cannot apply grass seed for 3-4 months after these applications unless you use a preventer that contains Tupersan like our Crabgrass Preventer plus New Seeding Lawn Fertilizer.
Weed & Feed is used to feed the existing lawn and control broadleaf weeds. Did you apply Weed & Feed and expect to control crabgrass? Grassy weeds such as crabgrass and broadleaf weeds require two different types of control. If you do not know the difference between grassy weeds and broadleaf weeds check them out on the Internet. Broadleaf weeds have a more defined leaf and have a “flowering” aspect to them like dandelions, clover, chickweed and more. Broadleaf weed controls need to be applied when the weeds are actively growing. This makes it more difficult to control weeds in early spring weather when the temperatures are below 50 degrees. Did you apply a broadleaf weed control in the heat and stress of summer and scorched your lawn too? Do not apply any broadleaf weed controls if the temperatures are over 85 degrees. You also have the option of applying broadleaf weed control granules without any fertilizer with Jonathan Green Lawn Weed Control.
Are grubs the problem you cannot seem to fix? Did you apply a product too early or too late for optimum control? Did you read the complete label for application tips and proper timing? Did you apply a surface feeding insect control that is not labeled for grub control? You need to understand the life cycle of the grub in order to best eliminate them. Grubs start their journey to the soil surface in late spring to reproduce. Apply Jonathan Green Grub Control at this time to disrupt this reproductive cycle. If grubs are present at the surface during the year when you rake the lawn or see them in landscape beds, be sure to use a product labeled for quick kill not extended control.
Has fungus been a headache for years? Lawns prone to fungus tend to get fungus again over time from spring through fall. You can prevent this by applying Jonathan Green Lawn Fungus Control from late spring every 30 days or so through the summer. Don’t be fooled and waste money; properly identify the fungus because fungus damage can also look like heat and drought stress or insect damage too.
We can kill all of the weeds, insects and fungus and have a lot of bare spots and other lawn problems. Why is this the case? Have you ever addressed the condition of the soil? Who still has never taken a pH test of their lawn soil? Many lawns do not utilize the nutrients you feed them if the soil pH is too low or too high. There are many great soil amendments available to correct soil problems like Mag-I-Cal and Love Your Lawn-Love Your Soil. Who promised they would re-seed their lawn with improved varieties like Black Beauty Grass Seed and still not get around to it? We saw some great lawn renovations this past fall when the proper preparations took place. Quality grass seed, good seed-to-soil contact and improving the soil to grow a better lawn are the key.
We hope you can accomplish the lawn of your dreams this year, good luck!
my husband shovels a large area for our small pups all winter. It is very brown but he was careful with the grass. What can I use to get that area green like the rest of the lawn when the snow melts. I was thinking of putting something on that area and then throwing snow on top of it to water in when it starts melting
Hi Nancy – To jump start your lawn this spring you can apply Green-Up Lawn Fertilizer. Wait until the snow has melted and then apply Green-Up. The other thing to consider is the soil. It will be in need of some TLC after all of the snow. An application of Mag-I-Cal and Love Your Lawn-Love Your Soil will help improve the overall quality of the soil and in turn the lawn.
I just applied your organic love your lawn product. When is it safe to apply the 1st step of your 4 step lawn program?
Hi Mark – You can apply the Crabgrass Preventer plus Green-Up Lawn Fertilizer the same day you applied the Love Your Lawn-Love Your Soil product. We would recommend waiting a few more weeks to apply the Crabgrass Preventer as this product controls crabgrass before and after it germinates. Crabgrass does not begin to germinate until the soil temperature is warmer and continues germinating through August. If you delay the application a few weeks you will control crabgrass and extend your window of control later into the summer when it is really needed.
I resodded my yard this spring with Empire Zoysia, The yard is 70% great but the landscaper that laid the sod didn’t put the squares close enough together and weeds have been growing in the bare spots. The weeds are pulled before the yard is mowed but they seem to come back.
I’d like to put down the Lawn Weed Control which is listed as good for Spring, Summer and Fall. I live in Jacksonville Florida, it is over 80 degrees between April and October. Can I apply this in the summer? I use an organic fertilizer so I didn’t need the weed & feed.
Thanks!
Hi SPVANDERWAHL – We would not recommend Lawn Weed Control for your lawn situation. Most likely you have more grassy weeds and a spray control would be better suited for the job. Your local independent garden center will be able to recommend the best product for your lawn.
Hello,
I recently purchased a home in northern Iowa. The majority of the lawn is doing okay, but we do have some spots that need some TLC. Mainly the high traffic areas around the driveway that had the snow removed over the past few winters. I also plan on re-seeding bare spots with Black Beauty Ultra. What would you recommend applying as a fertilizer to those rough spots. (Magical?)Also any tips once I plant Black Beauty on the bare spots? I do plan on leveling off the bare spots with peat dirt before seeding.
Thanks!
Hi Seth – We would recommend waiting to seed until this fall. That is the best time to seed the lawn because we are past the hot summer stressors like temperature, bugs, fungus, etc. When you seed also apply New Seeding Lawn Fertilizer, Mag-I-Cal and Love Your Lawn-Love Your Soil. All can be done on the same day. Be sure you do not bury the seeds and cover no more than a quarter of an inch with soil. For more seeding and watering tips check out this helpful page: http://jonathangreen.com/image/filecollections/Jonathan%20Green%20Seeding%20and%20Watering%20Tips.pdf
I put too much of you Weed and Feed on my lawn. Now I have brown lines where I applied too much.
What can I do to get rid of the brown lines?
Bernie, Water your lawn like crazy and if the over application did nit harm the roots, it will survive.