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Joined: Jun 2012
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OP
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,058 Likes: 7 |
Lets talk about our lawns.
What do you guys do for fertilizer for your lawns?
I am looking to get that nice deep green to our lawn and try to even up the colour. We have some light green then some dark green areas.
What works for you guys?
Cheers Don.
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,429 Likes: 20
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,429 Likes: 20 |
Lawn fertilizer is short acting, and only makes me mow more often. I haven't used any in several years. I prefer mulching the old grass in. I used to use it all the time, but if it didn't rain, then I would have to water. If I didn't water, the lawn would burn. Too much trouble, and too often mowing, so I quit.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 998 Likes: 57
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 998 Likes: 57 |
Use a high nitrogen lawn fertilizer that is 1/2 fast acting and 1/2 time release.
I like to fertilize every 8 weeks but what we do here may not be appropriate up there.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72 |
I've got some shade areas that would be very difficult to grow regular varieties of grass due to shade and also out of range of the sprinkler system.
Has anyone in north Texas type climate every used regular mondo grass in these type areas as a ground cover? I read that regular mondo grass is shade tolerant and somewhat drought tolerant? I realize ground cover can attract snakes, but these are areas less traveled and are just ugly bare erosion type soil.
Any other ideas for this type area?....it's relatively close to the cabin so I prefer to cover this eye-sore with something....it's a bit to large to cover with river-rock.
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 425
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 425 |
Zoysia grass is very shade tolerant. Probably not so drought tolerant. We used it when I worked grounds a university. Once established it was great...we used sod. Very thick and very pretty. Since you are putting this in a shady area, you might not have to water quite as much. Might check it out if you are looking for a lawn type grass.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 998 Likes: 57
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 998 Likes: 57 |
I've got some shade areas that would be very difficult to grow regular varieties of grass due to shade and also out of range of the sprinkler system.
Has anyone in north Texas type climate every used regular mondo grass in these type areas as a ground cover? I read that regular mondo grass is shade tolerant and somewhat drought tolerant? I realize ground cover can attract snakes, but these are areas less traveled and are just ugly bare erosion type soil.
Any other ideas for this type area?....it's relatively close to the cabin so I prefer to cover this eye-sore with something....it's a bit to large to cover with river-rock. I have Mondo grass around my patio but it is in the sun most of the time.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72 |
Thanks Tbar... I am reading that Mondo Grass does pretty well in shade so I may try some mondo grass. http://neilsperry.com/2016/10/why-mondograss-is-my-favorite/
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887 |
Zoysia is a warm season grass, it goes dormant in cool weather. Just like I can't grow Bermuda here - not enough heat for a long enough time to get it established. Even tried the Yukon strain of Bermuda. It grew last year but didn't come back up this year.
Zoysia will grow here, but I don't know how much further North it will grow.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,331 Likes: 308
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,331 Likes: 308 |
Don, what kind of grass do you have?
AL
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,090 Likes: 285
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 16,090 Likes: 285 |
Never heard of mondo grass.
It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.
Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,331 Likes: 308
Moderator
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Moderator
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,331 Likes: 308 |
Dave, how about monkey grass?
Mark, it does do good in the shade. We have it planted under our crepe myrtles, and once established, it's almost maintenance free. They have dwarf varieties too, but they can get $$$.
AL
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72 |
Scott...Zoysia is the real deal grass. I have a small amount of it around the cabin. (see pic) All the experts I have discussed sod with without a single dissenter say Zoysia is the best turf grass out there.(for north Texas) With that said I guess it's no surprise zoysia comes with a higher price tag. I read this about zoysia: " zoysia is more shade tolerant than bermudagrass, but it needs at least four hours of direct sunshine or eight hours of very bright reflected light". I would think zoysia although drought tolerant needs more water than "monkey grass". Dave I am sure you've seen lots of Mondo grass as a border plant...some call it "monkey grass"...Liriope is a close relative. Al...yes for sure leaning that way...mondo/monkey/liriope. I do prefer the dwarf variety, but read they are much slower growers.
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 998 Likes: 57
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 998 Likes: 57 |
Zep, FWIW....... This is the dwarf variety of Mondo grass between the turf and the concrete. And this is giant Giant Liriope.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72
Hall of Fame 2014
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Hall of Fame 2014
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,800 Likes: 72 |
Nice Tbar! Love your stained/stamped concrete too. Is that an agave cactus in the background? I wish I could buy that dwarf size mondo in rolls..love the size of the dwarf for my situation, but mine would not be a border, i read dwarf is a real slow grower...i need a fast spreader....I think the regular size mondo might be the way for me to go....very low maintenance, loves shade, low water needs, fast grower, but might need snake boots if I walk thru it...lol
Fishing has never been about the fish....
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,094 Likes: 1
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,094 Likes: 1 |
most people here use 10-10-10 or 13-13-13 fertilizer. the proper thing to do is have your soil tested, but no one including myself will do it. i have centipede grass and i love it.. it like acidic soil which means it doesn't need any liming. it also likes fertilizer but doesn't require it.
