[AVguy]

So, late in the season to start this but here we go...

I'm near Birmingham, AL and l've always appreciated a nice lawn and wanted my own. We Bought this house 2 years ago with nice looking, tall bermuda grass. Everyone around here seems to think that's what you should do with bermuda- mow high and infrequently. Most people think it's a chore that must be done rather than an enjoyable thing you get to do frequently. Anyhow, the previous owner used a service to spray and kept it high and relatively weed free. I have never and don't plan to ever pay anyone to treat my lawn. It's one of those things I take pride in being able to do myself.

This is my first year reel mowing and fertilizing and lots of other stuff. I started reading about "reel low bermuda" and found a deal on a TruCut P20 mower which came with a electric blower and weedeater(both stihl brand). I started the season by scalping really early. When I say "scalp" I mean from 3" to the dirt. Then I bought a sunjoe dethatcher/scarifier. I tore up the yard really good with that and got the neighbors all thinking I had a few screws loose(which I just may). Then I got a deal on a Ryan greens aerator. poked a bunch of holes in the lawn and threw out some milo.

Other new toys... I mean tools for this year(I love tools):
John deer(made by Mclane) 3K edger
Scotts DLX spreader with edge guard
Homelite Chainsaw
Yard Machines Chipper/Shredder
Troy Built electric tiller
Toro Greensmaster Flex21(about to be for sale)
Toro Greensmaster 1000(about to be my long term mower)- came with a 2nd parts mower.
Pro Plugger(Father's Day gift!)

Everything was very cheap. Craigslist, thrift store, etc... I also have spent very little money on fert and chemicals. I'm cheap and I want this not to be too complicated. This is fun for me and I want it to stay that way and not break the budget. Gotta feed 4 kids.

I'll try to get some current pics tomorrow. I didn't take pictures before or during the spring overhaul. Here's how it looked on Memorial Day:


I'll add more history later. Don't want to make the first post a novel. More details to follow....

 

[AVguy]

Today:
First mow with the GM1000(13/16" measured HOC), edge, trim, blow. I missed "fertilizer Friday" yesterday so I'm about to 'thro er down'. I'm spooning weekly with .25N of 29-0-5 in the front yard and .5N on my putting green project in the back.

 

[Ral1121]

Already looking good

 

[AVguy]

Already looking good

Thanks. It's still kinda recovering from my scalping it with the flex21. I'd planned to raise the HOC over the summer and was scheduled to be at 1" by now. Still around 5/8". Maybe all this rain and fert will help get it going a little more.

 

[AVguy]

Got a Pro Plugger for fathers' day so I did some plugging this afternoon.

 

[AVguy]

Just for fun:
https://youtu.be/Gqz3XABpRaQ

 

[AVguy]

Happy Sunday! Here are some pics.

 

[Colonel K0rn]

Happy Sunday! Here are some pics.

:thumbup: Got the whole crew lined up there!

 

[AVguy]

:thumbup: Got the whole crew lined up there!

Yup. #2(flex21) is for sale. Just need to get her cleaned up and take some pics.

 

[AVguy]

I just wanted to make a post on a topic that may be frouned upon by some. So I put it here in my Journal.

I'm not knocking anyone else' approach, but there seems to be lots of emphasis on chemicals and fert and products and processes. While I understand they all serve a purpose and have a place, I also think you can have a lawn to be proud of without breaking the bank and dumping every popular elixir into your soil and onto your blades.

Here's what I've applied this year:
1) I started by missing my pre-emergent last fall for poa anua, but I didn't know better. Poa was pretty bad for a while this spring.
2) 2 applications of milorganite early in spring to wake up the Bermuda slowly but way early(scalped early too)
3) I got some ferrous iron sulfate heptahydrate to kill a bunch of moss and that worked well and fast. It also made the grass really green really fast, so I've done that a couple times.
4) lime to fix the PH a little. 2-40lb bags over 3 applications.
5) Sta-Green 29-0-5 with 2% iron. Started out full rate and went to spoon feeding 1/4N weekly('fertilizer friday').
6) weed killers:
24D-quinclorac/dicamba mix
Bayer Advaced Season Long weed control(contains isoxaben as a pre-emergent for chamberbitter which has been a huge issue but getting control slowly)
7) Water/Sun/time/mow reel low and often

What I haven't done(not bashing those who have):
PGR/RGS/micros/compost/sand/urine(@HDmoviesource)/other common or weird stuff

All that not to say anything negative about those who spend crazy amounts of cash on really effective chemicals that make you sound really smart when you mention them in conversation with lay folks(non-lawn nutz). But for me, this year, simple has been fun and rewarding. My lawn is as good as I could have hoped for and I can't imagine a huge return on anything except maybe PGR, but I love mowing very often, so I don't expect to do that anytime soon. Now if I can just get a handle on the poa anua and chamberbitter next year that will be ultimate dominaation!

 

[CARL HD MOVIE SOURCE]

I hear ya, I want to natural on my lawn, however I really don't know how bad the weeds will be this year. While Im learning lawn care Im willing to test new things, but Im trying not to go the chemical route.

 

[Noclssgt]

I agree.
I don't put a ton down on my lawn. I've put a total of 1 bag rate app of milo, an app of ringer to get my potash up, a fungicide and Scott's max green fert app. Oh and a grub-ex app. I spot treat for some weeds that have came up and I did a prodiamine and dithopyr app this year. I too did not do a pre emergent app in the fall due to overseeding and poa annua was horrible this year.

I haven't done all these crazy apps of stuff either, double bag rate milo, rgs is too expensive for me, I have compost but it's for the garden and flower beds. I'm happy with my lawn, especially as far as its came.

 

[Ware]

Happy Sunday! Here are some pics.

...I also think you can have a lawn to be proud of without breaking the bank and dumping every popular elixir into your soil and onto your blades.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

 

[dfw_pilot]

+1 AVguy. Simplicity is often the best answer.

Human nature refuses to believe that simple often trumps the complicated. The basic precept of the New Testament is that lawn care doesn't have to be highly technical for 99% of DIYers. Literally getting into the weeds on product labels is fine, but only once the major basics are established. If not, we are simply measuring with a micrometer to then cut with an axe. Get the basics right, and the rest falls into place.

Cheers.

 

[AVguy]

I hear ya, I want to natural on my lawn, however I really don't know how bad the weeds will be this year. While Im learning lawn care Im willing to test new things, but Im trying not to go the chemical route.

I hear that crabgrass seeds can pass though the digestive tract. Just sayin.

 

[CARL HD MOVIE SOURCE]

I hear ya, I want to natural on my lawn, however I really don't know how bad the weeds will be this year. While Im learning lawn care Im willing to test new things, but Im trying not to go the chemical route.

I hear that crabgrass seeds can pass though the digestive tract. Just sayin.

Haha.

 

[Gunther]

That's a good looking lawn @AVguy, I bet it looks good from across the street.

 

[AVguy]

That's a good looking lawn @AVguy, I bet it looks good from across the street.

One day my neighbor made me come look at my yard from his porch. He was right... looks better from over there.

 

[AVguy]

Mom wasn't super happy about the flamingos in general, but when the girls went out to pet them right after bath time apparently that wasn't her favorite either.



Also got my build complete on my battery backpack sprayer. Seems to work great with water. Will try some chemicals his weekend hopefully. Need to spray some weeds and put out some bifen. Maybe an iron app if I have time.

 

[Rackhouse Mayor]

So when do we get to see the putting green project?