Yard Help

This looks pretty dealable withable.

Is that centipede? I’d give it a safe slow release fertilizer like Milorganite and just keep it cut following the 1/3 rule. Give it infrequent, heavy watering during droughts. Spot spray whatever weeds the grass doesn’t choke out and the heat doesn’t kill.

Standard management practices should have it looking nice by mid summer, especially proper mowing.

Did you forget that Centipede needs water

It should respond well to the upcoming rain if you're in S LA.

Which Weed & Feed did you use? Did you put it down to early?

Thanks all. It's centipede grass with some St. Augustine mixed in there. I just used the Scotts southern weed-and-feed. It controlled some stuff but definitely not whatever that one weed is that has gotten out of control.

I've been watering some but obviously not enough. We have not had been rain in Baldwin County, AL lately either.

I have never dethatched it before and haven't had issues until now. I do have a neighbor that has aerator so can borrow / use that and see if it helps.

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What is the 1/3 rule?

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Don't cut off more than 1/3 of the blade of grass at one time.

Grass is 3"? Then don't cut it down to 1 or 1.5"

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I just used the Scotts southern weed-and-feed. It controlled some stuff but definitely not whatever that one weed is that has gotten out of control.

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Going forward, helps to get into a mind-set of treating lawn weed control and lawn fertilization as two separate lawn management activities - applying them them together is seldom optimal for both - that is when it’s time to control weeds is not time to feed (fertilize), and often vice-versa. Applying herbicides during the 2 to 3 week period of lawn green up from winter to spring can potentially damage a healthy lawn grass.

Aeration is good.

Dethatching Centipede isn't fantastic. Centipede has above ground runners which would be damaged in that mechanical process. I think that you would do more harm than good.

If my calculations are right then you spread at about .67 pounds of Nitrogen for every square feet. You should aim for no more that 1 pound per 1000 per year.