I overseeded my lawn about 5 weeks ago, and I applied a starter fertilizer as well. The new grass has come up and I have already mowed once. (4") The new grass looks kind of puny in a lot of places, and I was wondering if it was too late to hit it again with fertilizer. I am thinking that I did not apply enough the first time. I checked the soil pH with a meter and it read 6.8, so I think that should be good. In 2-3 more weeks I want to apply a weed killer. Would it be okay to use a fertilizer/weed killer combo, or is it too late for fertilizer?
Not knowing your location nor the current condition of your lawn makes a recommendation difficult. Weed killers are very punishing to young grass--spot weed treatment is better. Most slow-release fertilizers will last a couple months.
Location is central NC. The current condition of my lawn is weedy. ;) I think spot weed treatment would be a waste of time in my case, because there are a lot of weeds. How long should I wait before applying a weed killer. Maybe there is some "gentle" weed killer?
You can use a lawn weed killer such as Weed-B-Gone or Spectricide. I'd wait until the new grass has been mowed at least 3 times, but I think it's better to forget about the weeds until next year. If you can identify each of the weeds, all the better. My yard was very weedy the first couple years, but the overseeding and spot treatment helped a lot and now I seldom use weed killer. Consider overseeding your lawn this fall--around mid September when rain is in the forecast. Also, set your mower to 3-1/2" or higher for fescue. It is a common mistake that people mow too low which promotes crab grass and weed growth.
You can probably use another applicati>Hi Phisherman,
Underfertilized is better than overfertilized on young grass.
I assume you're talking about a weed and feed sort of product. Read the labels carefully. All I know of are NOT recommended until the seedlings are probably 4-6 months old.
Patience, grasshopper. If you want to do something nice for your lawn, sharpen the mower blades and learn the correct mowing height for the grass species in your lawn.
The very best weed control is what the weed science folks call "canopy closure": a dense turf cut long enough (and never scalped!) that weed seedlings don't have a chance to develop. The way you mow and how frequently you mow can have a profound effect on your lawn's appearance.
Right! Currently I am mowing at 4". I have tall fescue. Problem is, I don't yet have a dense turf to crowd out the weeds. But you are probably right, I am being impatient. ;)
It's too late around 8:00 PM By then you can't relly see what you are doing well enough to spread the fertilizer evenly. What kinds of weeds are you trying to kill?
I don't know exactly all the different weeds there are. I know there are lots of tall purple flowers and even more short yellow flowers if I don't mow for a while. Actually looks kind of pretty. So maybe I am being stupid for trying to kill them. ;) There are also lots of dandelions and a few wild onions.
I guess the biggest question is, which is worse for the new grass. Having lots of weeds, or applying a weed killer?
Phisherman, I will definitely overseed again this fall.
Patience, fortitude, and a sharp mower blade. Remember you shouldn't remove more than 1/3 the height of the grass at any one mowing. 4" is a good summer height... it's typically cut a bit shorter spring and fall, but I wouldn't do that to seedlings.
Have you done a soil analysis? That's another factor you want to explore for maximum lawn quality for minimum cost and labor.
Mumble years ago, two friends and I reseeded my mom's heavy clay soil after some foundation work that had made a total mess of the yard. We brought in truckloads of municipal compost (I'd love to have some of that now!), and spread it about 4" thick on the newly graded soil, then planted Kentucky bluegrass, red fescue, tall fescue, and some buckwheat (which was a marker for seed density for us) -- this was early October in the midwest. Watered it in and then I had to leave for my home in Oregon, but I got reports: "The buckwheat's up, but the grass seed is dead". "Nope, there's some grass seed up, but it'll never survive the winter, it's too puny, and there's too much soil between the seedlings." Mid-December, I heard about how the grass seemed to be thickening up, but it'd be a pity when it all died when the snows came. April of the following year (it was a long snowy winter) I heard that the grass seedlings had made it just fine and the buckwheat was dead (yes, I'd planned it that way!). By June I was hearing complaints that the grass was too thick to mow easily.
Patience. Good things come to those who wait.
If you have some truly nasty perennial weeds in your yard -- on the order of Canada thistle, quackgrass, johnsongrass -- as opposed to dandelions and crabgrass, then consider spot treating this year with a systemic herbicide like glyphosate or gluofsinate, and spot seeding this fall. But personally, I'd leave the weed and feed on the shelf at the store.
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