Search found 118 matches

by Owlnsr
September 26th, 2017, 8:08 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: How 'bout it Transition zone?
Replies: 115
Views: 6406

Re: How 'bout it Transition zone?

I dropped TTTF seed in the last week of August for my overseeding. Went a little too aggressive with the seed prep (was trying out my new dethatcher toy) and may have killed most of the existing TTTF (oops). The new seed started off great but then .. 3 weeks with no rain and an oddly hot September, ...
by Owlnsr
September 19th, 2017, 7:47 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Does overseeding really work?
Replies: 6
Views: 476

Re: Does overseeding really work?

Overseeding works. The new plants will take in the spots where existing grass is tired, thin or weakened. In areas where the existing turf is thick and healthy, the new plants will likely get crowded out and die due to competition. The goal is to promote an even and uniform stand... so the new plant...
by Owlnsr
September 2nd, 2017, 10:12 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Advice on which TTTF seed to buy
Replies: 9
Views: 1582

Re: Advice on which TTTF seed to buy

Last year, I did a full TTTF renovation. Firecracker SLS is a wonderful cultivar. It's about 33% of my lawn and looks beautiful. I also have Titanium LS, the precursor to the Titanium SLS as about 33% of my lawn. I believe you will be pleased. The other 33% of my lawn is my favorite cultivar so far:...
by Owlnsr
July 5th, 2017, 9:50 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Leaf spot, Rust, or Heat stress?
Replies: 29
Views: 1298

Re: Leaf spot, Rust, or Heat stress?

Howdy, neighbor. I'm in Chesterfield... probably less than 20-30 minutes away from you. If you planted seed in the spring, don't expect it to survive the good old Richmond humidity and HEAT. Ask me now I know. Your best bet is to not worry about your existing turf now and start planning your fall pr...
by Owlnsr
July 4th, 2017, 10:17 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: 2017: What did you do on your lawn today?
Replies: 1435
Views: 50431

Re: 2017: What did you do on your lawn today?

Backyard: ("dog kingdom"; various cheap mixes of K31 TF, KBG, PRG, FF, TTTF)
Mowed
Milorganite
Jon Green - Love Your Soil
Watered using the Nelson Rain Train (choo choooooooo)

Front yard:("showcase"; elite TTTF)
Early AM irrigation
Admired it with a tall glass of lemonade
by Owlnsr
July 4th, 2017, 9:01 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Guide to creating a cool season blend
Replies: 18
Views: 914

Re: Guide to creating a cool season blend

All grass (and plants, even) are alleopathic. PRG just happens to more effective in its production and emission of biochemicals that favor it's survival over the competition. This is one reason why having a high percentage of PRG (>20%) in a seed mix can lead to PRG dominating the lawn. That being s...
by Owlnsr
July 3rd, 2017, 8:59 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Managing Fescue During HOT Summers - Philosophy?
Replies: 75
Views: 3979

Re: Managing Fescue During HOT Summers - Philosophy?

That's propiconazole, correct? Propiconazole is systemic... that rain will help the roots will soak it up.
by Owlnsr
July 2nd, 2017, 9:07 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Mower tracks and water
Replies: 6
Views: 346

Re: Mower tracks and water

I'm approx 190 pounds. All the weight is concentrated at two spots: my feet. I can stand on a spot for 15 minutes and it will spring back up. I can walk briskly and it spring up. I can lay down on the grass to take a nap and it will spring back up. Why is it that grass will spring up after standing/...
by Owlnsr
June 30th, 2017, 12:34 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Mower tracks and water
Replies: 6
Views: 346

Mower tracks and water

It's often echoed here that grass should spring back up after walking on it ... if it doesn't, the grass needs watering.

Does this same philosophy extend to grass that is laying over from push mower wheel tracks? Mine never pop back up, it seems.

FYI-
I cut with Honda HRX217.
by Owlnsr
June 26th, 2017, 9:35 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Managing Fescue During HOT Summers - Philosophy?
Replies: 75
Views: 3979

Re: Managing Fescue During HOT Summers - Philosophy?

nclawnguy wrote:
June 26th, 2017, 5:03 pm
By the way, back yard k31, no brown patch, looks nice and healthy, go figure.

