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re: Can I get advice/tips for my lawn after the winter? ::Updated with pics:::

Posted on 4/20/20 at 5:48 pm to
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/20/20 at 5:48 pm to


So I've noticed these little weeds popping up here and there in the yard (mostly around the clover). Any idea what they are? And will the MSM take care of that?

I went ahead and got both the pre emerg and the MSM. Sprayed the MSM this afternoon.
Posted by ronk
Member since Jan 2015
6240 posts
Posted on 4/20/20 at 6:49 pm to
You have 3 weeds in that picture. Clover, lawn burweed and dichondra. I hate to tell you this but you’re gonna want Celsius.
Posted by PapaPogey
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2008
39559 posts
Posted on 4/20/20 at 7:22 pm to
Burweed is the o my thing from keeping my yard from looking pretty good. Sprayed it with the legs cocktail again last week, so I’ll wait and see.
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/20/20 at 7:26 pm to
quote:

You have 3 weeds in that picture. Clover, lawn burweed and dichondra. I hate to tell you this but you’re gonna want Celsius


What's Celsius? And why is that bad news?
Posted by ronk
Member since Jan 2015
6240 posts
Posted on 4/20/20 at 9:50 pm to
Celsius is my favorite herbicide. Moderate price point but amazing results. $100 a bottle it controls more weeds and faster than msm. Dichondra can’t be controlled with msm. Plus when you get Virginia buttonweed you’ll want Celsius.
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/20/20 at 10:04 pm to
quote:

Dichondra can’t be controlled with msm


Just looked up those three weeds you said you noted. I am guessing what I thought were clovers was actually dichondra.

The Cleggs cocktail I had been using cleared up some of my lawn, but as you can see I have a few spots that are winning out over the St. Aug. I'm guessing that Cleggs cocktail won't knock out those weeds. If the MSM doesn't do it, will the St Aug eventually overtake that area if I keep cutting it high? My last two cuts have been even higher than normal (3 1/2 inches). Not even getting down to the remaining clover in the yard with the blade.
Posted by ronk
Member since Jan 2015
6240 posts
Posted on 4/20/20 at 10:21 pm to
Your clover leaves have the slightest bit of white on them. Dichondra, so known as pony’s foot, is a single green leaf. Your lawn won’t technically win vs dichondra. It might be more prevalent but it won’t choke it out. Dichondra is a desired lawn in California because it requires little water, little sun, zero mowing, zero feet.

It depends on your desired outcome. Dichondra will not overtake your st aug. your st aug won’t choke out the dichondra.
This post was edited on 4/20/20 at 10:23 pm
Posted by ronk
Member since Jan 2015
6240 posts
Posted on 4/20/20 at 10:23 pm to
A 10oz bottle of Celsius will last you 5 years by the way
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/25/20 at 7:46 am to
Just as you said, I can see the MSM taking out some of the other spots, but those few areas with the dichondra seem unphased. There is one small patch of the yard that is just 100% that crap. What would happen if I hit it with some round up?
This post was edited on 4/25/20 at 7:46 am
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5286 posts
Posted on 4/25/20 at 10:44 am to
quote:

Just as you said, I can see the MSM taking out some of the other spots, but those few areas with the dichondra seem unphased. There is one small patch of the yard that is just 100% that crap. What would happen if I hit it with some round up?

If you have some atrazine remaining from your winter weed cocktail applications give that try on the dichronda (pony foot) this weekend (add the surfactant). I think it may be still cool enough this weekend to use it without damaging/killing the St Augustine. It might not be as effective as Celsius but it is recommended for post-emergent control of dichronda. I’d certainly try that before roundup which of course will kill the St Aug.

ETA: Better yet, just mix another batch of the winter weed cocktail, and spot spray it with that. Do it early in the AM. Then if temps are favorable and the dichronda shows some damage, in another 14 days or so spot spray it again (or not), but do expect some potential damage to the St Aug in the areas you spray with a second spray, b/c of the heat.
This post was edited on 4/25/20 at 11:06 am
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/25/20 at 12:06 pm to
quote:

Better yet, just mix another batch of the winter weed cocktail, and spot spray it with that. Do it early in the AM. Then if temps are favorable and the dichronda shows some damage, in another 14 days or so spot spray it again (or not), but do expect some potential damage to the St Aug in the areas you spray with a second spray, b/c of the heat


I'll try that tomorrow morning. In the few little areas I have it there it is pretty much 0% St Aug. So once I kill it, it's going to leave me with a patch of dirt in there I'm sure for a while. It's pissing me off, because it's the main thing left.

