Fertilizing my lawn for initial spring application

[DSMCy]

Feel like I'm about a week behind but I'm planning to hit my lawn with 2,4-D tonight. I've got horrible weeds..

Then overseed this weekend. Temps next week look good. No rain so will have to water it but should be decent timing

 

[CyCity]

Looking to aerate and overseed. Yard is originally all Kentucky Bluegrass, considering going with a fescue to get more hardy over the entire season.

Any recommendations on type of seed to use this fall? Yard is full sun.

Marvel Turf Type Tall Fescue from Earl May.

 

[Agclone91]

Tru green was out putting pre-emerge down already today. Going to be a lot of unhappy customers this summer.

 

[dmclone]

Moved into a new house last June, and the sod got laid in August (after water ban). It was in good shape when it went dormant. What should I do this spring and when?

 

[SECyclone]

Moved into a new house last June, and the sod got laid in August (after water ban). It was in good shape when it went dormant. What should I do this spring and when?

Starter would be my number one and water if we lack rainfall this spring. Skip the pre emergence this year and do that next year.

 

[Kinch]

Moved into a new house last June, and the sod got laid in August (after water ban). It was in good shape when it went dormant. What should I do this spring and when?

Water. When ever you can.

 

[StevieISU23]

If I put down a Winterizer on Nov 1st (on a near dormant lawn),
Do I wait for those nutrients to be "used up" and not put anything on until Mid May or so?

Or-
Does the Yard "use up" those nutrients during the winter, and I should put something down sooner than later?

 

[MustardTiger]

Moved into a new house last June, and the sod got laid in August (after water ban). It was in good shape when it went dormant. What should I do this spring and when?

Just as a heads up for anyone else (don't know what town you're in) but most cities will grant a waiver for new homes/sod to be watered even if there is a water ban. Most (all) development agreements require builders to have a pollution prevention plan in place, and part of that is establishing growth of a new lawn before being able to remove erosion control or terminate the storm water permit. They all need your lawn to grow to satisfy the DNR.

 

[Agclone91]

If I put down a Winterizer on Nov 1st (on a near dormant lawn),
Do I wait for those nutrients to be "used up" and not put anything on until Mid May or so?

Or-
Does the Yard "use up" those nutrients during the winter, and I should put something down sooner than later?

Dormant grass does not use nutrients. If you put on a late application you should be good to get through the green up/early spring process.

 

[JM4CY]

So what are soil temps at in Iowa and what is that magic number again to put preemerge down?

 

[ackatch]

So what are soil temps at in Iowa and what is that magic number again to put preemerge down?

IEM :: ISU Soil Moisture County Temperature Estimates

Iowa Environmental Mesonet of Iowa State University

mesonet.agron.iastate.edu

I wait until we're at least about 55, but that's just a guess by me.

 

[Kinch]

If I put down a Winterizer on Nov 1st (on a near dormant lawn),
Do I wait for those nutrients to be "used up" and not put anything on until Mid May or so?

Or-
Does the Yard "use up" those nutrients during the winter, and I should put something down sooner than later?

I vote mid may. You want some nutrients in the ground when the hot dry days of late July and August roll around.

 

[Kinch]

So what are soil temps at in Iowa and what is that magic number again to put preemerge down?

Michigan State University has an emergent calculator that I go by.

https://gddtracker.msu.edu/?model=7&offset=0&zip=76932

 

[Kinch]

Timing crabgrass preemergence applications in spring

When is the correct time to apply crabgrass preemergence herbicides in the spring?

www.canr.msu.edu

 

[ISUCubswin]

So is now the perfect time to lay some crab grass pre?

 

[Kinch]

So is now the perfect time to lay some crab grass pre?

Looks like it for most of Iowa.

 

[Clonehomer]

I’ve typically skipped the crabgrass as I have terrible neighbors and need to apply the weed preventer early to stay on top of the weeds. If I were to apply the crab gras preventer now, how soon can I apply the next step when my neighbors inevitably create a dandelion garden?

 

[cyfreddy]

I don't think it's super critical. I just did the reverse order this past weekend, mostly because I found out about my neighbor's aeration guy coming out with only a couple days notice.

So is now the perfect time to lay some crab grass pre?

I just aerated today, hoping for more rain. I hope to put down crab grass pre sometime next week.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Lot of companies out spraying here in Ames that past week, we are supposed to have our spraying this week sometime the email we got said. Figured they would have done it by now.

 

[Agclone91]

Lot of companies out spraying here in Ames that past week, we are supposed to have our spraying this week sometime the email we got said. Figured they would have done it by now.

Be happy it hasn't been done yet. The companies out 3 weeks ago just wasted their customers money. Based on soil temps and rain in the forecast, this week is the week to go.