Spring 2013 Lawn Thread

[BigNumbers]

I thought I would start a thread for all the lawn questions that will invariably come up now that the weather has finally turned our way...

I will start it off:

My Question
- Who do you recommend for a well-priced but well-done core aeration and spring-mix fertilizer here in town?


My Advice
- Power raking seems to do more damage than good for my lawn - a brisk dethatching with a lawn rake has been my go-to move, along with a good aeration.

[Ironhorse]

Just had Green with Envy do my raking and core aeration after a recommendation on CP. Did a good job, quick service, fair price. I do my own fertilizing.

[FlamingHomer]

Has anyone used corn gluten meal on their lawn? With what results?

[Regulator75]

Originally Posted by FlamingHomer

Has anyone used corn gluten meal on their lawn? With what results?

My corn grew taller and with all gluten goodness you'd expect.

[FlamingHomer]

Originally Posted by Regulator75

My corn grew taller and with all gluten goodness you'd expect.

What your reply lacks in technical information more than makes up for in humour.

[Cortez]

Originally Posted by FlamingHomer

Has anyone used corn gluten meal on their lawn? With what results?

I don't own a lawn yet, but soon I will. What is corn gluten meal and what is the desired affect on a lawn?

[Hessen]

Originally Posted by FlamingHomer

Has anyone used corn gluten meal on their lawn? With what results?

I used it last year. I honestly didn't notice any great results. It's large (looks like rabbit pellets) so the spreading wasn't great. It did however make my yard smell like a corn maze for about a week.

I chose to throw what I had left away and went with Scotts.

[FlamingHomer]

Originally Posted by Cortez

I don't own a lawn yet, but soon I will. What is corn gluten meal and what is the desired affect on a lawn?

It's supposed to aid in lawn development and as a weed controller. I've read mixed reviews on it's success and many mirror what Hessen says above.

[Kybosh]

Originally Posted by FlamingHomer

It's supposed to aid in lawn development and as a weed controller. I've read mixed reviews on it's success and many mirror what Hessen says above.

You have to be careful to ensure that your lawn isn't celiac.

[Sammymydog1]

Scotts turf builder.....nuff said!

[Flamesoholic]

We moved into a place recently where the previous owners obviously didn't care for yard work at all. I honestly don't think my lawns have ever been aerated before so I just had that done. My question is: should I think about aerating this fall as well as the one I just did or is that too much? Also, we dethatched last year but I'm wondering if I should do it again this year too? Our lawns are a mess, shallow roots, thatch, browns easily, sigh so much work to do to repair years of neglect.
My biggest problem is I know my outside needs so much work to look better and be healthier, but I've never done this before and don't really have a green thumb.

Off the topic of lawns, but does anyone have any suggestions for a company that has good prices for cedar chips? All my flower/hedge beds are in need. I'd really love someone to come and spray it on for me, but the only company I can find only seems to do pine, not cedar

[Barnes]

I would top dress and over seed then aerate and over seed again in the fall.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Hessen

.....It did however make my yard smell like a corn maze for about a week.....

i understand that the native candians used to call corn maize

[BigNumbers]

Any suggestions for dandelions? Are there still any herbicides we can buy here that actually do anything? Selective broadleaf is all I am after, don't need weed and feed, just something that will kill dandelions but not my grass....

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

Any suggestions for dandelions? Are there still any herbicides we can buy here that actually do anything? Selective broadleaf is all I am after, don't need weed and feed, just something that will kill dandelions but not my grass....

Get something with 2,4-d in it.

[Cube Inmate]

I'm now 4 years into my long-running battle with my lawn, and it's winning. Parts of it are at the point where they need to be put out of their misery and re-planted...it's not just dormant...it's dead and decomposing. The parts that are still growing are growing poorly, dominated by dead blades. I guess it's "thatch," but probably the worst case I've ever seen.

I hate the idea of hiring someone, because my experiences with the larger lawn care companies always suck, but I think it's too big a job to attempt myself and there are too many options. Can anyone recommend a good "doctor" for a total lawn renovation?

Alternatively, if I'm able to rent a slit-seeder, would that chop up the existing thatch enough to allow new stuff to grow through? Or would it be a multi-step process of dethatching and then seeding?

Thanks for anything! If I can get this thing looking good with CP's help, I'll give you the satisfaction of seeing "before" and "after" pictures.

[Tiger]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

Any suggestions for dandelions? Are there still any herbicides we can buy here that actually do anything? Selective broadleaf is all I am after, don't need weed and feed, just something that will kill dandelions but not my grass....

Use weed-b-gon which is just chelated iron. It kills dandelions and fertilizes grass at the same time. You'll need to use a fair bit and multiple applications sometimes but it works great. Buy the concentrate and blend it down since you can use a fair bit.

This will save you the trip out of alberta to get the 2,4-d and you don,t really have to worry about the chemical either

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Tiger

Use weed-b-gon which is just chelated iron

I tried this a couple times, for me it was a waste of money. It browned a few weeds but they didn't die off it just stunted them for a bit. I have not found a good alternative to the "bad stuff" that was banned in Alberta.

[Static]

Originally Posted by BigNumbers

Any suggestions for dandelions? Are there still any herbicides we can buy here that actually do anything? Selective broadleaf is all I am after, don't need weed and feed, just something that will kill dandelions but not my grass....

The only thing available off the shelf in Alberta with 2-4d in it is Killex. Look for the concentrate version.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by Static

The only thing available off the shelf in Alberta with 2-4d in it is Killex. Look for the concentrate version.

I think I had to go to either Canadian Tire or Home Hardware to get it last year.

Lowes/Home Depot/Rona don't carry it.