Serenade: how effective on Spring renos for prevention?

[Green]

I've been renovating patches, some small and some large, due to Triv. Mid Spring seeding is tough, but so far the weather has mostly cooperated. But I'm going to prepare for transition-zone-esqu humidity like last year (mid and high 70s dew points) just in case.

There are several potential limitations with Serenade for this purpose, though. One is that as a contact bio fungicide, it will be washed off the new grass with each watering. Another is that I just wonder if it's effective enough for a Spring reno.

My question for anyone who considers themselves an experienced Serenade user (such as Andy; not sure if there are a few others currently on here, too), is Serenade likely to be effective for this type of prevention use, or is this likely to be a job for synthetics (which I try not to use for prevention) ?

Thanks.

[john5246]

How much more of an issue is fungus during a mid to late spring seeding?

[andy10917]

JOHN5246, please open your own topic, and don't hijack someone else's.

GREEN: you could add a sticker (I use Nu-Film P or Nu-Film 17) to prolong the effectiveness and keep it from washing off - I'm experimenting with it now.

[Green]

Andy,

As noted I haven't gotten the Nu-Film 17 yet. Monday might be free of rain and wind and good fir spraying, but with possible rain to follow in the forecast any or all days next week after it. Do you feel a Serenade app without Nu-Film would be a waste if it rains lightly to moderately on half the days? I already have trace to moderate amounts of disease, and would like to keep things from getting bad, while disease conditions (wetness and overnight temps in the 60s) are going to be escalating rapidly.

[andy10917]

It is certainly better than doing nothing. We're in the season and conditions now for fungal problems. I did the proactive biofungicide program for nine years without Nu-Film and it worked - rain or no rain.

[KBGkicksazz]

Given that most of us on the forum are more likely on the heavier side of fertilizing, it makes it even that more important to get something down.

Doesn’t take much searching on here to see how quickly people’s work has been thwarted by a fungus raging across the lawn.

I would not recommended skipping it. The heavy watering is only 3-4 weeks anyways at which time you’d have to treat anyways.

Andy,

As noted I haven't gotten the Nu-Film 17 yet. Monday might be free of rain and wind and good fir spraying, but with possible rain to follow in the forecast any or all days next week after it. Do you feel a Serenade app without Nu-Film would be a waste if it rains lightly to moderately on half the days? I already have trace to moderate amounts of disease, and would like to keep things from getting bad, while disease conditions (wetness and overnight temps in the 60s) are going to be escalating rapidly.

[Green]

Ok, guys...thanks a lot.

[Green]

I got to hit a few areas before both sprayers quit working. You do what you can, when you can.

[Green]

Update: been spraying many areas several hours ahead of rain. Guess it's better than doing nothing.

[Green]

Andy: Do you tend to re-apply Serenade after rain, on high disease pressure areas that received an app prior to multi-day rain events or lots of rain? I think I'm going to, because there's already low level disease present. I used that strategy last year, too.

[andy10917]

After 10 years of doing this, I think the area is probably well-inoculated. I don't fuss about rain.

[Green]

What about the first couple of years?

And that leads to my other question...even in the first year or two of use, is there evidence that the bacteria in it have soil activity after getting washed off the grass...soil activity that protects against foliar disease, too?

This is either my 2nd or 3rd year...not sure, would have to look it up.

[andy10917]

I had a couple of minor breakouts in the first year or two.

I have no scientific proof of this, but here's my theory (posted here a few years ago): The QST713 strain is very good at its job, but when it mixes with the "wild variety" for an extended period of time, they lose their "super" characteristics in making antibiotics. But the "native/wild" types get the job done pretty well.

Bacillus Subtilis naturally exists in soil, in varying amounts. It also exists in your digestive tract, so theoretically you could try barfing on your lawn instead of buying the stuff. Personally, I'm gonna stick with the bottled stuff.

[Green]

Sounds plausible/logical. And by applying it often, we're probably increasing their numbers over time anyway. It's possible that skews numbers higher long-term (regardless of how the strains of B. Subtilis change over time).

Barfing...

[HoosierDaddy]

I did a backyard reno in 2016 and front yard in 2017 (but lots of repair/plugs/reseed in 2018.) My backyard doesn't have much fungal pressure. But my front has a few areas showing issues. I believe the biggest difference is 2 full seasons of proactive Serenade apps on the back versus one or less on the front. We have had bad conditions for it this spring, lots of rain and now the heat has hit. It's a regimen, keep on it and be prepared to fight back in the early years.