Yes, when the forsythia bloom put down your pre-emergent. Watch nature and not the calendar. Last year I put mine down the second week of March, the couple years before that the first or second week of April (all we’re when the forsythia were in bloom—not buds, blooms). This year my soil temperature is significantly higher than the past few years—spring will be early at least as defined by what we see with plants, lawns, etc. Good luck!
And, as I understand, second treatment 8-10 weeks later (by June 1), and should be good for the year?
The duration of control depends on the specific PM and the application rate. I use Dithiopyr and there are three levels of application: 3-6 months, 4-6 months, and 4-6 months on grass cut short like a golf course. I often do a split application with one when the forsythia blooms and another maybe late June. Seeding is best done in this part of the country late August or early September. So look at the label and active ingredient of your product and follow that. Generally speaking you should be able to do an application soon and then a light one in June if you want then seed late August or so.
I’m going to have to take a ride to get Oceangro. It’s half the cost or less than Milorganite, which is up to about $15 for the 36# bag for me. Japanese stiltgrass is tough. If you end up having a hard time keeping up with it I’ve had good success with fenoxaprop as a post emergent and a good pre-emergent. My neighbor has a ton of Japanese Stiltgrass in a wooded area that boarders my property and it kept trying to creep in. It’s an annual battle.
I don't know where you're located, but the Ace Hardware in Yardville (aka Yardville Supply) carries Oceangro. It can get hard to find sometimes, unless you're in the know.
See above. Dithiopyr, prodiamine, or other strong pre-emergent and Fenaxorop as the post emergent to kill it. Likely a multi year battle. And yes, often comes from the woods.
Warmer soil temps is right. It seems like we missed winter this year. Part of me is anxious to get out there, but I know as soon as I have to mow every week again I’m going to wish it was January
You could use the Scotts with Halts, or the equivalent product from Jonathan Green, but you have to get it down early, like this weekend or this week. Japanese Stiltgrass germinates early, which is one of the reasons it is so invasive. And yeah, it will take a few years battling, but laying down pre-emergent in spring will set the odds in your favor.
I’m in Piscataway. Ferris Farms in East Brunswick had it but I think they’ve closed the business. Think there is a place not too far, or closer to the shore
Not sure where you are located but the optimum window should be 1-3 weeks away according to MSU tracker.
I’d probably try to find a licensed local company that has a good reputation. I do my own lawn care and have no direct experience with services but a rep from a large national company was going house to house a couple summers ago and after talking with him for five minutes I realized he didn’t know what he was talking about. Not that he was representative of others, though. I have some neighbors that use a large national company and I am sometimes puzzled by the timing of applications and methods. I think it can vary quite a bit depending on the technician.
That is from 2014 and lists fenoxaprop as for professional use only. It has been available for residential use for several years.
It’s ok to do it now. But might be best to wait until April or so. Use starter fertilizer and a soil amendment
Not a bad idea. Just know that if you seed now, you most likely won’t see flowers until next year
At bare minimum, don't put down pre-emergent herbicide where you plan on throwing down seed. It won't grow. You *can* seed in springtime, it will just take more diligent care to get the seedlings strong enough to withstand an early summer. Got to water every day.
As you note, late summer is the best time to seed around here. Spring seeds will grow but the question is if they become established enough to survive the summer. You can seed with Mesotrione (brand name Tenacity or Scott’s starter with Mesotrione). This only gives you pre-emergent protection for about 30 days. So you could seed and put down Mesotrione, then in 30 days another application of Mesotrione, then in 60 days a more robust PM such as Dimension or Barricade. Read the label for any of these and follow directions.
