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

Posted on 2/19/20 at 6:01 am to
Posted by oOoLsUtIgErSoOo
Louisiana
Member since Aug 2006
26411 posts
Posted on 2/19/20 at 6:01 am to
quote:

That being said I dont use it often as it can be very harsh on centipede and St Augustine, especially when it's hot.

IMO avoid MSM when it's very hot and during green up on those 2 grass types. It can really stunt growth


I thought MSM was used when it got hot, and wouldn't work when it's cooler? Also thought it didn't harm St. Aug grass.


Also thought that the weed cocktail I was using WOULD damage the St. Aug grass, if used when it was too hot.
Posted by gamecocks22
SC
Member since Dec 2012
4913 posts
Posted on 2/19/20 at 7:37 am to
I don't treat St. Augustine much, but I use a lot of MSM on Centipede. When I use it in the heat of summer trying to kill bahia/highway grass it can definitely stunt/yellow the grass. It almost seems to make the grass just sit there. Not bad enough where I won't use it, but I feel more comfortable using a few other products if I don't need the MSM.

Not many herbicides work great in the cool. They will still usually get the job done, but will take longer and possibly need a repeat application.

carfentrazone (quicksilver) Is a broad leaf herbicide that temperature doesn't have an effect on.

Not trying to scare anyone off of MSM, I just think it is kind of harsh on the grass, especially centipede, in extreme heat and mainly during the spring green up transition.

Knock yourself out on Bermuda. Careful on Zoysia.
Posted by CrawDude
Baton Rouge
Member since Apr 2019
5285 posts
Posted on 2/19/20 at 12:41 pm to
quote:

I thought MSM was used when it got hot, and wouldn't work when it's cooler? Also thought it didn't harm St. Aug grass.


Also thought that the weed cocktail I was using WOULD damage the St. Aug grass, if used when it was too hot.


Just to expound a bit more the good answers you've already received on this, its not likely you be hitting max temps in in the mid- to high 80s in Lafayette until late April/May so using the Atrazine+Weed Free Zone cocktail will be fine until then, at which point you can move to MSM Turf if required.

It's not that you can't use MSM Turf at cooler temperature, you can, but "winter weed cocktail" is pretty effective, cheap per application and you are using some different herbicide chemistry to kill weeds which is a good thing, to mitigate herbicide weed resistance, which is a real thing can potentially occur using the same herbicide 12 months per year.

As gamescocks22 mentioned, that hasn't been previously addressed, during the period your lawn grass, St. Augustine in your case, begins greening up, this is a particularly sensitive time for the lawn grass and really no post-emergent herbicide should be applied at that time. That is only about a 2 week window for us in southern LA. That should be in mid-March or so for you. I think after you have cut your lawn grass twice, you should be through the "greening up" phase.

It’s important to note lawn grasses are not "immune" to the effects these herbicides, they are "tolerant", but if a herbicide is applied when the lawn grass is in stress, developing a new root system, drought, etc. some of these herbicides recommended can cause some lawn/turf damage to the desirable grasses - this will be stated on the herbicide label. Very common to see some slight yellowing of desirable lawn grass following post-emergent herbicide treatment, particularly in the hotter weather of summer, but the lawn will quickly recover if in good health (that is where mowing/lawn fertilization, etc. are important).
This post was edited on 2/19/20 at 2:25 pm
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