Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Kentucky bluegrass, Fescue, Rye and Bent, etc
Post Reply
Fullheadofturf1234
Posts: 176
Joined: June 10th, 2018, 1:41 pm
Location: Southeast Michigan
Grass Type: KBG I think
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by Fullheadofturf1234 » October 11th, 2018, 4:36 pm

Last app went down last saturday, grass is definitly slowing down. I think im done until
The winterizer. Anyone in michigan aggree?

s3_buell_
Posts: 40
Joined: August 12th, 2018, 8:36 pm
Location: Detroit
Grass Type: TTTF, KBG
Lawn Size: 3000-5000
Level: Experienced

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by s3_buell_ » October 11th, 2018, 9:40 pm

If you're not getting clippings, then you are done. Let the grass, and the great ATY gurus be your guide.

In Dearborn, I'm definitely not done yet this year. I'm still cutting twice a week as of Wednesday. Now, that said, we're suddenly below average temp instead of way over and growth could stop at any time. I did switch to Urea from Milorganite to get better control, so I'm definitely expecting to be done soon.

Around Halloween, (when I season cycle the shed, prep the snow blower, etc.) is when everything lawn expect the mulching mower and one winterizing Urea app for November get put away. I can't remember ever still feeding at Halloween so we're very close to done.

greenrebellion
Posts: 580
Joined: July 25th, 2016, 4:51 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Grass Type: Bewitched KBG
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by greenrebellion » October 14th, 2018, 5:20 pm

I am throwing one more app down today. Still cutting every five days or so here.

Fullheadofturf1234
Posts: 176
Joined: June 10th, 2018, 1:41 pm
Location: Southeast Michigan
Grass Type: KBG I think
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by Fullheadofturf1234 » October 15th, 2018, 2:21 pm

Thats 2 now. Maybe I should do one more then eh

SNN705
Posts: 14
Joined: October 15th, 2018, 3:39 pm
Location: West of Chicago
Grass Type: Old K31 NoMix overseeded w/ Black Beauty and Bewitched
Lawn Size: 3000-5000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by SNN705 » October 15th, 2018, 5:30 pm

Long time lurker, clarifying question here:

If the grass is slowing down, and N is supposed to be finishing up by approx first frost, doesn't the program call to stop nitrogen applications so the grass can slow down on its own instead of forcing new growth?

Or has SE Michigan not hit avg first frost/actual frost yet?


smontgo150
Posts: 42
Joined: May 31st, 2017, 4:39 pm
Location: Michican
Grass Type: KBG / Fescue
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by smontgo150 » October 15th, 2018, 5:38 pm

Still cutting here in Lake Orion. The grass is slowing but still growing well. I too applied one more does of Urea yesterday before the supposed rain storm. We only got .05 so I had to fire up the irrigation again and water it in. I'm blowing out all 20 zones again now. My neighbors are going to love me.

greenrebellion
Posts: 580
Joined: July 25th, 2016, 4:51 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Grass Type: Bewitched KBG
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by greenrebellion » October 15th, 2018, 6:06 pm

SNN705 wrote:
October 15th, 2018, 5:30 pm
Long time lurker, clarifying question here:

If the grass is slowing down, and N is supposed to be finishing up by approx first frost, doesn't the program call to stop nitrogen applications so the grass can slow down on its own instead of forcing new growth?

Or has SE Michigan not hit avg first frost/actual frost yet?
Yes, you want to stop apps before growth stops, we use average first frost date to help time the pause. My first frost date is Oct 10. So technically I applied a few days after my average date but I didn't winterize until Dec 4th last year so I'm not too concerned about it.

Fullheadofturf1234
Posts: 176
Joined: June 10th, 2018, 1:41 pm
Location: Southeast Michigan
Grass Type: KBG I think
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by Fullheadofturf1234 » November 10th, 2018, 9:33 am

So.... how we feeling after the snow and weather shift?

Lows now in the 20 and no higher than 40 everyday, have you put down the last app yet?


I think mine is going down this weekend to get watered in with the melting snow

User avatar
andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by andy10917 » November 10th, 2018, 9:41 am

Make sure that the grass has stopped growing COMPLETELY - don't panic and ignore all the signals just because of an early snowfall. This too shall pass. If you put it down while the grass is still growing, the growth will accelerate and you'll be dealing with the effects of that until June of 2019 - winter kill and snow mold.

greenrebellion
Posts: 580
Joined: July 25th, 2016, 4:51 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Grass Type: Bewitched KBG
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by greenrebellion » November 10th, 2018, 4:55 pm

Too early in Michigan. Snow will melt and it will likely warm back up into the 40's. My grass was growing about 3/8" of an inch every 5 days at last mowing a couple days ago.

