Search found 552 matches

by rtomek
May 12th, 2020, 11:14 pm
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: rtomek's 2020 soil test
Replies: 4
Views: 309

Re: rtomek's 2020 soil test

Yes, I agree that it's the consistency of Milorganite. I don't know if some of it gets crushed during transport or whatever, but I always assumed it was due to the high rate of application. I didn't notice it myself at first, but my wife has taken pictures and there's definitely a dust cloud about t...
by rtomek
May 12th, 2020, 9:27 pm
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: rtomek's 2020 soil test
Replies: 4
Views: 309

Re: rtomek's 2020 soil test

So far the only digging I've done (besides collecting samples) was some spade edging in the front yard but I found it easier than the old place, and didn't have to constantly scrape huge chunks off of shovel like the old place either. The last yard tested as 18-20 TEC so my reference is structurally...
by rtomek
May 11th, 2020, 12:30 pm
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: rtomek's 2020 soil test
Replies: 4
Views: 309

rtomek's 2020 soil test

Hello and thanks in advance. I moved last November to a new(er) home, it was sodded with bluegrass only a few years ago but from talking to the neighbors, the previous owner did absolutely nothing to the yard and the visual evidence supports that. There was a huge patch of clover (gone by mid-April)...
by rtomek
June 17th, 2019, 10:21 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: 2019: What Did You Do On Your Lawn Today?
Replies: 391
Views: 19022

Re: 2019: What Did You Do On Your Lawn Today?

Put down my second app of Heritage G last night along with a light feeding. Brown patch is mostly under control thanks to finally getting some sun during the last two weeks. The forecast for this week is calling for 7 days of clouds and rain again :(
by rtomek
October 29th, 2018, 1:13 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: What Do You Use For A Final Winter HOC?
Replies: 19
Views: 1541

Re: What Do You Use For A Final Winter HOC?

I'm at 2.5" all year, except for a 2.0" first mow of the year to get rid of the old blades. I would like to stick with 2.0" (or lower) all year except it's tough to commit to mowing frequently enough to not make the 2.0" cut a slog, even with PGR.
by rtomek
September 14th, 2018, 11:36 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Cut wet grass or let it grow?
Replies: 10
Views: 637

Re: Cut wet grass or let it grow?

Our summer was surprisingly wet this year too. One of my neighbors is retired and could mow twice a week, my other neighbor and I had to make two passes every week. I didn't change my height of cut (2.5") at all and the grass seems fine. I avoid mowing wet grass as much as I can just to prevent clum...
by rtomek
September 11th, 2018, 11:21 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Where to buy Urea Fertilizer in the Chicagoland area?
Replies: 18
Views: 947

Re: Where to buy Urea Fertilizer in the Chicagoland area?

Lemont is within reasonable distance for me, thanks for the tip. There's another small landscaping place by me that will do special orders for urea, but then he raised the price a few years back and it wasn't worth it compared to buying lower N% stuff at a big box store. I'm surprised no Site One in...
by rtomek
June 11th, 2018, 5:14 pm
Forum: Equipment
Topic: What do you wear?
Replies: 8
Views: 615

Re: What do you wear?

I have some PVC-coated gloves that I always have on while mixing, primarily to avoid blue tracker dye getting on my hands. I also always wear glasses, as getting any chemical in my eyes freaks me out. I have my rust covered Iron Sulfate outfits - jeans, sweatshirt, t-shirt and shorts. I also have so...
by rtomek
May 15th, 2018, 3:20 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Who hasn't applied Nitrogen yet?
Replies: 19
Views: 874

Re: Who hasn't applied Nitrogen yet?

