Fall Lawn Care (neighborhood, price, store) - Charlotte - North Carolina (NC) - City-Data Forum

jp03 · 09-21-2010, 01:56 PM

Well, this summer just destroyed the lawn. So the question is, when to do fall aeration,overseeding, fertilizer, lime...etc. Also do you drop weed killer first or last? Thanks to anyone who can help

coastalgirl · 09-21-2010, 02:20 PM

You can aerate, seed and lime within the next few weeks as it cools down. Weed killer or pre-emergent should be put out at least six weeks before or after seeding.

Just an added note: we put out two fertilizer applications this spring; one early (Feb. I think) and one later, in June, and it made a HUGE difference in our lawn this summer. We didn't have to water much and only have a few dry patches. It's also important to water deeply only once or twice a week, and allow your grass to grow taller so it can develop deep roots. I watched my neighbor's yard be completely destroyed b/c they watered every evening. Once it turned so hot and dry this past month or so, their lawn service cut it too short and it was literally dead the next day. It had never developed roots b/c they watered too often.

southbound_295 · 09-21-2010, 06:46 PM

I've been spraying with Bayer weed killer that also kills crab grass because I want the crabgrass dead. I'll give it a while for that to work it self out, then in October I'll start seeding. This will be a major seeding, because the yard has been abused & ignored for about 10 years, according to my neighbors.

I agree about not overwatering.

jp03 · 09-22-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southbound_295

I've been spraying with Bayer weed killer that also kills crab grass because I want the crabgrass dead. I'll give it a while for that to work it self out, then in October I'll start seeding. This will be a major seeding, because the yard has been abused & ignored for about 10 years, according to my neighbors.

I agree about not overwatering.

Thanks for your advice to you both...I think i am gonna start with weed killer now , then in late October go at the lawn ....ugh.. it was so easy up north ...sigh

southbound_295 · 09-22-2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp03

Thanks for your advice to you both...I think i am gonna start with weed killer now , then in late October go at the lawn ....ugh.. it was so easy up north ...sigh

jp, it's pretty much the same for me, here.

Once my crab grass & weeds are dead, I'm going to cut it as short as possible, rake it really good, then start seeding, in mid to late October. I'm leaning more to perennial rye here, as it seems to hold up best. Check Tractor Supply company http://www.tractorsupply.com/ for the nearest store to you. I picked up a couple of their 2 lb bags to use along with the short fescue & rye mixes that I brought back with me. The Tractor Supply Company perennial rye in the 2 lb bag is rated for NC. I've used it before & it's good. The 5lb bag does not say NC, but that wouldn't stop me, as long as the states listed include, DE, MD, & VA.

jp03 · 09-22-2010, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by southbound_295

jp, it's pretty much the same for me, here.

Once my crab grass & weeds are dead, I'm going to cut it as short as possible, rake it really good, then start seeding, in mid to late October. I'm leaning more to perennial rye here, as it seems to hold up best. Check Tractor Supply company Tractor Supply Company - Home for the nearest store to you. I picked up a couple of their 2 lb bags to use along with the short fescue & rye mixes that I brought back with me. The Tractor Supply Company perennial rye in the 2 lb bag is rated for NC. I've used it before & it's good. The 5lb bag does not say NC, but that wouldn't stop me, as long as the states listed include, DE, MD, & VA.

Thanks..interesting on the type of seed ..I need to look into that.

arp1500 · 09-22-2010, 09:00 AM

we have been here in charlotte for three years this past june i have done all the scotts steps and aeraited every year but after three years i come to figure out that you need to water the lawn no matter what you do, i have 2 neighbors that all do the same stuff one waters his grass 3 to 4 times a week at 5 am and has awesome grass but has a 250 water bill then the other one waters his 5 to ten mins a day everyday and its still burnt looks worse then mine and i dont water it. it looks good fall, winter, spring until it hits 90 for a few weeks

coastalgirl · 09-22-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arp1500

we have been here in charlotte for three years this past june i have done all the scotts steps and aeraited every year but after three years i come to figure out that you need to water the lawn no matter what you do, i have 2 neighbors that all do the same stuff one waters his grass 3 to 4 times a week at 5 am and has awesome grass but has a 250 water bill then the other one waters his 5 to ten mins a day everyday and its still burnt looks worse then mine and i dont water it. it looks good fall, winter, spring until it hits 90 for a few weeks

Your neighbor waters too much. That's why his grass is burnt. Read my above post about developing deep roots. You still have to water, especially in the spring, no matter what type of grass you plant; however, the type of soil we have here demands aeration at least once a year. If you skip it, I guarantee you will notice a difference.

southbound_295 · 09-22-2010, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jp03

Thanks..interesting on the type of seed ..I need to look into that.

Yeah, nobody here speaks of the rye. Be aware that you will find annual rye seed as well as the perennial. Just make certain that you're getting perennial.

South Jersey lawns are usually brown all summer.

They are most frequently short fescue & rye, in spite of the big boxes pushing tall fescue. People there find other sources. My neighborhood hardware stores, here, sell red fescue (short fescue) The big boxes also sell it here, but want a price that I will not pay.

I brought back a Pennington mix & a Scotts mix. The Scott mix has red fescue & the Pennington mix has chewing fescue (also a short fescue). The chewing fescue might not do well here, I don't know, but I'll put it in some shady areas. I'm certain that the ryes in those mixes will be fine.

southbound_295 · 09-22-2010, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arp1500

we have been here in charlotte for three years this past june i have done all the scotts steps and aeraited every year but after three years i come to figure out that you need to water the lawn no matter what you do, i have 2 neighbors that all do the same stuff one waters his grass 3 to 4 times a week at 5 am and has awesome grass but has a 250 water bill then the other one waters his 5 to ten mins a day everyday and its still burnt looks worse then mine and i dont water it. it looks good fall, winter, spring until it hits 90 for a few weeks

A trick I learned in South Jersey, many years ago, was to forget about sprinklers. Water as little as possible, but when you do, drag a hose around. let the water dribble out, & water deep. I might leave a hose on an area for the night. The water will disperse. You'll see what area has been effected the next day, then move the hose the next night. You get more bang for the buck on the water that you use & your water bill will not be ridiculously high.