[SNOWBOB11]

Hi all, I wanted to start a journal for the upcoming season so I can share my progress with my lawn this year.

Some background on the lawn. Last year I did a full renovation to my 2500 sq ft front, 500 sq ft side yards. This was the second reno I've done on the lawn. First was several years ago when I reno'd from a weed infested lawn to a nomix lawn. Last year I got tired of having to overseed the nomix every year so I went for it and reno'd again to a bewitched KBG monostand. The reno went pretty well and I was mostly happy with how it turned out.

I have a bunch of things I'd like to get done this year.

1. I'd like to thicken up the thin areas that didn't come in as well last year
2. Get into using more grain fertilizers like alfalfa, soy bean and cracked corn
3. Get the lawn on a proper pre-e schedule
4. Start using PGR and FAS (this one I'm excited about)
5. Fight fungal issues earlier and better
6. Get a new Honda HRX 217 mower to replace my older Briggs and Stratton

These are just a few things. I'm also going to try and level some areas of the lawn. It's not what I'd call bumpy but it does have some uneven areas that I'd like to take care of.

If time permits I would also like do a reno on my small under 1k backyard. I'll probably use the same bewitched seeds as I used for the front yard but will have to consider mixing in some fine fescue as the back yard has some very shady areas.

It's still early here to get into lawn stuff (the overnight low the next few nights is going to be around 8°F) but figured I'd start my journal now anyways.

Will soon get some pics up of how the lawn looks now. Until then here's a pic from last years reno.

 

[g-man]

To continue the conversation around a 220E, I would recommend a swardman instead. Your lawn size is small and manuvering the swardman will be easier.

 

[Pete1313]

Subscribing. Can't wait to see some updates!

 

[SNOWBOB11]

To continue the conversation around a 220E, I would recommend a swardman instead. Your lawn size is small and manuvering the swardman will be easier.

Yes that's true, I've been looking at wares videos and posts about his swardman and it does look like it handles well in his back yard. I'll definitely need to give maneuverability some considerations.

I'll be watching grassdaddys videos about his thoughts too this year.

 

[SNOWBOB11]

Subscribing. Can't wait to see some updates!

Thanks for subscribing. Should be a fun year.

 

[SNOWBOB11]

It's really time I update this thread now that I've been able to get out and do some yard work. Things are slow but coming along with the last year reno. It has greened up nicely but is just starting to grow. So far I've done some general cleanup of the yard and gardens, as well as some edging around the small hedge gardens. I planted a forsythia last year and it's starting to bud now so I'm thinking with the temps going up I'll be doing my pre e with in the next week. Also going to be ordering in my stock of grain fertilizers for the year soon. Anyways here's a couple pics of how the yard looks at the moment.

Not looking too bad from the pics but there are a lot of areas that will need to fill in this year. I'm hoping going heavy with the alfalfa, cracked corn and urea will help to fill in the areas that didn't fill in last year. We'll see.

 

[Togo]

Looks good @SNOWBOB11 :thumbup:

 

[social port]

as well as some edging around the small hedge gardens.

Looks like this effort came out great.

 

[SNOWBOB11]

Thanks @Togo your lawn is starting to look good as well.

Thanks @social port I tried to dig a nice deep edge around the beds so when I re mulch them the squirrels and robins won't be able to throw out as much mulch on the grass as they did last year. It was a constant battle lol.

 

[SNOWBOB11]

I'm getting ready to put my pre e down tomorrow and I was reading the label on the bag. It says for control of annual bluegrass and a bunch of other weeds, to put it down at 4.6 lbs per k. It doesn't however say how long the coverage will last for. Unless I'm not seeing it I can't see the length of time it will stop germination for. I might have some areas I'll need to seed in the late summer so I'm not wanting the coverage to last into fall. If I put it down at the recommended spring rate is that rate designed to fully run out by the late fall or does it last into the fall and I might have problems with germination if I do end up seeding some areas in say mid August? The product I'm using is dimension 0.25g https://www.seedworldusa.com/products/dimension-0-25g-herbicide-25-lbs. If anyone has experience with this any thoughts would be great. Thanks.

 

[SNOWBOB11]

It's also a bit later in the year than some might have put down there pre e so I'm concerned that the coverage will last too long at the full rate for what I want it to. Thanks.

 

[SNOWBOB11]

Basically to put my question better, what I'm asking is if I want about a 3 month pre e barrier, what rate should I use to achieve this with the granular dimension 0.25g?

 

[g-man]

What does the label says?

 

[SNOWBOB11]

It has rates for controlling different weeds but doesn't have an actual amount of time that the barrier lasts. This is probably a difficult question for anyone to answer so I think I'll give the company a call and see what they say.

 

[g-man]

12 weeks of control per this label

https://www.amleo.com/images/art/ADMDG50.pdf

 

[social port]

@SNOWBOB11 you may find this relevant
https://thelawnforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2346

 

[SNOWBOB11]

Thanks @g-man I re read the label and called the company and it does seem like it lasts 12 weeks regardless of if you use the low or high rate, which is not how I thought it worked originally.

Thanks @social port that is a very helpful thread. I think even though the bag seems to indicate that it will run out at the high rate in 12 weeks, I'm going to use you're method and go with a lower rate of around 2.75 lb per k like what you did. I'm using .25% dithiopyr so the fact that I'm using it a bit later than you did it should run out close to the time I might need to seed being you used .27%. I'm gone to go apply it now lol. Thanks guys.

 

[SNOWBOB11]

Quick update on the progress. The lawn has made some good progress since the start of the month. Things have been very slow and actual top growth has taken a while to get going but it's finally getting underway. I've cut the lawn just once so far and that was basically a clean up mow with very little grass blades being cut. I think the next mows will start actually taking off grass blades. I know I've heard first year bewitched is slow to get going in the spring but it is a real test of patience with how long it has taken to get going.

A couple days ago I dropped .23lb/k N (1/2lb/k urea) and it looks to have taken well to it. I will probably be doing the same weekly for the next while. Also will probably do an app of SOP along with my next app of urea.

Moved some plugs into some of the more bare areas as well. I was surprised at the depth of the roots the bewitched has already even though it is still a very young lawn.

Anyways here's a few pics.

I'm just taking these pics with my phone so there not the best but one thing I've noticed is how the colour is getting a lot better and is starting to look good in person.

 

[Colonel K0rn]

Looks good @SNOWBOB11! I found that when I was taking pics with my phone, I try to wipe off the lens with a cloth, as my fingerprints on the lens tends to muddy up the pictures!

 

[SNOWBOB11]

Thanks @Colonel K0rn. I will try that. I definitely have to take the pics when it's more shaded and try and take better pics overall because the pics I posted are kind of bad. I'll try some different angles with the next update.