How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Kentucky bluegrass, Fescue, Rye and Bent, etc

How did the 2019 season meet your expectations?

A: It was my best season ever and met or exceeded my previous seasons
5
17%
B: It was very good, and met most of my expectations
16
55%
C: Some improvement, some areas didn't meet my expectations
6
21%
D: Things in general weren't up to my expectations, and the yard went backward
2
7%
F: It was a poor year, and I'm very disappointed
0
No votes
 
Total votes: 29

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

How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by andy10917 » November 23rd, 2019, 8:43 am

Things are rapidly winding down in the Cool-Season areas, and it's time to look back at how the season went for you.

Please rate how the OVERALL results were for you, compared to other seasons and your expectations. Feel free to also make a Post in this Thread telling us how and why you came to the rating you made.

deboy922
Posts: 68
Joined: June 18th, 2019, 8:42 am
Location: Lafayette, IN
Grass Type: Northern mix
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by deboy922 » November 23rd, 2019, 9:17 am

This year was about learning and acquiring a lot of great knowledge from this website...thank you everyone!

But a record wet spring; followed by a 6 week summer drought; and then a record dry fall; made this year have a lot of frustrations. Hoping for better conditions in 2020!

User avatar
PSU4ME
Posts: 1147
Joined: November 29th, 2016, 9:29 am
Location: Metrowest MA
Grass Type: Front: Bewitched/Midnight/Everglade Back: Midnight/Diva/Everest
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by PSU4ME » November 23rd, 2019, 9:53 am

I feel like I had a pretty good season. Didn’t chase many things (some though) and I was able to keep up with my biological program so that was nice. Areas that were always good were perfect and I was able to make progress on some trouble areas so I was happy. Starting to establish some norms for my lawn which is helpful.

Thanks to all you guys and girls for the help!

Maizan24
Posts: 234
Joined: August 16th, 2016, 4:25 pm
Location: Central CT
Grass Type: Northern mix
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Novice

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by Maizan24 » November 23rd, 2019, 3:48 pm

My lawn gets better and better every year and I have this incredible community to thank. Less weed pressure this year. Great green up in spring (thanks fall N). No major fungal outbreaks. Biggest issue I had was with my renovation being in a pretty heavy shade area. Some spots didnt germinate well. Also poa is an issue in a few spots. Lawn is far from perfect but I'm in it for the long game. Here's to a better still 2020.

Green
Posts: 6837
Joined: September 14th, 2012, 10:53 pm
Location: CT (Zone 6B)
Grass Type: KBG, TTTF, TTPR, and FF (various mixtures)
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by Green » November 23rd, 2019, 10:02 pm

Andy: How do I vote? I don't see a way to cast a vote. There is no button to click.


Runnin Tony
Posts: 16
Joined: September 30th, 2019, 8:43 pm
Location: Atlanta, GA
Grass Type: Tall Fescue
Lawn Size: < 1000
Level: Some Experience

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by Runnin Tony » November 23rd, 2019, 11:22 pm

I second by deboy. Good bit of learning with a new (to me) lawn this year. Gained knowledge around preemergents, managing irrigation and timing of fertilizing. Lots of focus on managing weeds next year and targeting healthy growth.

Masbustelo
Posts: 488
Joined: September 14th, 2018, 10:56 pm
Location: Western Illinois, parallel to tip o Lake Michigan.
Grass Type: Mazama KBG
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by Masbustelo » November 24th, 2019, 4:38 am

Things were great until the summer drought. By the end of July and until September 1st my yard was so brown and dry, I think literally it could have caught on fire. It has recovered and looks good right now heading into spring.

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: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by andy10917 » November 24th, 2019, 9:20 am

Andy: How do I vote? I don't see a way to cast a vote. There is no button to click.
Green: You were in a very strange status on the website, used only for Members that were between their first registration to the site and the first posting. You may notice that the site looks somewhat different than you're used to. Sorry that it took until now for things to be noticed. Please let us know if you can see polls now, and participate in them.

