Search found 206 matches

by micvog
May 10th, 2021, 10:15 am
Forum: Lawn Renovations
Topic: Boise new lawn establishment
Replies: 5
Views: 1294

Re: Boise new lawn establishment

So the dormant seeding was a bust due to a hard frost the weekend following putting seed down (wasn't forecasted, but given the time of year wasn't really unexpected either). I did get a fair amount of germination late Winter/early Spring, but only enough to be a nuisance. So far this Spring the fol...
by micvog
October 7th, 2020, 10:33 am
Forum: Lawn Renovations
Topic: Boise new lawn establishment
Replies: 5
Views: 1294

Re: Boise new lawn establishment

I ended up ordering some Grand Slam GLD and the Scotts Starter with mesotrione for use as a cover crop. I am not sure if I will be able to get the PR established before winter but it will be fun trying, and hopefully it will be "good enough" to get me through next Spring and Summer before the Fall r...
by micvog
September 19th, 2020, 7:51 pm
Forum: Lawn Renovations
Topic: Boise new lawn establishment
Replies: 5
Views: 1294

Re: Boise new lawn establishment

Thanks bpgreen. I'll have to give that some thought. Fencing and hardscape wouldn't go until the Spring so I hadn't considered dormant seeding. Maybe I could use the packing paper instead of the moving boxes? Looking at the NTEP data, I didn't see results from anywhere in the Intermountain west. Any...
by micvog
September 18th, 2020, 9:58 pm
Forum: Lawn Renovations
Topic: Boise new lawn establishment
Replies: 5
Views: 1294

Boise new lawn establishment

My wife and I are closing on a new home in Boise, Idaho at the end of October; first frost is typically mid-October. Obviously it is way too late to establish a KBG lawn from seed, and the only sod available is either a KBG/PR-mix or a NoMix, so I am looking for suggestions on how best to position m...
by micvog
May 23rd, 2020, 8:34 am
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Robotic mower questions.
Replies: 5
Views: 625

Re: Robotic mower questions.

I tried out a robotic mowing service last July (Robin Autopilot). The local franchisee was fantastic to work with, and the install was seamless. However, I didn't like the results. The robot was more work than I was expecting (e.g. it didn't have a built-in rain sensor, so I was constantly monitorin...
by micvog
May 19th, 2020, 12:01 pm
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Broadcast Spreader Recommendations
Replies: 10
Views: 1581

Re: Broadcast Spreader Recommendations

I just got the Echo RB-60 at the beginning of the year to replace an Earthway 2170 (not a fan of the 2170). I love the Echo - seems to throw an accurate and even pattern, easy to push, perfect size for my yard, etc. I would second Ben's recommendation except that is does not meet the OP's 80# requir...
by micvog
May 8th, 2020, 10:33 am
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: Compost Starter (Drunken)
Replies: 3
Views: 340

Re: Compost Starter (Drunken)

Thanks bpgreen!

Currently snowing with an expected low tonight of 26. Guess I am just waiting on the weather at this point.
by micvog
May 7th, 2020, 8:52 am
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: Compost Starter (Drunken)
Replies: 3
Views: 340

Compost Starter (Drunken)

My wife and I are looking to start composting. We are starting with a GeoBin and were intending to use the "Drunken Compost Starter" recipe found around the internet (can of beer, can of soda, and 8oz of ammonia). Unfortunately we can't find ammonia given the current circumstances. As I understand i...
by micvog
April 5th, 2020, 6:26 pm
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Electric mower suggestions
Replies: 8
Views: 2530

Re: Electric mower suggestions

I switched over to a battery mower last summer when Lowe's was aggressively discounting the Craftsman V60 mowers . I love it. I am not an expert in electric motors, and I am probably about to demonstrate that, but when I was researching battery mowers I was told it was most useful to compare Watt Ho...
by micvog
January 11th, 2020, 12:20 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Happy New Year and 2020 Changes in your Plans
Replies: 5
Views: 527

Re: Happy New Year and 2020 Changes in your Plans

Two changes for me...

