FAQ’s – Lawns
This is a common practice in the US in spring it is called a “cleanup mowing or just spring cleanup” What is done you remove the top third of the old grass and this allows the sun to hit the crown tops and soil, which warms up the soil and stimulates new growth. You can just drop your mower height down one notch and bag the cuttings. But if you do nothing and leave it alone, the grass will also will green up, but it takes more time. We do not recommend what some call “Scalp mowing”, This is tough on the grass and the mower will open the grass crowns too much, giving the weed seed an opportunity to sprout and grow right with the grass.
Without a professional or going to a Bonified expert center, you may at least be able to tell if it is a grassy weed or broadleaf weed and that will help with choosing what weed killer to use.
Grassy weeds are grasses other than the desired lawn grass. Examples would be; crabgrass, nutsedge, goose grass, and dallisgrass, to name a few. Grassy weeds have long, narrow leaves with veins running parallel to each other and do not have any flowers, and leaf shapes of all grassy weeds are similar among species.
Broadleaf weeds, simply put, are not grasses they are usually winter annuals and summer perennial weeds. Examples are; dandelions, henbit, clover, and chickweed. Broadleaf weeds usually have wider leaf blades than grassy weeds. Each leaf typically has a main vein that divides the leaf in half with a network of smaller veins that form a pattern.
Growing a lawn can be as simple or as difficult as you make it. There are many factors that determine the amount of work necessary for a nice lawn. First find out, how large is your lawn or area of lawn, what is its current condition (you stated clumps and not much more.), do you want to plant a certain variety or type of grass, and what is the climate/zone in which you live? Most important what is your budget and time? So start by looking at other lawns in your area see what you would like for your new lawn to look like, next check your budget, assess your schedule and time restraints, and research all about lawn care on what you choose. After that, you should have an idea of whether or not you should call a professional or do it yourself.
The best time is the first few weeks of spring in your area when the grass has been growing a while. By that time, you have mowed the lawn a few times and the grass crowns, root system and rhizomes are anchored securely.
Dollar spot is an easily controlled on lawn grass because it is a fungus which a number of fungicides will control and will not kill your entire lawn. Our best recommendation would be Bonide Infuse which has systemic protection for preventing and curing. It can also be normal cultural practices, such as fertilizing, mowing and watering.
It could be that the seed is being kept too wet or possible the seed has poor viability and not germinating. In any case you may have to seed again and try just keeping the area moist till even growth starts.
If the spray was just 2,4-D or a derivative of it, no problem using the clippings after the second or third mowing a enough time will have passed. If it was another product like a combination product commonly used that may contain dicamba or some other herbicides, I would not advise using the clippings. Check what was in the product formulation, so a wait time for use could be suggested or call your local county cooperative extension.
Yes, soil pH is a main factor for the health of your lawn grass. Some soils in the US are naturally acidic. In other words it may be the grass is too acidic to grow to a nice looking lawn. Acidic soil inhibits the uptake of nutrients and nutrients will go unused. So you are not getting the most out of your fertilizer when applying. Use Bonide’s Turf Turbo to increase the pH of the soil.
To use less water the best time is early morning, you will water your lawn during the hours the lawn is naturally wet from dew in turn the lawn takes less watering but gets the water needed. Remember that having your grass wet for more than 12 hours in a 24-hour period during the hot summer months will increase the chances of lawn disease.