I'm willing to take a little browning of the grass for a little while if the cocktail bothers the St Aug. shite Im almost willing to murder everything right there with round up (if that'll even kill it) and deal with the dead patches for a little while.
This post was edited on 4/25/20 at 12:08 pm
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5286 posts
Posted on 4/25/20 at 12:29 pm to
Well if those spots are near a 100% dichronda, sure you can spray it with glyphosate (“roundup”) and when it dies fill those areas in with some sand and the surrounding St Aug should creep in fill in the area. You can do that with just about any area that’s 100% weed with little or no desirable grass, we just assumed it’s was mixed with good grass.
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/25/20 at 6:22 pm to


This is what I'm calling near 100%. There are two small spots in my yard that are like this.

I'll spray it hard with the Cleggs tomorrow. If that doesn't work, I'll round up and cover with sand. If all of that fails I'll go the celcius route. Just really don't want to do that right now with the wife only working half the time, so I'm trying to use the options I already have. I already just went out and got the MSM and pre emerge and she wasn't fired up about that.
Posted by ronk
Member since Jan 2015
6240 posts
Posted on 4/25/20 at 6:49 pm to
Would you sleep in the doghouse if you bought a few squares of sod?
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/25/20 at 7:59 pm to
quote:

Would you sleep in the doghouse if you bought a few squares of sod?



How much is a few squares of sod, and where can I get that from?
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/26/20 at 11:38 am to
What would be the process of laying down the sod? Should I round up, let it die and then lay the squares in the bad areas?

I also have that one spot where I closed in an armadillo hole with cement then topped it with sand. The grass is still not creeping into that spot, so I'm assuming a square of sod would be needed there as well.
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5286 posts
Posted on 4/26/20 at 12:19 pm to
Sod squares here in Baton Rouge are 24 inches x 16 inches, and when bought individually usually cost about $2.50 each. Usually most local sod companies will keep a pallet or 2 aside just to sell individual pieces - I’m sure they do it as a courtesy for customers more than anything. Also the independent retail nurseries often may have a pallet or 2 of sod, usually St Augustine which works for you, to sell individual pieces of sod to customers. You just want buy it when they have a fresh delivery. Just call around.

Of course kill the dichronda first. Rough up the area so the soil is exposed. You can then add a little sand if you want and cut the sod to fit the area. Don’t worry if the sod projects above the height of the surrounding lawn, it will settle down and blend in after a few weeks.

Now the hard part - you’ll have to water those pieces of sod daily for a week, then every other day for the second week, and twice during the third week. By then it should be rooted in.

But honestly if the spots of dichronda are as small as they look from the photos, I’d think I might fill spots with sand after the dichronda is dead and let the St Augustine runners fill it in - May take 2 or 3 months months but it will fill in.

Also, want you to remember dichronda is a perennial weed, not affected by pre-emergent herbicides, so expect to pop back up in areas, so maybe by next year you can can spring for some Celsius to treat it and some other stubborn weeds. And as ronk said, even though a bottle is expensive up front, it will easily last 5 years or so. So it’s a good investment purchase in lawn care.

This post was edited on 4/26/20 at 2:26 pm
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/26/20 at 12:49 pm to
Ok sounds good. I hit it hard today with the Cleggs cocktail again. I'll see how that works out. I'll eventually go with the celcius, because this is annoying the crap out of me. I'll look around for some squares just incase.
Posted by ronk
Member since Jan 2015
6240 posts
Posted on 4/26/20 at 2:14 pm to
If the area was 5x5 I was going to say round up and lay sod.
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 4/26/20 at 5:25 pm to
quote:


If the area was 5x5 I was going to say round up and lay sod


I'll see how this last spray works. If it does the trick I'll be good (but I doubt it will, because this would be spray #4 (3 Cleggs, 1 MSM) and this is where I am.

Then I'll either kill and lay sod or deal with it until next spring and then revisit it. At that point I'll go with celcius and knock the shite out (hopefully).
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