Weeds and thin Bermuda?

[Mr.Mow-It-All]

I am completely clueless about chemical and fertilizer applications. This is the worst part of my game. I need help.

I have a Church that I mow, and it used to be real thick Bermuda grass. It now has a lot of crab grass and clovers in it, and the Bermuda is thin and didn't green very good last year. HELP, WHAT DO I NEED TO DO? I have no experience what so ever with this part of the biz, I am now trying to learn so that I can be more complete. And I mean I don't no squat about this. So when you guys give some replies and suggestions, please spell it out so that my 5year old daughter would understand.

PLEASE HELP.
Thanks,

Drew

[pow]

Mr.Mow it all,

Here is what I think you should do. If you don't know anything about chemicals and fertilizers, call someone in your area that does. Have them come out and let them do the applications for you. Have them bill you, that way you will have a record of what they applied. This is also a good way to find out what the competition charges. I have my pesticide license and I still call some of the other lco's to do some treatments for me. Just make sure that you get a certificate of insurance from them before they do any work.( GL and WC)

I don't know if you have to have a license to apply fertilizer in your state or not, but I do know you have to have one to apply chemicals. Check your state law to see if you need a fertilizer license. If not the instructions are right on the bag, it will tell you how much to apply, when to apply, when not to apply, the whole nine yards right on the bag! What it won't tell you is how to calibrate your spreader.
If you want to learn about pesticides, then check some of your community colleges. That is how I got my pesticide license.

Is the crabgrass green or brown now? If it's green, then I don't think you have crabgrass. But to answer your question about the weeds, a pre and post emergent is the way to get rid of the clover and crabgrass if that is what it is. But again, let someone who knows what to do, do the applications!

I hope that this has helped a little.

[Jared_Smith]

From what I understand, if the bermudagrass is dormant, you can apply roundup to kill anything green this time of year.

And in the summer, an application of 2-4,D amine would help to get any weeds that sprout in the summer months.

Not for sure what would cure the crabgrass in the summer.

Oh yeah, do a soil test.

[Candibear]

"It now has a lot of crab grass and clovers in it,"

The only way to get rid of clover is chemicals (killex,2-4D etc). I really don't recommend Weed & feed it leaves residual on the ground that kid's and dog's will be in contact with, plus it doesn't work aswell!! So Hire a company that does spraying specifically and get your Pesticide Aplicator's licence ASAP, so you can do it and get paid for it. Once you have it under control you can keep it that way with fertizing clover doesn't do well with the grass competing. Here one only needs to apply fert 3 times a year but alot of people fert 4-5 times ( for the money of course). Spring, Summer, Fall. Using an osmicote (slow release like 20-10-10 ) N,P,K. Osmicote lasts about 3 months if you mulch your grass rather than haul it away.
N= nitrogen : used in the sytheses of proteins, clorophyll, and enzymes. When it is in short supply plants (grass) yellow from the bottom upward, with its leaves yellowing from the tips towards the stem, and growth is stunted.
P = Phosphorus promotes strong root growth, and the transfer of enery from one point in the plant to another. When it is in short supply stunted growth, and some will have purplish areas on the leaves undersides, ( grass blades).
K = Potassium : It is important for regulating the synthesis of proteins and starches that make grass stand up. It also increases resistance to diseases, heat, and cold. If it is lacking spotting or culing of older leeaves, weak roots (found when taking a core sample).
Micronutrients : Also known as trace elements, are required in very small quantities

You need to fert. as said above you may be able to fert but check it out first, you don't want to get fined, or worse.
Good luck

[Mr.Mow-It-All]

Thank You guys very much for the replies and more importantly the explanations and help!!!!! :