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I just put preemergant (Preen) down in my lawn last week. Needs to be done before seeds hatch, which is in a week or so in Northern Ohio this year. If your grass is already growing strong it may be too late this year. When the crabgrass comes out you can spray it with crabgrass killer, which gets some other varieties including onions I think.
I usually fertilize lightly 4 times a year. April, Late May/early June, Sept, and November. Last year only twice. You can buy a good Scotts broadcast spreader for $35. My lawn costs me $10-15/application. I've been quoted $125-175/yr by companies wanting to fertilize for me.
I really like a minimalist approach. If it is reasonably green in the Spring and Fall, it's healthy. I usually let the lawn go dormant in the heat of summer. It bounces back well in the Fall. That said, I've got one of the better lawns in my neighborhood. That drives my neighbors crazy, most of whom pay big bucks for lawn companies to fertilize and cut their lawns.
If you want a nice lawn, you've got to mow it regularly. The rule of thumb is to only cut 50%. If you are cutting to 2", you need to cut at 4". In the Summer, cut it 3-5inches. The longer cut is good for the grass and saves you work. Mulch it, and you are adding fertilizer and water trapping capability. I think regular mowing, with a sharp blade, and at a longer blade length is the most important thing most folks can do for their lawns.
If you really want to beef up your lawn, then a good overseeding in the Fall-late Aug/early Sept- is in order. I usually rent a plugger and rake the plugs out to even up the yard. It also moves dirt up and penetrates the thatch I and likely you don't have. Makes a good bed for seed. Buy a quality seed from a reputable local retailer. Ask around to several landscapers. They know the good people. They can advise you on the best grass for your area, how to apply, and how to care for it. Put down almost as much seed as if you were putting in a new lawn, and use a starter fertilizer. Then water like crazy.
Or, you could become tolerant of weeds and just cut it a bit longer. It is amazing how pretty weeds look when you realize how much work a really nice lawn can become. Or you could really make your neighbors crazy and plant a bunch of native prarie grasses and let it grow really long and natural.
posted by 159.116.2...
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