This. The k31 outperforms all TTTF I've put in my backyard. I'm convinced that the stuff is indestructible. It will outlast the cockroaches.
by Owlnsr
June 20th, 2017, 11:58 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Wife's Complaining - Thick Stems
Replies: 35
Views: 2669

Re: Wife's Complaining - Thick Stems

It'll die in the summer heat. How do you prevent it from coming back? Annual ryegrass doesn't come back; it's an annual. They usually produce seeds and then die in the summer heat. The thick, stiff stems are a good indicator that it wants to produce seeds. Don't let them produce seeds by mowing freq...
by Owlnsr
June 18th, 2017, 6:56 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Wife's Complaining - Thick Stems
Replies: 35
Views: 2669

Re: Wife's Complaining - Thick Stems

I planted gulf annual rye. Looks identical.
by Owlnsr
June 16th, 2017, 8:38 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Drought?? I think I know the answer but
Replies: 8
Views: 633

Re: Drought?? I think I know the answer but

It's not dead... there's still some Green in there. Water it and see. It's possible that you might have insects doing some work on your plants... especially if they were in weakened state due to a dry period.
by Owlnsr
June 16th, 2017, 8:31 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Managing Fescue During HOT Summers - Philosophy?
Replies: 75
Views: 3979

Re: Managing Fescue During HOT Summers - Philosophy?

Ive found that mowing at twice per week at a height of 2.5-3 inches and bagging clippings in the spring helps tall fescue avoid the diseases (brown patch) that later show up ... about now. The cut at the lower height initially helps the grass blades dry out in between the frequent spring rains. The ...
by Owlnsr
June 13th, 2017, 12:21 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Is my soil really that bad or is it me?
Replies: 28
Views: 1253

Re: Is my soil really that bad or is it me?

Just an idea: Do an experiment.

Buy a manual core aerator (they sell them at Lowes... the kind you step on with your feet).

Plug a section of your problem area.

Treat the plugged and the non-plugged section the same.

Observe if the plugs made a difference re: runoff, turf improvement, etc.
by Owlnsr
June 9th, 2017, 7:55 am
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Honda HRX 217 Suction issue
Replies: 65
Views: 18019

Re: Honda HRX 217 Suction issue

To those who have suction issues, How well established is the lawn? Sometimes it takes grass a while to "learn" to grow upright at a higher cut. Maybe some of the "stragglers" are turf that hasn't quite "learned" this yet. I'd imagine that an older, more established lawn would harden up and be a lit...
by Owlnsr
June 4th, 2017, 2:08 pm
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Scotts Pro EdgeGuard Broadcast Spreader
Replies: 7
Views: 657

Re: Scotts Pro EdgeGuard Broadcast Spreader

Have had this spreader for 2 seasons. No problems or issues with it. I wash it out after every application and then let us dry out in the sun before it goes back to the shed. Haven't even needed to put new air in the tires, yet.
by Owlnsr
June 4th, 2017, 1:52 pm
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Honda HRX 217 Suction issue
Replies: 65
Views: 18019

Re: Honda HRX 217 Suction issue

No suction issues with my HRX217. In fact, I think it's suction is amazing. I usually bag my TTTF clippings during the spring flush to help prevent disease and prevent clumps*. I am having to empty then bag about 4 times just on my 3.8k sq ft front yard. * clumps - If I don't bag in the spring flush...
by Owlnsr
May 3rd, 2017, 8:58 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: 200sq feet of Ky-31 in otherwise great lawn. Help?
Replies: 21
Views: 1810

Re: 200sq feet of Ky-31 in otherwise great lawn. Help?

I see you have a dog. The KY-31 is the perfect grass for a dogs backyard. It's virtually indestructible, has deep roots, and is fairly pest resistant (meaning you will likely not need to worry fungicide or insecticide treatments as much as you would with KBG). It's also widely available and cheaper ...
by Owlnsr
May 2nd, 2017, 12:56 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Proplugger available again
Replies: 7
Views: 607

Re: Proplugger available again

Btw. The pro plugger is an excellent tool for selectively removing weeds from the lawn. I've used it to remove orchardgrass and crabgrass. I just remove the ring so it can go full depth, pull a plug out, and then turn the plugger upside down so that the plug falls right back into the hole upside dow...