Greenrebellion's Fall 2017 Renovation

[greenrebellion]

Walking the reno area this morning and there are too many areas where Bewitched is 50% or more bleached, so I am done with Tenacity for the year outside of spot spraying a few areas, will deal with the remainder of the annual bluegrass in Spring.

Here's my revised schedule for the rest of the year, should be pretty straightforward from here on out:
9/16 - Urea at 1lb/K, starter at 1lb/K and Alfalfa at 10lb/K (equals total N of about 1lb/K assuming 2.5% or so in the alfalfa)
9/23 - Jonathan Green Crabgrass Preventer Granules (a.i. dithiopyr) at 2.8lb/K
9/23 - Urea at 1lb/K*
*Continue Urea until first frost and then Winterizer at 2lb/K of Urea once top growth ceases.

Currently watering every other day, will go to every three days starting next week but dropping 1/3" of an inch of water instead of a 1/4".

Thanks to everyone for their support in this thread. While there is still a long way to go to get this reno looking like I want it to be, I feel like I am setup for success this time around.

[llO0DQLE]

You've done a great job! Can't wait to see Day 60 pics.

[greenrebellion]

1lb of Urea and 1lb of 12/24/6 starter went down today as well as about 8lb/K of Alfalfa pellets, watered it all in.

That is my last app of starter and only app of Alfalfa for the year. Just urea from here on out.

Was going to drop back to once every 3 days watering, but it is supposed to be in the 80's this week, potentially all the way up to 87 degrees ?!?! So I'm going to water more aggressively this week and wait for it to cool down before dropping back further on the frequency.

I'll take some pics once the heavy bleaching wears off.

[greenrebellion]

I think there is one more key decision to make this season. Do I drop my Jonathan Green Crabgrass preventer (dithiopyr) this Saturday (day 42 from seeding and day 37 from first sign of germination)...or next Saturday?

Label states:

For newly established lawns, initial application of this product should be made only after turfgrasses have developed a vigorous root system, uniform stand, and received at least two mowings following seeding, sodding, or sprigging. Exception: In newly established lawns of Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and/or tall fescue, this product may be applied two weeks after the first sign of germination.

Weather is going to be in the upper 80's all this week (highly unusual for this time of year in my area), my concern is that when the temps inevitably drop dramatically, could I get another huge wave of annual bluegrass germinating?

Let me know if anyone has any thoughts. I'm leaning towards this weekend as it seems to be well within what the label states.

[jfoege]

Doesn't dithiopyr control annual grasses up to the 2nd tiller stage? I know it does for crabgrass. If so for Poa Annua, I'd hold off the week. Just my 2 cents.

[probasesteal]

Me personally, I'd drop now, as long as you aren't seeding anything else. I thought it was 60 days, but know studies have shown Dithiopyr is safe 14 days after emergence. I've used it at 28-30 days on TTTF and PRG w/ no negative results.

[greenrebellion]

Ya, I'm throwing the pre-emergent down as soon as this heat wave passes.

Applied my second app of Serenade today at 4oz/K to prepare for the 91 degree forecast tomorrow with 72 degree dewpoint...ugh!.

[probasesteal]

I think you will be fine. My renovations, here and my old home have been fine in the heat. Heck I seeded and had almost 2 weeks of 90s this year

[greenrebellion]

Mowed, 1/2 bag rate of Milorganite and watered. Skipping Urea for a week given temps, will resume next weekend.

Its thickening up nicely, Tenacity bleaching is nearly gone except areas where I am spot treating.

No fungal pressures yet (fingers crossed). 95 degree high today with 70+ degree dewpoints.

[greenrebellion]

Here's a pic for you guys. This is such a night and day difference from last year's failed reno, I mean wow, insanely different outcome.

Day 42:

[andy10917]

Rating: Does Not Suck

[ken-n-nancy]

Day 42:

Hey, wait a second. Is that the same area that you've been having the trouble with poa annua and were hitting who-knows-how-many-times with Tenacity?

That's looking great! I'll trade you my front lawn for that!

(My front lawn has been overrun with poa trivialis this year -- I think it's been stealthily invading over the past couple years and then with the long spring and mild summer this year, it's decided to overrun everything else...)

Keep up the good work!

[SNOWBOB11]

Wow that's great! Amazing job man. It looks so thick. All that hard work is paying off.

[greenrebellion]

Thanks KnN...I got a little aggressive with my Tenacity and fertilization this year given my situation and it seems to be paying off. One thing is for sure, Poa annua dies very fast to Tenacity when it is younger/less established.

My main broadleaf weed is Carolina Geranium with Purslane coming in second. Tenacity didn't do much with either of them. Is there any advantage to waiting to Spring to hitting these things or should I pick up some Trimec and spot spray this fall? I've mowed several times now so technically per the label I'm fine to hit it this year. But just wondering if there is any strategic advantage one way or the other.

Argument for waiting...don't do anything else that hampers the grass in any way this fall, let it grow and establish and worry about weeds next year (especially since it is just now finally recovering from a relatively aggressive tenacity regimen).

Argument for doing something now. Weeds may outcompete and I will probably be slamming my grass with Tenacity next Spring to deal with residual Poa annua and so may not have a window to get Trimec in too.

Probably not a huge deal either way, but let me know if anyone has an opinion.

[ken-n-nancy]

My main broadleaf weed is Carolina Geranium...

I have no direct experience with Carolina geranium, but Michigan State University says Carolina geranium will not effectively compete with a vigorous turf. (See the "Management" tab at the link.)

Quinclorac (Drive XLR8) is also labeled for Carolina geranium, so I don't think it would be a long term problem.

Purslane is controlled by 2,4-D so I don't think either of them will pose a long-term threat. I'd hand pull / mow what you have for now, and not chemically treat until spring -- however, it looks like your grass would tolerate spot-sprays of either quinclorac or 2,4-D.

[llO0DQLE]

Great job!

[__JT__]

That’s awesome! Nice work.

[JohnP]

Looks great, but needs more flags

[seiyafan]

Best lawn on the block by the end of the year.

[greenrebellion]

Thanks all! I am pretty excited about how this is coming along.

The flags were to help me with accurate Tenacity spraying .