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NFT: BBI lawn experts(Northeast addition)....

Keith : 3/11/2018 1:35 pm
Is this a good time to seed the lawn? Just bought a bunch of weed and seed. We may be getting some snow here soon which is great for the lawn after seeding. Thoughts?
Fall is the best time  
Bockman : 3/11/2018 1:44 pm : link
But if you have to seed in the Spring, then you basically have to commit to watering everyday throughout the summer.
That's fine, I water a lot.  
Keith : 3/11/2018 1:46 pm : link
You think I'm good to seed now or should I be waiting til early April?
I'd wait  
Bockman : 3/11/2018 1:50 pm : link
you want to make sure you're clear of any freezing temps first.
Definitely wait  
UConn4523 : 3/11/2018 1:52 pm : link
we are getting snow on Tuesday and with that could be more frozen ground. Wait until the end of the month.
Good pts....  
Keith : 3/11/2018 1:53 pm : link
The reason I was gonna do it now is because I remembered last year.....I seeded right before the last snow storm and as the snow melted, it watered the seed into the ground perfectly and the grass came in amazing.
Yeah you definitely can dormant seed as its called  
Bockman : 3/11/2018 1:56 pm : link
but results sometimes are spotty (glad the last time you tried worked though!)

Personally, I'd wait. But then again, I have a sprinkler system and am kind of a lawn nut. I have no issues babying new grass throughout the summer.

Your mileage may vary.
I too have a sprinkler system.  
Keith : 3/11/2018 1:58 pm : link
I also hire lawn people to maintain my lawn throughout the season(not a landscaper). It's hard for me to be too much of a lawn nut with 2 dogs that basically have a 2 acre toilet in my backyard.
Appreciate  
Keith : 3/11/2018 1:59 pm : link
the advice.
As long as you know you're probably overpaying the lawn service  
Bockman : 3/11/2018 2:00 pm : link
I totally get the time commitment aspect.

My formula is pretty easy - set the sprinkler timers to water 1" per week and adjust depending on rain.

Lime 3x a year.

Put down Milorganite at bag rate every two weeks.

Pretty much it - best lawn on my street.
Yeah, its just too much for me.  
Keith : 3/11/2018 2:02 pm : link
I have 2 acres of lawn, it's totally worth it to me to pay $80 a month to have someone else do it.
RE: Yeah, its just too much for me.  
pjcas18 : 3/11/2018 2:05 pm : link
In comment 13858795 Keith said:
Quote:
I have 2 acres of lawn, it's totally worth it to me to pay $80 a month to have someone else do it.


that's dirt cheap. In MA it's like $50 per cut for a half acre.

and from mid-to-late April through end of June you have to (or should) cut at least once a week.
If I got that price quoted to me I might re-think doing my own lawn. But..I do have a tractor mower so it's not a lot of work and kind of fun.
pj, we are talking about two different things....  
Keith : 3/11/2018 2:07 pm : link
To get my lawn cut, it's $50 per cut, which is really cheap.

I also have people come and spray the weeds, seed, lime and whatever else they do like 6 times per year(comes out to like $80 per month).
RE: pj, we are talking about two different things....  
pjcas18 : 3/11/2018 2:10 pm : link
In comment 13858809 Keith said:
Quote:
To get my lawn cut, it's $50 per cut, which is really cheap.

I also have people come and spray the weeds, seed, lime and whatever else they do like 6 times per year(comes out to like $80 per month).


I see. Yeah, I cut my own grass, but I do pay a service to put down fertilizer, seed, flea & tick spray, etc.

I pre-paid this year and it's $700 for I think 8 applications.

When I added up just the cost of fertilizer/weed & feed with the Jonathan Green 5-step program it was right around that price, so it makes sense to have someone else do it.
Weed and seed?  
Jim in Fairfax : 3/11/2018 2:11 pm : link
No such product. You can’t treat for weeds and seed at the same time. Weed killer will kill the germanating seed.
Same here, especially considering I have about  
Keith : 3/11/2018 2:12 pm : link
2 acres. The material alone costs what I am paying these guys. Plus it would take me forever where these guys ride on some Segway looking thing I finish it in no time.
Sorry,  
Keith : 3/11/2018 2:13 pm : link
its called weed and feed.
RE: Same here, especially considering I have about  
pjcas18 : 3/11/2018 2:14 pm : link
In comment 13858821 Keith said:
Quote:
2 acres. The material alone costs what I am paying these guys. Plus it would take me forever where these guys ride on some Segway looking thing I finish it in no time.


I work from home and the guy who does my house does maybe 4 houses on the street and I watch him when he does my yard, it looks like a lot of fun applying that fertilizer (etc) from the segue. Maybe it gets old, but I think he's a part owner of the company and I can think of a lot worse ways to spend your days.
RE: Sorry,  
Jim in Fairfax : 3/11/2018 2:25 pm : link
In comment 13858824 Keith said:
Quote:
its called weed and feed.

