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thingstodo · 04-20-2008, 06:15 AM

If you fertilize correctly you'll get to the point in 2-3 years that the grass will choke out most. I also live in the midwest and went through the same thing when I moved to my home 6 years ago. Here are a few points that worked for me:

- glad to hear your guy put down the crab grass preventer which is step one
- hopefully he sprays the yard for weeds and then lays down a turf builder with iron. After 1-2 years you probably won't even need this. I never spray the yard now or use weed & feed because I can just spot spray as needed.
- next, you should get your own pump sprayer and use the Ortho weed killer for lawns and the crabgrass killer for lawns. Just mix both together per instructions. Go out 1-2 timed per week and spot spray all the weeds
- use the Scotts summer fertilizer in July which will kill bugs in a stressed lawn and also has stufff to help de-stress the grass
- always use the winterizer
- the whole time, spot spray with the weed/crabgrass mix I mentioned above
- I can't overemphasize the importance of watering...a sprinkler system is a great investment but if nothing else, do it manually. Everything else you do will be for nothing if you don't water. Also, Scotts has some new stuff that I haven't investigated that helps cut back on the need to water as often. I'm curious if it works.

YOu can do this yourself. I've tried the services several times and have never been happy. Just follow the basic steps.

1. crag grass preventer before the temps are hitting 65
2. spray for weeds when they are regularly in the high 70s - about 4-6 weeks later
3. turf builder with iron 6-8 weeks after the crab grass fertillizer
4. summer (expensive) stuff late July/August
5. winterizer October
6. spot spray weeds/crabbgrass every week

I personally use all Scotts and Ortho products and have been very happy with the results.

One last thing - cut on a high setting. 3.5-4" works well. Less stress on the blades and more blade to work with the sun. OK, one more last thing - don't bag unless you really need to. The clippings are a great fertilizer as well.

04-20-2008, 06:15 AM	#9 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	If you fertilize correctly you'll get to the point in 2-3 years that the grass will choke out most. I also live in the midwest and went through the same thing when I moved to my home 6 years ago. Here are a few points that worked for me: - glad to hear your guy put down the crab grass preventer which is step one - hopefully he sprays the yard for weeds and then lays down a turf builder with iron. After 1-2 years you probably won't even need this. I never spray the yard now or use weed & feed because I can just spot spray as needed. - next, you should get your own pump sprayer and use the Ortho weed killer for lawns and the crabgrass killer for lawns. Just mix both together per instructions. Go out 1-2 timed per week and spot spray all the weeds - use the Scotts summer fertilizer in July which will kill bugs in a stressed lawn and also has stufff to help de-stress the grass - always use the winterizer - the whole time, spot spray with the weed/crabgrass mix I mentioned above - I can't overemphasize the importance of watering...a sprinkler system is a great investment but if nothing else, do it manually. Everything else you do will be for nothing if you don't water. Also, Scotts has some new stuff that I haven't investigated that helps cut back on the need to water as often. I'm curious if it works. YOu can do this yourself. I've tried the services several times and have never been happy. Just follow the basic steps. 1. crag grass preventer before the temps are hitting 65 2. spray for weeds when they are regularly in the high 70s - about 4-6 weeks later 3. turf builder with iron 6-8 weeks after the crab grass fertillizer 4. summer (expensive) stuff late July/August 5. winterizer October 6. spot spray weeds/crabbgrass every week I personally use all Scotts and Ortho products and have been very happy with the results. One last thing - cut on a high setting. 3.5-4" works well. Less stress on the blades and more blade to work with the sun. OK, one more last thing - don't bag unless you really need to. The clippings are a great fertilizer as well. __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.