Lawn Care Experts Enter>>>>>> (2024)

Hi all,
I need some advice here. I got busy this year with work and as a result my yard is in disrepair and has 6-10 different weeds coming through. I put in some time in this weekend, cut it short and sprayed. After talking with some people I discovered that it desperately needs de-thatching. I went ahead and bought one today and started the process; perfect timing with the light rain. I plan to sweep it tomorrow and now im looking for next steps.

I bought this weed and feed that I may apply this coming weekend. Does this sound like a smart move? Should I seed at the same time?
Also plan to aerate and seed this fall so may just wait.
Any additional advice for weed control or overall lawn maintenance is welcomed.
Please and thank you.

ForbinsAscynt said:

Hi all,
I need some advice here. I got busy this year with work and as a result my yard is in disrepair and has 6-10 different weeds coming through. I put in some time in this weekend, cut it short and sprayed. After talking with some people I discovered that it desperately needs de-thatching. I went ahead and bought one today and started the process; perfect timing with the light rain. I plan to sweep it tomorrow and now im looking for next steps.

I bought this weed and feed that I may apply this coming weekend. Does this sound like a smart move? Should I seed at the same time?
Also plan to aerate and seed this fall so may just wait.
Any additional advice for weed control or overall lawn maintenance is welcomed.
Please and thank you.

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Do you have a sprayer? If not, hire someone to drop tri-mec (24D and dicamba basically) and that will help with the broadleaves. Have this done spring and fall for 2 years and it should get those handled.

Did you run your dethatcher and not bag it immediately? You mentioned sweep and I’m assuming you meant pick up the thatch. If it rained between these steps, pending how much rain you got, you may want to run the dethatcher again. A heavier rain and put the dead grass back down.

BCClone said:

Do you have a sprayer? If not, hire someone to drop tri-mec (24D and dicamba basically) and that will help with the broadleaves. Have this done spring and fall for 2 years and it should get those handled.

Did you run your dethatcher and not bag it immediately? You mentioned sweep and I’m assuming you meant pick up the thatch. If it rained between these steps, pending how much rain you got, you may want to run the dethatcher again. A heavier rain and put the dead grass back down.

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Yes, picking up the thatch tomorrow when I can pick up the bagger from my dad. I don’t see rain in the forecast for tonight but I still have a few spots to do tomorrow so no big deal running it again. I didn’t want to run the mower past 8.

I don’t have a sprayer but can definitely borrow one. I’ll look into this tri-mec. Appreciate the advice.

ForbinsAscynt said:

Yes, picking up the thatch tomorrow when I can pick up the bagger from my dad. I don’t see rain in the forecast for tonight but I still have a few spots to do tomorrow so no big deal running it again. I didn’t want to run the mower past 8.

I don’t have a sprayer but can definitely borrow one. I’ll look into this tri-mec. Appreciate the advice.

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Read the herbicide label if you do spray. It will tell you how long to wait for seeding grass.

there isnt a ton you can do this late in the year to make your lawn look better in 2024. you are mostly working for setting up 2025. aerating and overseeding this fall will help a bunch. you could have your soil tested to get a feel for exactly what nutrients it is missing. there are several tests that can be purchased at garden centers and online.

-apply a preemergent in early spring
-apply this nitrogen fertilizer on the holidays. easter, memorial day, 4th of july, labor day. it is basically milorganite, but cheaper

-have a pump sprayers for spot spaying any outbreaks of weeds
-if you go out after it has rained, weeds leap up out of the ground with a tool.
-aerate/over-seed in the fall.
-profit

Turn2 said:

Shaved the grass in early August?

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I think it’s fine. I don’t think I’ve ever bagged my clippings and have a sprinkler system that I haven’t been running but plan to start. It’s also mid august with forecasted temps in the 60s every night in the 10 day. The lawn hasn’t looked worse so I doubt I screw it up much more than where I’m at now.

