2018 Pre-M Countdown!
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No forsythia and no pre-m for me yet in central NJ. gddtracker.net is reporting now is a good time, but I'm holding out until the snow melts and forsythia blooms.
Rutgers posted an interesting blog a few days ago about this quandary. They're in the "hold your horses" mode too.
Rutgers posted an interesting blog a few days ago about this quandary. They're in the "hold your horses" mode too.
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CNJ (08816), pre-m is going down as soon as the snow melts. I am seeing forsythia shrub's start to bud around me.
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Buffalo, NY.........nope. Maybe by June at this rate. :roll:
I'm totally not concerned about this.
According to the GDD tracker for Crabgrass Pre, I'm at 215 GDD, and therefore almost at the green "target" range (220).
But CT is lagging behind NJ, RI, LI, and Eastern MA this year. The grass is not totally green yet, the Forsythia haven't bloomed yet, there's still some snow around, and 4-5 inch soil temps are mostly in the 30s and 40s. Also, I haven't bought my pre-M yet. Actually, that doesn't matter because I'm planning to use Tenacity for the first round anyway.
@GrassDaddy posted a great video recently listing various soil temps at which things happen (like CG germination starting at 50F). I'm planning to re-watch it and jot them all down.
I do have a couple of questions for you guys, though...
How deep should we be measuring soil temps when it comes to CG germination potential?
As far as the design of the GDD tracker, what is the deal with the "Over" category when it comes to pre-M? My gut feeling says as long as it's watered in before CG germination actually starts, there's no issue. And with Dimension, you can actually get away with applying and watering in as the germination process is occurring. But what about Prodiamine? Does it have to be applied before you get into the "Over" level? Then there's "Done", which I've always assumed means you're too late.
According to the GDD tracker for Crabgrass Pre, I'm at 215 GDD, and therefore almost at the green "target" range (220).
But CT is lagging behind NJ, RI, LI, and Eastern MA this year. The grass is not totally green yet, the Forsythia haven't bloomed yet, there's still some snow around, and 4-5 inch soil temps are mostly in the 30s and 40s. Also, I haven't bought my pre-M yet. Actually, that doesn't matter because I'm planning to use Tenacity for the first round anyway.
@GrassDaddy posted a great video recently listing various soil temps at which things happen (like CG germination starting at 50F). I'm planning to re-watch it and jot them all down.
I do have a couple of questions for you guys, though...
How deep should we be measuring soil temps when it comes to CG germination potential?
As far as the design of the GDD tracker, what is the deal with the "Over" category when it comes to pre-M? My gut feeling says as long as it's watered in before CG germination actually starts, there's no issue. And with Dimension, you can actually get away with applying and watering in as the germination process is occurring. But what about Prodiamine? Does it have to be applied before you get into the "Over" level? Then there's "Done", which I've always assumed means you're too late.
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@green about 2 inches. Crabgrass germinates on the top layer so it's not like soil sampling.
As for over/under there are different temps when crabgrass germinates. Just like regular grass the germination % increases as it warms. So even if you are late you prevent some but the later you are the higher % already germinated.
As for over/under there are different temps when crabgrass germinates. Just like regular grass the germination % increases as it warms. So even if you are late you prevent some but the later you are the higher % already germinated.
Lots of snow on the ground, no forsythia buds, and the tracker has me at least a week away.
Edited to add location as Western Pennsylvania.
Edited to add location as Western Pennsylvania.
I applied mine the day before St. Patty's day. I was two days early per the GDD tracker but I had a severe case of crabgrass in my back yard. I wanted to get it down early enough and the soil temps were reaching 50 degrees on warm days. I also intend to apply a second application late April/early May to ensure I get all season coverage. GDD is saying optimal time for me will be around the 28th so I'm only a little more than a week early. I'm not going to worry about it. 
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Forsythia showing some yellow buds here in New Brunswick, temperatures increasing every day for the next 7 days. Gonna try and get Tenacity down on Sunday if the ground isn't too soft.
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Like the other NJ bros, I'm waiting for the snow to melt then it's going down! SNJ here.
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MN here too. First time putting down pre-M.stotea said:
Surely it isn't May for real... :shock:
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