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Yes, like most aspects of lawn care aware whether it is watering requirements, appropriate cutting height, fungicides are area specific. Some areas may never need them while other areas such as my own, they are nearly mandatory.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LTCM
@Penny
Movin has given you some pretty good advice. In the context of this thread (Ultimate plans for the best lawns), you do need to treat for diseases before they appear. I'll break with movin a tiny bit and say you only need preventative fungicide when the conditions are favorable for fungus growth. I don't know St. Augustine grass or east Texas well, so it's up to you to discover when that is. One treatment a year might be enough for your lawn, two is most likely enough. In general, disease is a much, much greater concern for cool season grasses, so that is why movin applies every 4 weeks. In my area, the time of highest risk for fescue is late spring-early summer. You don't really want anything stressing the plant so you certainly cannot apply tons of nitrogen to outgrow the fungus at this time - an outbreak can ruin an entire summer. On the other hand, with some of the warm season grasses, you can simply pound the nitrogen and outgrown many diseases as these grasses love the heat going into summer.
I also like Bayer over Scotts in general as well. But take comfort in knowing you've already done more than 95% of people.
I'll add a few things more things beyond movin as well.
If you want to go really top shelf ultimate, you need to look for fungicides outside of what you buy at big box stores. Eagle and Heritage are common names. You just need to know what diseases are common for your area and grass. If you get an outbreak, find the fungicide tailored for that one specifically for best results. I also slightly prefer liquid over granular, but that's a minor difference. I strongly prefer liquid herbicides.
If you want to go a route which is more friendly to the soil, look into using cracked corn and Serenade fungicide. Corn, which is botanically a grass, contains a fungus in it which helps fight off bad stuff in turf grass. Serenade is a OMRI listed product which contains some kind of bacteria which eats fungus. Mix the two and you get a supercharged bacteria eating everything in sight. Serenade does smell absolutely horrible, however.
Movin has given you some pretty good advice. In the context of this thread (Ultimate plans for the best lawns), you do need to treat for diseases before they appear. I'll break with movin a tiny bit and say you only need preventative fungicide when the conditions are favorable for fungus growth. I don't know St. Augustine grass or east Texas well, so it's up to you to discover when that is. One treatment a year might be enough for your lawn, two is most likely enough. In general, disease is a much, much greater concern for cool season grasses, so that is why movin applies every 4 weeks. In my area, the time of highest risk for fescue is late spring-early summer. You don't really want anything stressing the plant so you certainly cannot apply tons of nitrogen to outgrow the fungus at this time - an outbreak can ruin an entire summer. On the other hand, with some of the warm season grasses, you can simply pound the nitrogen and outgrown many diseases as these grasses love the heat going into summer.
I also like Bayer over Scotts in general as well. But take comfort in knowing you've already done more than 95% of people.
I'll add a few things more things beyond movin as well.
If you want to go really top shelf ultimate, you need to look for fungicides outside of what you buy at big box stores. Eagle and Heritage are common names. You just need to know what diseases are common for your area and grass. If you get an outbreak, find the fungicide tailored for that one specifically for best results. I also slightly prefer liquid over granular, but that's a minor difference. I strongly prefer liquid herbicides.
If you want to go a route which is more friendly to the soil, look into using cracked corn and Serenade fungicide. Corn, which is botanically a grass, contains a fungus in it which helps fight off bad stuff in turf grass. Serenade is a OMRI listed product which contains some kind of bacteria which eats fungus. Mix the two and you get a supercharged bacteria eating everything in sight. Serenade does smell absolutely horrible, however.
Great information, thank you so much!
I did have to put down some fungicide last year, but I don't remember exactly when. Maybe I can find my receipt to see if there is a pattern to it showing up. I am seeing some small spots this year. I think I'll start keeping a list of what I put down and the dates. I'd rather do some preventative work rather than having to try to cure/treat after it has already reared its ugly head.
Writing down some notes is an excellent approach including to keep track when you ferilizer, etc.
Glad to hear you like to have your lawn looking good.
Quote:
Originally Posted by PennyLane2
Great information, thank you so much!
I did have to put down some fungicide last year, but I don't remember exactly when. Maybe I can find my receipt to see if there is a pattern to it showing up. I am seeing some small spots this year. I think I'll start keeping a list of what I put down and the dates. I'd rather do some preventative work rather than having to try to cure/treat after it has already reared its ugly head.
Been following this tall fescue lawn care program for years now and it has provided me the best lawn on the block, even in the entire neighborhood. People are always asking me "How do you manage to get your lawn to look so good?" It really doesn't take much work, just the approach is what is important.
- Fertilize with Milorganite (organic approach to feed the soil as synthetic only feeds the plant)
- 1" of rain per week (all the same time instead of spread out over several days)
- Crabgrass preventer in the spring (Lesco Dimension with no fertilizer)
- Spot treat weeds as needed (hand spray)
- Cut tall fescue grasses 3-4" in height during the late spring/summer/early fall
- Aerate in early fall
- Make the most fertilizer applications in the fall
Apply Orgro to the lawn once a year for even better results.
THINK GREEN!!!!!!
Yeah that sounds great but if you have neighbors that don't give a rip and have bermuda everywhere, you are fighting a losing battle....all year long.
Trick is to avoid Rye Grass around here and maintain it constantly and feed at the right times and most importantly...DONT BAG!! There is moisture in the grass blades + its natural fertilizer with nutrients so let the clippings just fall back down. Saves you time as well. Win Win Win.
"Don't bag"...as long as you have ZERO weeds. Once I get the weeds showing up (damn Bermuda and nutgrAss and green killinga) bagging is a must.
Not really...do some work on your landscaping and lawn and watch how the neighbors just suddenly have an "interest" in making theirs look better.
Ah...right. My yard is very nicely landscaped. And I expect that most passersby (that don't have as educated an eye as us "lawn folks") would think my lawn is great. I know better, because I am always fighting those three devils - bermuda, green killinga, and nutgrass. My neighbors are simply the kind that don't give a crap. Most of our neighborhood has decent lawns, and a few are outstanding. Nothing is going to make a person that hates yardwork, change. I have lived here too long and I know how these people are. Ain't happenin'.
Sorry to hear, that is unfortunate. All you can do is what you can do and I am sure those that appreciate a landscaped lawn appreciate all your doing. Remember, it says more about them than it does about you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ChessieMom
Ah...right. My yard is very nicely landscaped. And I expect that most passersby (that don't have as educated an eye as us "lawn folks") would think my lawn is great. I know better, because I am always fighting those three devils - bermuda, green killinga, and nutgrass. My neighbors are simply the kind that don't give a crap. Most of our neighborhood has decent lawns, and a few are outstanding. Nothing is going to make a person that hates yardwork, change. I have lived here too long and I know how these people are. Ain't happenin'.
For those who want to improve their lawn, this coming weekend is THE WEEKEND. Best time of year to seed and/or fertilize.
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My yard is very nicely landscaped. And I expect that most passersby (that don't have as educated an eye as us "lawn folks") would think my lawn is great. I know better, because I am always fighting those three devils - bermuda, green killinga, and nutgrass. My neighbors are simply the kind that don't give a crap. Most of our neighborhood has decent lawns, and a few are outstanding. Nothing is going to make a person that hates yardwork, change. I have lived here too long and I know how these people are. Ain't happenin'.