My lawn is ridden with weeds! (Charlotte: buy, maintenance, cost of)

[Jake Ryan]

I am usually very quick to "sub things out" especially physical labor around the house. For some reason I enjoy cutting my own lawn and fertilizing, basic maintenance you know?

I generally go to Lowes and purchase a bag of the seasonal recommendation that SCOTTS puts on their website and apply to my lawn according to the directions. The fertilizer with pre emergent, Haltz Crabgrass preventer, weed control etc...I follow their "system" to a tee. Generally 5 or 6 times a year.

I recently saw their recommendation on putting down the "Southern Lawn Food" to help the grass make it through the harsh heat of summer etc.... I purchased a bag and applied it about a month ago. I went out of town and when I came back my lawn had been overcome with weeds! All kinds of weeds, the broadleaf kind and other types.

I don't know what to do. I'm to the point where I'm ready to call someone to take care of this issue and begin maintaining my lawn since I'm obviously not doing something right. I will not be calling Trugreen or Scotts lawn service since I've had these services before and they haven't helped.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I wonder if I got a bad bag of "Southern Lawn Food".

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by Jake Ryan

I am usually very quick to "sub things out" especially physical labor around the house. For some reason I enjoy cutting my own lawn and fertilizing, basic maintenance you know?

I generally go to Lowes and purchase a bag of the seasonal recommendation that SCOTTS puts on their website and apply to my lawn according to the directions. The fertilizer with pre emergent, Haltz Crabgrass preventer, weed control etc...I follow their "system" to a tee. Generally 5 or 6 times a year.

I recently saw their recommendation on putting down the "Southern Lawn Food" to help the grass make it through the harsh heat of summer etc.... I purchased a bag and applied it about a month ago. I went out of town and when I came back my lawn had been overcome with weeds! All kinds of weeds, the broadleaf kind and other types.

I don't know what to do. I'm to the point where I'm ready to call someone to take care of this issue and begin maintaining my lawn since I'm obviously not doing something right. I will not be calling Trugreen or Scotts lawn service since I've had these services before and they haven't helped.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I wonder if I got a bad bag of "Southern Lawn Food".

Douse it w/weed b gone...

W/all this rain and hot temps, its perfect ingredients for broadleaf weeds to multiply!

[eman1200]

same thing here, last year my lawn looked spectacular. this year I continued to follow 'the program' but I actually have dead grass in spots and tons of weeds. I did the weed-b-gone thing and now I have more weeds than ever before. I'm basically gonna ride it out until we aerate and reseed in a couple of months, I don't think there's a ton to be done now.

[Jake Ryan]

Thanks, I did buy a jug of it, but it's a lot of weeds. Would you think a professional would be better suited to solve the problem?

[ZnGuy]

I have always had a proffesional service and I start losing thae battle about now. I agree this rain and heat is a potent mix for bad lawns, not sure why but wierd things start happening. Every year in August I always ask myself if it would have been better just leting yard go dormant..

[CouponJack]

Originally Posted by Jake Ryan

Thanks, I did buy a jug of it, but it's a lot of weeds. Would you think a professional would be better suited to solve the problem?

Probably, but it would cost you alot more IMO....

[ultraviolet*]

We finally gave up and hired Naturalawn. We've been very happy with their service and our lawn looks better than it has in years.

[frewroad]

Originally Posted by Jake Ryan

I am usually very quick to "sub things out" especially physical labor around the house. For some reason I enjoy cutting my own lawn and fertilizing, basic maintenance you know?

I generally go to Lowes and purchase a bag of the seasonal recommendation that SCOTTS puts on their website and apply to my lawn according to the directions. The fertilizer with pre emergent, Haltz Crabgrass preventer, weed control etc...I follow their "system" to a tee. Generally 5 or 6 times a year.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I wonder if I got a bad bag of "Southern Lawn Food".

It' won't help and these stores make a fortune selling the stuff they recommend.

The fundamental problem are all these recommendations are based on growing a cool season grass in Charlotte. IMO, this type of grass is totally unsuitable for this area. Fescue, Rebel, and the like all have big issues when the weather gets above 85 degrees and this makes a perfect opportunity for weeds to move in because the grass begins to die. Watering it only brings fungus and brown spots. Thus in the fall you are forced to start the cycle all over again with aeration, reseeding, bunch of toxic chemicals, etc. And then there is the cost of watering. All of this just so you can get a few weeks of green grass in the fall and something that will last until the heat comes back again.

If you go to any point South of Charlotte you won't find this kind of grass. Everyone grows warm season grass and they don't have any of these issues. They don't do yearly re-seedings and weed control is almost non-existent. You fertilize it 2x/year and you are mostly done with maintenance. Watering is only needed during long periods of drought. It's warmer now and the newer strains of warm season grass do quite well here. Charlotte was just moved into agricultural zone 8 from zone 7 and IMO the old recommendations don't work anymore.

[Sepulgeek]

Originally Posted by frewroad

It' won't help and these stores make a fortune selling the stuff they recommend.

The fundamental problem are all these recommendations are based on growing a cool season grass in Charlotte. IMO, this type of grass is totally unsuitable for this area. Fescue, Rebel, and the like all have big issues when the weather gets above 85 degrees and this makes a perfect opportunity for weeds to move in because the grass begins to die. Watering it only brings fungus and brown spots. Thus in the fall you are forced to start the cycle all over again with aeration, reseeding, bunch of toxic chemicals, etc. And then there is the cost of watering. All of this just so you can get a few weeks of green grass in the fall and something that will last until the heat comes back again.

If you go to any point South of Charlotte you won't find this kind of grass. Everyone grows warm season grass and they don't have any of these issues. They don't do yearly re-seedings and weed control is almost non-existent. You fertilize it 2x/year and you are mostly done with maintenance. Watering is only needed during long periods of drought. It's warmer now and the newer strains of warm season grass do quite well here. Charlotte was just moved into agricultural zone 8 from zone 7 and IMO the old recommendations don't work anymore.

What type of grass would you suggest? I want to try to start seeding my backyard with something besides Tall Fescue.

[Reggie4417]

I keep telling my wife that at least the weeds are green. If I keep it cut nicely, it does a reasonable job passing as grass! Completely frustrated with trying to grow and keep a healthy lawn.