Scott Hanners
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,058 Likes: 7
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OP
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,058 Likes: 7 |
Don, what kind of grass do you have? Our native grass is rye grass. All of our lawn for around the house and pond is a three rye mix. An early mid and late season rye. There is the odd blue grass and believe it or not some Bermuda grass. Years ago on this farm we imported some bermuda grass to add to our late season hay mix. The crown of the bermuda could not handle out January thaw but some still persists. We are looking for more of an even dark green colour of the grass. We cut at 3.75" so not to damage the root mass too much. I have used some Ammonia Sulfate this year mostly to cut down on the rust blight late in the season. Seems to be working but we have had some good rain as of late too. We applied 5# per 1000 square feet. The ammonia really dose a great job giving that nice dark colour but is so hard to apply with out burning with a liquid form. Ammonia nitrate is impossible to get our hands on in Canada. I was thinking of trying to add 28% liquid ammonia but not sure how to go about that with out frying the whole lawn. Maybe drizzle nozzles in the rain or something, I don't really know. Cheers Don.
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,765 Likes: 34
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1,765 Likes: 34 |
Silly question... but is your lawn getting enough water?
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,058 Likes: 7
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OP
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,058 Likes: 7 |
Silly question... but is your lawn getting enough water? Yes it is getting enough water. We live in an area where once a week we get about 1/2". August is our dry month and we may not see rain for two or three weeks but we will get a heavy morning dew. We do have to cut the grass once a week and in the spring and fall twice a week. We have gator blades on all our mowers and I would never have a lawn mower with out them. The mulch up the clippings so well with very little power. It seems that over time the older grass looses its dark green. I would like to even up the colour then maintain with Ammonia Sulfate. Looking for maybe a way to apply 28% even cover with out burning the crap out of it. Liquid would be better than broadcasting dry and hoping the sun or run off wont take it away. Cheers Don.
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,429 Likes: 20
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,429 Likes: 20 |
Zoysia is a warm season grass, it goes dormant in cool weather. Just like I can't grow Bermuda here - not enough heat for a long enough time to get it established. Even tried the Yukon strain of Bermuda. It grew last year but didn't come back up this year.
Zoysia will grow here, but I don't know how much further North it will grow. Common Bermudagrass is the dominant lawn grass here, but it is also a noxious weed, creeping into gardens, flower beds, and expansion joints in sidewalks. Be glad you don't have to deal with it.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,058 Likes: 7
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OP
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,058 Likes: 7 |
Zoysia is a warm season grass, it goes dormant in cool weather. Just like I can't grow Bermuda here - not enough heat for a long enough time to get it established. Even tried the Yukon strain of Bermuda. It grew last year but didn't come back up this year.
Zoysia will grow here, but I don't know how much further North it will grow. Common Bermudagrass is the dominant lawn grass here, but it is also a noxious weed, creeping into gardens, flower beds, and expansion joints in sidewalks. Be glad you don't have to deal with it. My golf clubs hate to deal with it when we head south to golf. I have it figured out and really completely by mistake. I still had 60# of ammonia nitrate on hand. Thought I would spread it out before a rain. I didn't realize the gate on the spreader was wide open when I started. Spread 60# in 300 feet. Thought the lawn was patchy before now its stripey too. Long story long just need to put more than just 5# per 1000 square feet. We need at least 20# per 1000. Cheers Don.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15 |
Fertilize your lawn?? Sheesh, I mow mine at 2" hoping it will get scorched and die back. It never does. Someone who would fertilize their lawn would probably fertilize their pond also...wait, what?? Sprkplug, living large in the land of rainfall and high nutrient loads.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,670 Likes: 887 |
Fertilize your lawn?? Sheesh, I mow mine at 2" hoping it will get scorched and die back. It never does. Someone who would fertilize their lawn would probably fertilize their pond also...wait, what?? Sprkplug, living large in the land of rainfall and high nutrient loads. Wasn't it a few short years ago you were lamenting the lack of rainfall and the lawns that wouldn't grow?
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15 |
Fertilize your lawn?? Sheesh, I mow mine at 2" hoping it will get scorched and die back. It never does. Someone who would fertilize their lawn would probably fertilize their pond also...wait, what?? Sprkplug, living large in the land of rainfall and high nutrient loads. Wasn't it a few short years ago you were lamenting the lack of rainfall and the lawns that wouldn't grow? Yep, back when my livelihood depended on green grass. One dry summer, or as I like to refer to it as, a taste of Texas. And still the grass grew lush again after that first, welcome rain. Crazy stuff.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668 Likes: 57
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 3,668 Likes: 57 |
Mowing the grass ? I like that natural look as long as the chiggers, red bugs don't move in and set up home. My wife looks at it totally different from me though. So I let her handle it. It's best that way
Do not judge me by the politicians in my City, State or Federal Government.
Tracy
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15
Ambassador Lunker
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Ambassador Lunker
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 6,980 Likes: 15 |
My personal take is pretty simple. If I can tell there's a breeze blowing from observing my grass, it needs cut. Lawn grass shouldn't move in a breeze.
"Forget pounds and ounces, I'm figuring displacement!"
If we accept that: MBG(+)FGSF(=)HBG(F1) And we surmise that: BG(>)HBG(F1) while GSF(<)HBG(F1) Would it hold true that: HBG(F1)(+)AM500(x)q.d.(=)1.5lbGRWT? PB answer: It depends.
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