Same rule applies. You can’t apply weed killer and seed your lawn at the same time,
I'm confused.  
Keith : 3/11/2018 2:27 pm : link
There were 5 different brands of weed and feed. Its what the Lowes guy recommended. I didn't create the bag, I just bought it.
RE: I'm confused.  
pjcas18 : 3/11/2018 2:30 pm : link
In comment 13858839 Keith said:
Quote:
There were 5 different brands of weed and feed. Its what the Lowes guy recommended. I didn't create the bag, I just bought it.


Weed & feed is absolutely a thing, I think Jim is being too literal.

You can absolutely apply weed & feed to your lawn that will kill certain weeds and strengthen grass, but it won't seed new grass. And it will kill probably kill seeds that haven't germinated. I think that's Jim's point.

otherwise no clue.
Ohhhh,  
Keith : 3/11/2018 2:33 pm : link
then he has a good pt. The Lowes guy is a moron. I want new grass. I have certain areas that don't have any grass(I cleared out a ton of brush last year and now it's just dirt.
Weed n Feed  
Bockman : 3/11/2018 2:35 pm : link
Is weed killer / pre-emergent plus fertilizer. There's no seed in it.

Seed and feed is seed plus fertilizer.

Generally, the combo products are inferior to doing the steps separately. Also generally the combos are more expensive.

If you want a pre-emergent (stops seeds from germinating, i.e., crabgrass), apply something like Preen for Lawns mid-april (when the forsythia blooms).

For new grass, get a bag of your desired seed. Not the patch stuff, not the "coated" seeds, just seed only. Drop dress it with a thin layer of something like manure or peat moss. Give it a bit of starter fertilizer.
RE: Ohhhh,  
pjcas18 : 3/11/2018 2:36 pm : link
In comment 13858849 Keith said:
Quote:
then he has a good pt. The Lowes guy is a moron. I want new grass. I have certain areas that don't have any grass(I cleared out a ton of brush last year and now it's just dirt.


And you shouldn't apply most weed & feeds to newly seeded lawns for I think 6 weeks, (the package should say it).
Spring and Fall are the best times ...  
Beer Man : 3/11/2018 3:55 pm : link
Most grass types germinate when temps are between 50 and 65 degrees. Outside of those temps you are just feeding the birds.
Don't use Weed and Feed with "pre-emergence"  
Beer Man : 3/11/2018 3:57 pm : link
It prevents the germination process
Also, if you are over-seeding  
Beer Man : 3/11/2018 4:16 pm : link
then weed & feed is fine. If it is a new lawn, just use a "New Lawn" fertilizer.
Not yet...  
Ryan : 3/11/2018 4:33 pm : link
Soil temps are still too cold and there's still risk of temps dropping again. Spring isn't the best time because the new grass doesn't have enough time to put down roots deep enough to deal with summer heat.

If you want to give it a shot anyway:
- Wait until the rest of the lawn is actively growing and daytime temps are steadily in the 60s or above for at least a week or two (usually mid-late April).
- For your first fertilizer application use a Step 1 for new lawns that uses Tupersan as the pre-emergent. It won't prevent germination of cool season grasses. Both Scotts and Agway make versions that are readily available to the public and any lawn contractor you have can probably get you better stuff.
- Use only Perennial Rye for seed. It's the only strain that will germinate fast enough (7-10 days) to have a chance to get roots down before summer.
- Only spot treat weeds in May/June - no full lawn application.

Even with this you need some luck along the way - i.e. a cooler than normal late spring/early summer.
Good stuff,  
Keith : 3/11/2018 4:39 pm : link
thanks guys. I'm def gonna wait a bit. Not to mention I bought the wrong thing(thanks Lowes guy!).
Skip the landscaper  
UConn4523 : 3/11/2018 7:48 pm : link
and get a guy who only does grass seeding and fertilization. I did this 2 years ago and the results are amazing. Most landscapers just spread some shitty seed and don’t know what they are doing with pre emergence or fertilizer - their business is pumping out lawns to cut and clean up.

My guy power seeds and uses a certain seed that allows for a fertilizer + weed killing combo that doesn’t hurt new germination. Then apply lime 3x per year. He’s cheaper than a landscaper by a wide margin.
you can get away with seeding now  
jlukes : 3/11/2018 7:58 pm : link
but how it takes all depends on how the weather is for may/june. If we have a dry and warm may and june than the roots may not get deep enough before drought season and youll lose most of what you plant.
RE: Don't use Weed and Feed with  
jlukes : 3/11/2018 8:00 pm : link
In comment 13858959 Beer Man said:
Quote:
It prevents the germination process


This. So much this.

And you really don't need a pre-emergent if you have a healthy lawn. Your lawn will be full enough to crowd out any potential weeks. I haven't put down pre-emergent in years.

In fact, I avoid Scotts products altogether.

I am a straight milorganite man now and it is absolutely incredible for the lawn and pretty much dummy proof.
and don't seed until nights are consistently above freezing  
jlukes : 3/11/2018 8:02 pm : link
one night before freezing can wipe out a new seedling
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