Fullheadofturf1234
Posts: 176
Joined: June 10th, 2018, 1:41 pm
Location: Southeast Michigan
Grass Type: KBG I think
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by Fullheadofturf1234 » November 10th, 2018, 9:07 pm

Thanks for the guidance. Mowing is becoming increasingly more difficult because my mower does not like to start in the cold...

smontgo150
Posts: 42
Joined: May 31st, 2017, 4:39 pm
Location: Michican
Grass Type: KBG / Fescue
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by smontgo150 » November 12th, 2018, 12:06 pm

The long term forecast shows it just getting colder with more snow. No more warm days in site. My soil temps at 3 inches is 39. I'm dropping my final app with the snowfall tonight.

Fullheadofturf1234
Posts: 176
Joined: June 10th, 2018, 1:41 pm
Location: Southeast Michigan
Grass Type: KBG I think
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by Fullheadofturf1234 » November 12th, 2018, 12:08 pm

Im gona give it couple days then mow... if i cant see any visible clippings then im dropping it.
Agreeed with the weather.
But i have no basis of what soil temps should be toindicate the right time

smontgo150
Posts: 42
Joined: May 31st, 2017, 4:39 pm
Location: Michican
Grass Type: KBG / Fescue
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by smontgo150 » November 12th, 2018, 1:42 pm

Most say in the 38 to 34 degree range. I will say that my soil temp dropped from 42 to 39 in 3 days so I'm dropping now. No sun in the forecast here and 31 high with a 20 low tomorrow coupled with highs only a few degrees higher for the rest of the foreseeable future tell me it's time. I'd rather get it down before this next snowfall. I just did my last mow with a bag and got hardly anything so I'll go with that.

smontgo150
Posts: 42
Joined: May 31st, 2017, 4:39 pm
Location: Michican
Grass Type: KBG / Fescue
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by smontgo150 » November 12th, 2018, 1:46 pm

Also, the one Commercial Lawn Guru- Actually really knowledgeable just a two man operation was just dropping in my neighborhood. All his lawns are fantastic and I told my Wife that when I drop dead, to hire him.

greenrebellion
Posts: 580
Joined: July 25th, 2016, 4:51 pm
Location: Grand Rapids, MI
Grass Type: Bewitched KBG
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by greenrebellion » November 13th, 2018, 12:32 pm

Must be a little colder where you are at smontgo. I am going to be in the low 40's Thursday and Friday. No snow cover where I am at right now. Going to mow my test area one more time but I suspect my overnight low of 22 degrees and this recent cold spell is going to shut things down. Wouldn't be surprised if I drop my final app within the next week.

smontgo150
Posts: 42
Joined: May 31st, 2017, 4:39 pm
Location: Michican
Grass Type: KBG / Fescue
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by smontgo150 » November 13th, 2018, 1:03 pm

We got right at 3 inches here last night with some winter mix before hand. Freep actually did a story about the early winter not that I really put too much stock in their stories. Geographically Grand Rapids is farther North than me by about 20 miles however I am much more rural. I'd bet that the warmer air off Lake Michigan is helping you out.

s3_buell_
Posts: 40
Joined: August 12th, 2018, 8:36 pm
Location: Detroit
Grass Type: TTTF, KBG
Lawn Size: 3000-5000
Level: Experienced

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by s3_buell_ » November 13th, 2018, 9:46 pm

On Nov 4, after seeing no growth at all for more than a week, I decided to winterize before the next significant forecast rain, then found that the next rain would be the next day, so I winterized Nov 4. This is more a week earlier than my average timing. We dropped average temps to the 30s shortly thereafter as the front left and have even had a couple of snow falls since.

I think this year reinforces the need to use your eyes and to ignore the calendar.

Fullheadofturf1234
Posts: 176
Joined: June 10th, 2018, 1:41 pm
Location: Southeast Michigan
Grass Type: KBG I think
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by Fullheadofturf1234 » November 13th, 2018, 10:18 pm

Ill be dropping mine at next rainfall... the kicker in all of this the fact that the lows at nights are in the mid 20’s.

Ya it might get up to 40 41 for a day or 2 but will taht really male a difference?

smontgo150
Posts: 42
Joined: May 31st, 2017, 4:39 pm
Location: Michican
Grass Type: KBG / Fescue
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: Aggressive fall N plan in michigan

Post by smontgo150 » November 14th, 2018, 1:10 pm

No, it will make no difference unless there is significant sunshine and even then, with the suns angle not much at all. My soil temp at 3" is now 35 as of noon today. I'm glad I dropped when I did. The forecast coupled with my soil temps and lack of growth created the perfect timing.

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 30 guests