I still haven't put down anything yet. I started a bit later than the neighbors, but every time I cut it gets a darker shade of green. It's so dark and thick that I don't see a need to push it earlier than Memorial Day. I agree with HLG that there is a noticable difference this second Spring compare...
by rtomek
May 14th, 2018, 5:39 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Poa Pratensis rhizome growth question
Replies: 36
Views: 19198

Re: Poa Pratensis rhizome growth question

@abattle79 I don't know about triv, looks like KBG but some places have a higher density of seedheads than others. It may just be small differences in soil temps or age that makes it looks patchy.
by rtomek
May 1st, 2018, 2:26 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Too Late for Pre-M - Chicago
Replies: 2
Views: 233

Re: Too Late for Pre-M - Chicago

You're far enough North that it looks like you're still in the optimal window for maybe one more day. It was cold enough through early April that you're still alright.
by rtomek
April 4th, 2018, 12:18 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Milorganite on Sale
Replies: 38
Views: 4222

Re: Milorganite on Sale

These sales are always YMMV for walmart. I used brickseek and anywhere near me that has it on sale is permanently sold out.
by rtomek
February 26th, 2018, 4:18 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: What’s your average first mow?
Replies: 16
Views: 1432

Re: What’s your average first mow?

Mid-April is usually my first mow, but mostly dead tips. Weekly mowing begins in May.
by rtomek
December 6th, 2017, 1:43 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: So how'd the season go for everyone?
Replies: 17
Views: 1400

Re: So how'd the season go for everyone?

This first year after my reno was awesome! I finished converting every single sprinkler head to rotator MPs in the Spring, but that was about it. This year was so low maintenance compare to previous years. I didn't even need any FAS, I just threw it in with PGR once or twice since I have it on-hand....
by rtomek
December 6th, 2017, 1:12 pm
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: preventing phosphorus from leaching
Replies: 5
Views: 356

Re: preventing phosphorus from leaching

The paper used 15 mg L−1 (ppm) Aluminum Sulfate, which is why they deem it as probably safe for cranberries. This chemical doesn't quite work the same as copper sulfate, the copper actually kills the algae and reduces water oxygen - the lack of oxygen can kill fish if too much is used at once. The A...
by rtomek
December 5th, 2017, 3:20 pm
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: preventing phosphorus from leaching
Replies: 5
Views: 356

Re: preventing phosphorus from leaching

This really isn't some big revelation, it's been known since at least 1974: https://www.leg.state.mn.us/edocs/edocs?oclcnumber=09773927 I guess this is potentially a new application though, using it with cranberries instead of fish ponds. I don't see where they mention using it year after year, sinc...
by rtomek
December 4th, 2017, 2:57 pm
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Scotts offers spreader replacement parts
Replies: 11
Views: 23762

Re: Scotts offers spreader replacement parts

What did mine in was gypsum, though it doesn't really like Milorganite either since I have to use so many more lbs/sqft than the scotts brand stuff. I don't know why they bother making the hopper as large as it is, since it doesn't work right and starts damaging parts if it's more than about 2/3 ful...
by rtomek
October 12th, 2017, 1:40 pm
Forum: Lawn Care Basics 101
Topic: Fertilizer strength/dispersion/uniform coverage
Replies: 4
Views: 338

Re: Fertilizer strength/dispersion/uniform coverage

Like HLG mentioned, you can turn the dial down on your 50 lb to make two passes with either product if you want. I always go for one pass though because it saves time. But with a new product, you sometimes have to make adjustments on the fly. You're not going to burn a lawn if part of it gets 0.8 lb...
by rtomek
October 12th, 2017, 1:16 pm
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: my op ed on mulching leaves
Replies: 7
Views: 387

Re: my op ed on mulching leaves

Maybe once he sees me using his leaves to mulch in our lawn he will finally believe it. Lord knows our soil here needs all the help it can get. When I first moved in, my next door neighbor (similar age) had 10-12 bags of clippings at the end of his driveway every week. I would take them and leave t...
by rtomek
October 12th, 2017, 12:48 pm
Forum: Lawn Care Basics 101
Topic: Chipmunks - Furry little annoying animals
Replies: 6
Views: 416

Re: Chipmunks - Furry little annoying animals

Getting an outdoor cat.