Pre-Emergent

[LunkerLover84]

Just curious to see if anyone has put down pre-emergent yet. I'm assuming the soil temps are still on the cool side for it but i know some people who lay it down right after a nice warm stretch like we've had lately. Think i'll wait awhile longer though.

[fishersofmen]

Wait a few weeks. We have close to 10 grand worth of dimension at work waiting to be applied....

[LwnmwnMan2]

If you didn't get snow after this last round, you could seriously think about it next weekend and you wouldn't be late.

[LunkerLover84]

I was going to put it down this weekend but didn't have time. I'll definitely be putting it down next weekend. Hope its not to late!

[fishersofmen]

Plenty of time.

[neptune]

So if I put down my turfbuilder with crabgrass control last week and now we get all this rain should I put it down again. I put it down last Thursday so it had a few days to sit before the yard had steady downpour.

[LunkerLover84]

I was curious about that as well. Put mine down last Tuesday before the first round of rain we got on Wed. I'm kind of worried it all ran off. This rain has been relentless!

[fishersofmen]

It must be watered in to be effective but too much rain like we have had here is definitely not a good thing. The remaining product that is left that didn't get washed away will more than likely become very diluted and you may have problems. Keep in mind we are still in April and Crabgrass wont even show up for another month or so especially with these cool temps, it is snowing here as I type. Any additional rain we get will only compound the issue. If you guys have had Crabgrass issues in the past or have a thin lawn you may want to put more down in a couple weeks. If you don't really have Crabgrass issues and your lawn is really thick you could take your chances....

I told you to wait a few weeks Lunker!

[CANOPY SAM]

I've recently been reading that we should wait to do pretty much anything until the grass actually starts to grow, even to the point of really needing it's first cut!

I don't suppose this is applicable for a pre-emergent, but as far as fertilizers, or over seed, or raking, evidently it's best to allow the existing grass to develop some root strength in the spring before we attempt to beef if up in any way.

It's wet up here. The ground is soggy on the hillsides not to mention the low spots and flat areas. I was pleasantly surprised last night though. Even though we still have a small berm of snow alongside our driveway in a shady area, I went out after dark last night, as snow/ice crystals were raining down, and found night-crawlers starting to come up already! Woohoo!!!

I'm really, really hoping to see a nice stretch of warm weather now. We've got a grad party out at our place toward the end of May, and I'd really like to have the place in nice (green) shape when everyone shows up!

[Rockin Randy]

That Bobby guy on KARE 11, said to wait with pre-emergent till the Lilacs are blooming in your particular area. Just sayin, have no idea my own self.

Rockin Randy

[LwnmwnMan2]

Not even close to the right time. Soil temps are barely at 40 degrees.

[Dotch]

Was wondering about that. Had always used the lilacs as a guideline too.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Easy tip for pre-emergent.

Head to a cooking section at any store and buy a meat thermometer. You may already have one, which is fine if you don't mind mixing yard items with cooking items.

The large box store based in Arkansas will have a cheap digital version for $10. It's good from 32°F to 200°.

You can us this to take your soil temp in your yard. When your soil temp is 50-52 degrees in the morning, not 4 pm in the afternoon, that is the time you want to put the pre-emergent down.

Too soon and you risk the chemical wearing off too soon. Too late and you will need to use a post emergent.

If you've already applied, wait and do the second app with pre-emergent. If you do this though, you will need to use a liquid herbicide (NOT weed-n-feed) to take care of the broadleaf weeds.

If you reapply the pre-emergent this week, you will double the amount of fertilizer and either burn the grass, or have to mow every other day once the grass starts to grow.

[LwnmwnMan2]

http://climate.umn.edu/doc/observatory.htm

Pretty good local generic soil temp HSOforum for just about everyone here.

Remember though, this is THEIR property.

It's a pretty good site from the U though, they show bare soil temps, sod temps, shallow, deep.....

[delcecchi]

I think it is permitted to use the word "Walmart" on the site.

[LunkerLover84]

Fishers, I needed an excuse to get out of the house. Lol. I also mowed for the first time this past Sat as it actually needed it. Most of my neighbors did as well. Maybe the Mankato area where i live is a bit ahead of the game??

I'm sure i put down the pre-emergent a bit to early and i may need to reapply. Especially with all this rain. Do any big box stores sell just a granular pre-emergent without the fert mixed in?? I don't want to drop to much nitrogen in a short time and fry my lawn.

[fishersofmen]

I don't know if they sell pre-emergent that way or not being we get everything on the commercial side of things but I doubt it. You wont fry your lawn trust me, especially with a granular, all this rain and cool temps. Plus most if not all of the fert you put down is probably gone too. What was the Nitrogen rate on the bag and how much rain have you guys had down there? We are around 5 inches since Saturday in my area.

[LunkerLover84]

I used Lesco 19-0-7 w/demension. Not to much nitrogen i guess. Your probably right about it being washed away anyways. We got around 3 inches of rain down here.

Nobody sells Lesco fert down here in Mankato which really bums me out! I've had to get mine from Home Depot in Eagan when i'm up at the in-laws place. Was thinking about putting down some Milorgranite sometime in the late spring since i've heard pretty good things about it.

Maybe i'll just live dangerously and skip putting another round of pre-emerg/fert and go with the Milorgranite sometime soon. Crabgrass has never really been a problem in my lawn, but i'm sure by saying that it will start to crop up this year

[Mid-Lake Rock]

I would like some opinions.

I moved last fall and I don't know the crabgrass situation so I am going to put down a pre-emergent. The one complicating factor is that there are a few areas I want to seed or sod. Those areas are near a walkway, the driveway and the house - so not in the middle of the grass. Should I get a pre-emergent with starter and hit everything or should I put down pre-emergent in the areas of good grass and avoid the areas that need seed or sod? I hear mixed reviews of how well the grass will grow using the pre-emergent with starter. I appreciate any opinions.

Last year, at the old house, I used the cheap Menards pre-emergent with fertilizer and had the best looking lawn in the neighborhood.

[LwnmwnMan2]

The areas that you want to fix are also the same areas most prone to Crabgrass. It'll be one or the other. IMO, if you don't know what is there, put down preventer.

Fight with getting good grass to grow after mid June.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

The areas that you want to fix are also the same areas most prone to Crabgrass. It'll be one or the other. IMO, if you don't know what is there, put down preventer.

Fight with getting good grass to grow after mid June.

Thank you. One question: Should I get a pre-emergent with starter, or just go with the stuff I've used in the past and try seeding later? Thanks!

[LwnmwnMan2]

I would just do the latter.

Like I said in my post. Most likely the areas you're trying to get grass to grow, are bad areas for crabgrass. So, with that said, you're going to need to battle the crabgrass first, or else that will just take over good grass anyways.

Battle that, then worry about seeding after about mid-June when the chemical wears off.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

LmnmwnMan: Thank your for the help!

[otterman91105]

I live in stacy and i checked my lawn temp yesterday and it's still only at about 44.

[LwnmwnMan2]

Ours are quite a bit cooler up here because of that large snowfall a couple of weeks ago.

South of 694 they are warmer, but still below 50 in most spots.

This week doesn't look too warm with the air temps, but there is quite a bit of radiant heat with the sun, which will warm temps up a fair amount.