1. Going to do a soil test in the Spring and let that drive my feeding plan for 2020. I haven't done a test the past 2 years.
2. Leveling. Got the 36" R&R Leveling Rake and starting to identify local sources for leveling material.
by micvog
November 15th, 2019, 8:23 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Out of curiosity, how many times did you mow this year?
Replies: 18
Views: 801

Re: Out of curiosity, how many times did you mow this year?

39 times for me, and I tried a robot mower (Robin Autopilot) for a month. Without that, it probably would have been ~46.
by micvog
October 8th, 2019, 8:49 pm
Forum: Equipment
Topic: Honda HRX 217 Suction issue
Replies: 65
Views: 17991

Re: Honda HRX 217 Suction issue

I owned a Toro SR for the past 3 seasons, and used a neighbor's Honda HRX at the beginning of last year. He was having the same issues as you described, but with his NoMix lawn. After two bad mows, he asked me to use it on my KBG lawn. Same thing. He mulches at the highest setting; I mulch at just u...
by micvog
September 2nd, 2019, 5:12 pm
Forum: Lawn Care Basics 101
Topic: Rodent control
Replies: 4
Views: 387

Re: Rodent control

I have had good luck with Protecta RTU bait stations (I have 6 around the perimeter of my house) and TOMCAT all-weather blox. I still have some activity (when I switch out the blox they are partially eaten) but rodent sightings have gone down dramatically.
by micvog
July 29th, 2019, 7:50 am
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Grassy Weed ID Help
Replies: 2
Views: 234

Re: Grassy Weed ID Help

Thanks. That would be a new AI to try... will give it a try.
by micvog
July 25th, 2019, 4:57 pm
Forum: Organic lawn care
Topic: Pricing for corn, soybean, and alfalfa
Replies: 15
Views: 2101

Re: Pricing for corn, soybean, and alfalfa

50# Cracked Corn - $7.89 (Fleet Farm)
40# Rabbit Food - $13.29 (Fleet Farm)
50# SBM - $18 (local feed Mill)

I can get 40# of Alfalfa pellets for $13.99 at Fleet Farm but prefer using rabbit food since it flows through my Earthway 2170 better.
by micvog
July 24th, 2019, 8:51 pm
Forum: Cool-season grasses
Topic: Grassy Weed ID Help
Replies: 2
Views: 234

Grassy Weed ID Help

I am hoping someone can help me ID the following grassy weed: https://i.postimg.cc/JDSNY7W0/IMG-20190724-194138.jpg https://i.postimg.cc/Zv3rGkTc/IMG-20190724-194246.jpg It has stayed in the same spot for the last few years. Round-Up for Lawns, Triclopyr, and Tenacity haven't seemed to faze it. I am...
by micvog
June 1st, 2019, 3:22 pm
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: What are your thoughts on Scotts Foundation Soil Conditioner
Replies: 8
Views: 7216

Re: What are your thoughts on Scotts Foundation Soil Conditioner

The bag I saw at my local Ace Hardware store was on sale for $24.99 for a 25# bag and listed the following ingredients:

Volcanic Ash - 60%
Coconut Husk Biochar - 30%
Attapulgite Clay - 10%
by micvog
May 24th, 2019, 7:17 pm
Forum: Water cooler
Topic: Congratulations to SLYDER27
Replies: 11
Views: 899

Re: Congratulations to SLYDER27

Congratulations!
by micvog
January 19th, 2019, 9:23 am
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: Reading and Interpreting Fertilizer Labels
Replies: 69
Views: 2644

Re: Reading and Interpreting Fertilizer Labels

Don't do that! :)

What's the next thing to understand?
by micvog
January 6th, 2019, 5:40 pm
Forum: Soil management and compost forum
Topic: Reading and Interpreting Fertilizer Labels
Replies: 69
Views: 2644

Re: Reading and Interpreting Fertilizer Labels

Salt index tells how, on a relative scale, how much salt would be added to the soil from using a specific fertilizer. Higher levels of salt are bad for the micro-herd/soil biology.