Pway
Posts: 771
Joined: May 29th, 2014, 5:42 pm
Location: Piscataway NJ
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Some Experience

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by Pway » November 24th, 2019, 10:27 am

Due to July heat and wind I missed my second Dithiopyr app. Also I let some creeping charlie goat the same time due to heat. I think I also under watered in the drought. The lawn did rally nicely in September and October. Couple lessons learned and my summer mistakes will not be repeated.

Green
Posts: 6837
Joined: September 14th, 2012, 10:53 pm
Location: CT (Zone 6B)
Grass Type: KBG, TTTF, TTPR, and FF (various mixtures)
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by Green » November 24th, 2019, 2:17 pm

Andy: thank you.

I voted for best season ever because I reduced the amount of Triv considerably, mostly via Spring Roundup and reseed in some areas (not easy, but doable), got at least half of the low input area growing well (after overseeding last Fall and Winter), got the irrigation system improved in the front (rearranging some things and learned to do some of it myself), and got my fertilizer program more fine-tuned. Also, no Brown Patch, Dollar Spot, or Red Thread outbreaks while on the Serenade. But it wasn't 100% a perfect year either...I still battled Rust between August and now.

Ruxie88
Posts: 38
Joined: October 12th, 2018, 6:11 am
Location: Central NJ
Grass Type: Northern mix
Lawn Size: 3000-5000
Level: Some Experience

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by Ruxie88 » November 24th, 2019, 5:48 pm

Learned a ton this year. Chose "B". Successes- less weed pressure, fall overseed, soil improvements & getting on a routine of good cultural practices. Focus in 2020 will be better controlling fungal diseases and thatch.

jimmo
Posts: 30
Joined: August 30th, 2018, 10:03 am
Location: central Ohio
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Not Specified

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by jimmo » November 25th, 2019, 4:24 pm

Moving towards a lower input / more organic lawn and testing what can and can't be dropped without noticeable impact. It's been interesting. Mostly we get indoctrinated by the lawn industry or by our peers on what we "should" do. Didn't do a pre-emergent application in the spring and had only very minimal crabgrass show up - same as years when I used a pre-emergent. Still a couple small areas right along curb and driveway that's hot dry and miserable and get a bit of crab grass late in season, but easily pulled. If you have thick grass that you mow high, there's no place for crabgrass to get hold. For the third straight year, didn't do a grub-ex application, and didn't miss it. Any place I dig in the yard, I find grubs but apparently I have a healthy population that may even have a symbiotic relationship with my grass roots...a little root pruning can actually reinvigorate root growth. Finally, no spring fertilizer application and coincidence or not, no fungal diseases this year. The multiple fall nitrogen applications got me to Memorial Day.

I'm no expert, but finding I can reduce a lot of the chemicals put on a normal lawn without adverse results. Granted, I'm not going for a mono-culture masterpiece, but a healthy no-mix for kids and pets to use. And still looking better than most of my neighbor's lawns. I think the key lawn tenets still apply...mow high (4" for me in summer) to suppress weed pressure and hold moisture longer, mulch mow leaves and grass clippings for improved soil makeup, and add a couple key fall nitrogen applications. The rest is just tweaking around the edges.

KnickLeDime
Posts: 134
Joined: October 24th, 2018, 2:59 pm
Location: Capital Region NY
Grass Type: 1/3 Kentucky Blue, 1/3 Fescue and 1/3 Perennial Rye
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Novice

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by KnickLeDime » November 27th, 2019, 1:40 pm

Honestly, I'm not sure how it could have gone better considering what I started with a year ago this time.

Went from this...

Image

to this...


Image

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: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by andy10917 » November 27th, 2019, 2:09 pm

Very, very nice!