BCClone said:

Do you have a sprayer? If not, hire someone to drop tri-mec (24D and dicamba basically) and that will help with the broadleaves. Have this done spring and fall for 2 years and it should get those handled.

Did you run your dethatcher and not bag it immediately? You mentioned sweep and I’m assuming you meant pick up the thatch. If it rained between these steps, pending how much rain you got, you may want to run the dethatcher again. A heavier rain and put the dead grass back down.

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Wouldn’t he want to be careful with dethatching again depending on how much he ripped up his yard?

JM4CY said:

Wouldn’t he want to be careful with dethatching again depending on how much he ripped up his yard?

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If he’s going to over seed it might be positive.

JM4CY said:

Wouldn’t he want to be careful with dethatching again depending on how much he ripped up his yard?

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I’d put this whole op on hold until after Labor Day, but he does have water and hasn’t ID’d his problem weeds for us, so it’s still kinda unclear. But yeah, you don’t wanna be too harsh on the turf going into another torrid spell, which will surely come.

ForbinsAscynt said:

Hi all,
I need some advice here. I got busy this year with work and as a result my yard is in disrepair and has 6-10 different weeds coming through. I put in some time in this weekend, cut it short and sprayed. After talking with some people I discovered that it desperately needs de-thatching. I went ahead and bought one today and started the process; perfect timing with the light rain. I plan to sweep it tomorrow and now im looking for next steps.

I bought this weed and feed that I may apply this coming weekend. Does this sound like a smart move? Should I seed at the same time?
Also plan to aerate and seed this fall so may just wait.
Any additional advice for weed control or overall lawn maintenance is welcomed.
Please and thank you.

Click to expand...

FWIW, I had fantastic luck with Scotts weed and feed, however I put that down this spring

CivEFootball said:

If in Iowa and living in a city, call your City hall and ask about if there's a City sponsored Soil Quality Restoration reimbursem*nt going on. Here's an example program link from Polk City, Iowa https://www.polkcityia.gov/home/news/soil-quality-restoration-program-1 each city's program will be slightly different.

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Is that the band-aid they came up with when the Legislature allowed developers to forego returning topsoil to their residential developments?

Turn2 said:

Shaved the grass in early August?

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I am by no means a lawn care expert but do know that shorter grass allows for greater competition from weeds. If you have been mowing short your lawn may look rough (unkept) the first couple of mowing's compared to what you are used to but it will adjust as it gets to it's new height. Also, measure your blade height from a flat surface (driveway or garage floor) to assure the settings on the mower correspond to the height you are trying to achieve. I think the consensus would be a minimum of three inches and 3 1/2" would probably yield a healthier lawn.

If you are looking to thicken up your lawn to help it to better compete with weeds, this is why you DON'T want to beat up the crowns too bad heading into Fall.

Tillers are shoots that develop from crown tissues and grow vertically within the sheaths that surround the crown (Fig. 14). Mature tillers produce leaves, stems, and root systems; thus, they can function independently of the mother plant. Tillers increase the shoot density of lawns by replacing shoots that die in winter and summer. Individual tillers live for about a year and formation of new tillers is stimulated by cool temperatures, short daylengths, moderately low mowing heights, and high mowing frequencies. Peak tiller formation occurs in early spring and fall. Turfgrass stands are long-lived because dying shoots are constantly being replaced by new tillers. This process is so gradual that the transition is unnoticeable.

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Cyclone06 said:

I cant keep up with my yard. Frankly, I can barely keep up with the mowing and trimming. Whose got strong opinions on lawn service providers in central iowa? I want a nice yard, but I cant/wont do it myself.

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Dans landscapes dropped off a flyer in my neighborhood yesterday. Ive heard good things

Cyclone06 said:

I cant keep up with my yard. Frankly, I can barely keep up with the mowing and trimming. Who’s got strong opinions on lawn service providers in central iowa? I want a nice yard, but I cant/wont do it myself.

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I would find a couple neighbors who have the nicest lawns in the area. Ask them who they use, most likely one of them hires work done. That way you know they come to your area and can see their work.