Congratulations on the baby!
Even with this cool down it looks like we're gonna have an early spring.

 

Mowed for the first time today. HOC was 2.75". The color still isn't there yet. A few areas have turned green and are growing good but it's not even. Still have to remember it's only March.





Also applied 2 pounds per K of Lesco Stonewall 14-0-7 with .43% prodiamine. This equals about .28 LBS of N and 2 1/2 months of control, I will apply again in late May or early June to get me through August.

Cleaned up some flower beds and spread Preen. I plan on buying a bag of snapshot and seeing how that works in the flower beds.

 

2nd mow of the season. HOC 2.75". Color coming along nicely now.

 

I can never figure out why some grass greens faster than others. I have some patches that grow super fast, super thick and super early. I had to start mowing a couple weeks ago just to keep some areas about 15'x5' from getting so thick they bog the mower down. I always feel silly getting the mower out for 2 small spots.

 

A little windy today but still enjoying the Spring day. Our magnolia tree starting to bloom.

 

Mow #3. HOC 3". It's been pretty dry the last week or so. Gonna need some rain soon.





Also haven't given an update on my Mazama since last fall. HOC about 2". Like last year it's much slower to wake up then my fescue.

 

Man I finally broke down and watered this morning. With all the wind and lack of rain, things are getting dry.

 

@SEKBrian yeah I got a few dirt areas with cracks in them already. Just a week or two ago we had more then enough rain. Nothing real promising in the 7 day forecast either.

 

This morning I dug up some poa. Filled the holes with top soil and added some TTTF/PRG seed.

Also mowed today. HOC was 3". Had to double cut it. Lawn starting to look good. Will start spot spraying weeds maybe on Sunday.

 

Mowed. My lawn is so uneven it makes the stripes look like crap but oh well.

 

Looks good to me. The lack of sun yesterday definitely was not helping the stripes pop.

 

Was out of town all week so finally got around to mowing today.

 

Been awhile since I posted an update to some of my test plot areas. First is the Mazama. I think it's just a KBG thing but it's been slower to get going compared to the TTTF but is getting there.



Next is the other test plot area. From closest to farthest away is 90/10 TTTF/KBG mix, then 100% KBG, then 100% TTTF, then farthest is the Zoysia. At this stage in the game the 100% fescue is by far and away the best.



Here is a closeup of the Zoysia. Most of it looks to have survived the winter and is slowly coming out of dormancy.



If I get bored in the Fall I thought about killing off the TTTF and KBG plots and going 100% PRG. I will then mow the PRG and Zoysia at the same height.

 

Sprayed glyphosate on a few areas of Poa Triv in my backyard area. Had a couple areas 2 years ago that I killed off and then all off a sudden this Spring I have it everywhere in this section of the yard. I was going to wait until Fall but from what I read you get a better kill if you treat in the Spring.

 

How is your lawncare maintenance different between the 100% KBG test plot and Mazamba section?

The test plot gets minimal care. So, only extra waterings during the worst parts of summer? Any other care?

Is your Mazamba section irrigated? Does it get more shade than the test plot? More fertilizer applications, etc. It looks really good. The test plot KBG not so much.

I'm trying to get an idea of how well KBG does on its own with minimal care in the transition zone.

 

@moedank fert and weed control are the same. The mazama is not irrigated but I did water it more then the test plot area. Also I applied fungicides in the Mazama area last year when I started seeing some Dollar spot but none applied in test plot. Mazama gets a lot more shade then the test plot. Also test plot is Baron KBG so not really a new, elite variety.

This will be my 3rd year with the test plot. Every year by the end of May it had thickened up and looks pretty good and them by the end of August that left side thins out. The first year I treated the right side with the N-XT products so thought maybe that was why but last year it was treated the same and still lost the left side. This is what it looked like August 6th

 

What was your fungicide plan on your Mazama and when did you start applying them? It looked great last year and still does!

 

Interesting. Thanks for the response. Debating if I want to attempt a KBG front main yard, which is only approximately 1700 sqft. Though, it is non irrigated, full sun and has frequent moderate to high winds, so pretty dry conditions. I prefer to only manually irrigate when absolutely needed, say 3-5 infrequent times throughout the summer.

Is any of your Mazamba in full sun like your fescue? If not, how do you think it would handle it?

 

What was your fungicide plan on your Mazama and when did you start applying them? It looked great last year and still does!

@SEKBrian Didn't really have a plan. Just kind of winged it. In late May after I started noticing some issues I applied the granular propiconazle, then 2 weeks later applied Scotts Disease X. Also did that in June. After that I was good until July 21st when I had to spray 1oz of Prop per 1k sqft. Did that again 2 weeks later. On the last spray I mixed in some urea which equaled about .1 LBS of N.

Last year was really the first year I've ever messed with fungicides so didn't have a plan. My KBG did pretty good but my TTTF was a disaster. I had brown spot bad. I tried to treat it with Scott's Disease X but it was too late. This year I will watch the Dollar Spot Model and will probably do preventative apps from most of Mid May through August. I scored a good deal on Scott's Disease X last year so bought several bags of it.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the response. Debating if I want to attempt a KBG front main yard, which is only approximately 1700 sqft. Though, it is non irrigated, full sun and has frequent moderate to high winds, so pretty dry conditions. I prefer to only manually irrigate when absolutely needed, say 3-5 infrequent times throughout the summer.

Is any of your Mazamba in full sun like your fescue? If not, how do you think it would handle it?

@moedank With that small of area if KBG is what you want I think it's at least worth trying.

Also I would say maybe 1/4 to 1/2 of the Mazama plot receives 75% or more sunlight throughout the day in the summer. It held up pretty good. I would say the areas that received slightly more shade were a little thicker but I did not have any of it die off or anything. I didn't water a crazy amount. Maybe 1 or 2 good soakings a week if we didn't get much rain. Didn't water it anymore then my TTTF front yard.

 

Mowed today. 3" HOC. Mowed twice and really burned in the stripes.

 

Looking good!

 

@ksturfguy That sounds like the same plan I am going to follow this year so that gives me confidence. I have been checking the Smith-Kearns model and thanks to the higher temps and rain we got this week, we are already having some pressure. I dropped a Disease Ex/Propi combi last weekend to get an early jump on things. Tractor supply was basically giving disease ex away last year so I stocked up as well.

 

Looking good!

Thanks @Butter , Your lawn is looking great as always.

 

The Mazama. HOC 2".