KnickLeDime
Posts: 134
Joined: October 24th, 2018, 2:59 pm
Location: Capital Region NY
Grass Type: 1/3 Kentucky Blue, 1/3 Fescue and 1/3 Perennial Rye
Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
Level: Novice

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by KnickLeDime » November 27th, 2019, 2:24 pm

andy10917 wrote:
November 27th, 2019, 2:09 pm
Very, very nice!
I forgot to include that there are still area's to work on, the overseed with an elite cultivar went great. I could NOT have done it without the knowledge, encouragement and support of a number of folks here. Not gonna lie, was a lot of work especially prepping for overseed, raking, covering the seed up on that large a lawn but very satisfying to see results.

From here on out, I plan to maintain and enhance with a strong fertilization plan. There's still a few thin area's if you look close that will close up with time. But that was quite a transformation in one growing season.

Thank you again to all.

fun4me2
Posts: 619
Joined: May 19th, 2013, 9:46 am
Location: Western MA (center pioneer valley) ZONE 6A
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 3000-5000
Level: Some Experience

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by fun4me2 » November 28th, 2019, 6:21 am

I chose D
Unlike KnickLeDime BTW yours looks terrific!
my lawn went the reverse...

from this in may
Image

to this in august (see upper part of picture)
Image

to this in October (after reseeded august)
Image

agn015
Posts: 176
Joined: April 2nd, 2016, 11:32 am
Location: Long Island, NY (Suffolk County)
Grass Type: Hogan Blend - GTO/Hemi/Hot Rod TTTF Everest/Award/Everglade/Midnight KBG
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Experienced

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by agn015 » November 29th, 2019, 5:25 pm

I voted B: It was very good, and met most of my expectations. I had some summer damage in full sun areas but that thickened up tremendously under the aggressive N regimen this fall. I was hoping my shady areas would thicken up under the regimen too but summer/fall rust has caused some thinning with aggressive N. I know what to pay attention to now for next season. I’m also really excited to see the results of my 5th year soil test.

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HoosierLawnGnome
Posts: 9591
Joined: May 22nd, 2013, 5:59 pm
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Grass Type: Blueberry KBG
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » November 30th, 2019, 10:29 am

C+

My turf species just doesn't do well over the summer as short as it gets cut. I'm doing some things to mod my reels to get them up a bit higher.

starpartyguy
Posts: 89
Joined: September 11th, 2019, 5:40 pm
Location: Lancaster County, Pa
Grass Type: tall fescue
Lawn Size: 5000-10000
Level: Some Experience

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by starpartyguy » November 30th, 2019, 10:30 pm

This year 1/3 to 1/2 of my lawn was dead by end of Summer. Thanks to all the people that helped me get the ground back in shape for seeding and a bit of help from above my lawn now is 90+% green.

Looking forward to seeing my lawn emerge out of the Winter freeze that should be here soon.

What I learned:

Get a soil test.
The advantages of using organic fertilizers and treatments like Milorganite and humic acid.
Learning that throwing grass is not the same as mulching grass.
Found that the dead grass between the blades of grass is not thatch.

Things for next year:

Soil test
Pre-emergent in the Spring (Prodiamine probably) rather than the Scotts Halts.
A healthy application of Milorganite once a month.
Iron Sulfate
Liquid aeration (can't do mechanical aeration. Shallow wires in back)
And a bunch of other stuff...

Again, thanks to everyone who offered advice. And Merry Christmas!

Tarank
Posts: 36
Joined: October 9th, 2018, 7:23 pm
Location: southeast CT
Grass Type: Northern Mix
Lawn Size: 10000-20000
Level: Some Experience

Re: How Do You Rate The 2019 Season For Your Lawn?

Post by Tarank » December 4th, 2019, 12:26 pm

This was my first year getting a soil test and making amendments. Despite having a very low TEC and acidic soil I was able to get the lawn looking great. It sticks out in the neighborhood and exceeds my expectations. I don't need to have a 'perfect' monoculture, I'm happy with mostly weed–free thick green grass.

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