Green thumb/outdoors/gardening question

[MontanaXVI]

I am working on getting the lawn in shape (just purchased first home last fall) and I have these damn purple weeds growing like crazy all over the place, and no idea what they are to address them.

If I were to post a pic, does anyone have any experience with anything like this or could possibly know what they are?

I'm asking first to gauge the responses, if someone thinks they can do it I will pic, if not then no harm no foul.

[Willravel]

What region of the US are you in? Are you here in Northern California (A's fans! WOO!!)?

[MontanaXVI]

Originally Posted by willravel

What region of the US are you in? Are you here in Northern California (A's fans! WOO!!)?

Sorry, no sadly I live in Columbus, OH

I get 1990 thrown in my face all the time too

[Willravel]

What kind of grass do you have?
How do you fertilize? How often, what kind?
How often do you mow?
Do you aerate?
I can probably suggest a few herbicides, but I'd rather not. Most aren't safe for animals or people.

[MontanaXVI]

Like I said I just got the house last fall so the only thing I did until now was cut it a couple times before the winter.

I got a great recommendation on a lawn guy to come out and fertilize and aerate for me, he uses a granular fertilizer and has laid down crabgrass control already.

I just mowed it this past Monday for the first time this season and was told by someone that I have mainly bluegrass, with some fine and tall fescue mixed in there is some crabgrass too, which will probably take this season to get rid of. Overall the lawn isn't in bad shape but these damn weeds are killing me, they grow in huge patches in the back yard and a few small clumps in the front yard with a few single here and there spread around.

I guess I could call my lawn guy and when he comes to put down the weed killer I can find out what it is, but I am just curious since all this rain the grass is taking off as well as these things.

http://picasaweb.google.com/MontanaX...ey=w429xrgvUMA

PS. I know what the white thing in the first pic is, one of "the kids" just had to get his ass in the picture while I was shooting

[Willravel]

Aeration and fertilization should help TONS. If that doesn't do it, you can then move on to herbicides.

Picking something that pops up that often doesn't make sense.

[MontanaXVI]

with the size of that patch out back, as well as the huge patch right next to it I don't see any other option besides chemicals, I highly doubt that the grass alone will be enough to "choke it out"

I just wanna know what the stuff is, any idea?

[Baraka_Guru]

Aeration and fertilization is good, but you generally want to improve the quality of the soil underneath. What's important for grass is the root system, and most people rely too much on the symptoms without getting to the problem.

If your soil is too high in clay, you will not have healthy grass. You need to have what's called "loam" underneath (40% silt, 40% sand, and 20% clay). This way, the roots with be able to breathe, but the soil will still be absorbent. But if you're stuck with poor soil and can't do much about it, be sure to apply topsoil, compost, and fertilizer annually.

[thingstodo]

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.

[MontanaXVI]

I cut it really short last year before the winter since I only planned on cutting a couple of times before this season.

This first cut I left pretty high (around 3") and plan on leaving the mower deck this high for the rest of the year. I don't bag the clippings as I have a mulching mower and it seems to work pretty well from what I have seen in the limited uses.

I had estimates from a few different companies one of which was Scott's who wanted almost $800/year for their services, needless to say I turned them down pretty quick. The lawn guy came with great recommendations from a person at my girlfriends work and while I don't have anything against doing it myself, right now it just works better having someone come out to do it for me until I can get more into the routine of actually having a yard to do stuff in now after having lived in an apartment for the last 9+ years.

I'm hoping that between his trips out I can spot kill some of the weeds and get everything ready to seed this fall, right now there is too many of those damn purple weeds that once they are all gone I will have plenty of bare spots that will need attention. No point in trying to seed now since the weed killer will probably stop the seed from germinating and just be a waste of my time and money.

We have been getting quite a bit of rain so I haven't had to water I plan on setting up a watering schedule though to help things out, and putting in a sprinkler system just isn't an option at this time, however could work itself into the mix in the next couple of years.

FOUND IT!!!!!!!!!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamium_purpureum

red or purple deadnettle.

Now to kill this shit.

[genuinegirly]

You're dealing with a huge infestation of a mint relative.

Good luck with that.

[Fotzlid]

FOUND IT!!!!!!!!!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamium_purpureum

I was wondering what those flowers were by the fence. Guess I better get on with killing it before it takes over the yard.
Thanks

[MontanaXVI]

Originally Posted by Fotzlid

I was wondering what those flowers were by the fence. Guess I better get on with killing it before it takes over the yard.
Thanks

If it has taken hold with any kind of numbers like mine has you are in for a battle. I am not exactly sure what will wipe it out, but this stuff will spread like a wildfire I assure you that.

[thingstodo]

Don't worry about the grass. You ucually don't need to reseed when you kill the weeds. Grass has a way of creaping back where there are no weeds. Then it helps keep the weeds out. Stay with it! Spot killing is the one thing the companies don't do that can make a huge difference.

[braisler]

Hey, the wiki article says it's edible. So chow down and make some stir-fry or salads.

I have some of this weed in my lawn areas as well. I agree with the previous suggestions of using Scotts 'Weed n Feed' products regularly for a couple of seasons. The difference becomes obvious in my lawn when my neighbor has hundreds if not thousands of dandelions and I have maybe 2-3.

I have also used a spray on selective herbicide named "Image" with good results. It works to kill many weeds (more than most other selectives) without hurting the grass. My problem is that I'm dealing with 1.3 acres of property. Spraying that with a hand sprayer is nearly impossible. I've thought about getting a tow-behind sprayer for my riding mower, but they are quite costly.

[MontanaXVI]

Originally Posted by thingstodo

Don't worry about the grass. You ucually don't need to reseed when you kill the weeds. Grass has a way of creaping back where there are no weeds. Then it helps keep the weeds out. Stay with it! Spot killing is the one thing the companies don't do that can make a huge difference.

Bluegrass can really help in this area as it has a nice "spreading" root system and can actually fill in areas on it's own.

Vs. an "up and down" root system that stays where it germinates.

[Willravel]

Anyone else think this weed looks like the opium flower on Batman Begins?

"Rachel DAWWWEEESSS... psychotropic hallucinogen!"

[thingstodo]

Originally Posted by braisler

I have also used a spray on selective herbicide named "Image" with good results. It works to kill many weeds (more than most other selectives) without hurting the grass. My problem is that I'm dealing with 1.3 acres of property. Spraying that with a hand sprayer is nearly impossible. I've thought about getting a tow-behind sprayer for my riding mower, but they are quite costly.

Just get the Ortho Weedbgone and use a hose attachment sprayer by the same company for about $12-15. That's what I use when needed and I have an acre. You'll need long hoses but those sprayers work well. You get to dial in the rate per gallon per the instructions right on the sprayer.