Spring seeding or crabgrass control

[dwyman]

How do you guys handle a spring seeding along with your fertilizer apps? I ask because I put down a preemergent in the spring for crabgrass and foxtail
but that won't work if I'm seeding since that won't allow the grass seed to germinate. If the customer wants spring seeding do you put down the seed and straight fert and then spray for crabgrass if and when it pops up later.

How do you handle that situation?

[mariner]

I'll do one or the other. There is a product out there,can't think of the name off hand, that is labled for crabgrass and seeding but it is more expensive. I like to keep my cost at about $1.00 per thousand sq ft on apps. My 4 steppers get pre m if they are not seeding and my six steppers can get pre m if requested or there is a problem with annual grassy weeds and they are not seeding. I have a property that is overtaken by anuual grasses and I will pre- m the property this spring and fall. We will seed it next year.

[PilotSC]

Seed early early spring, starter fert., then 6 to 8 weeks later apply a heavier application of dimension. Then, normal program with fall seeding this year to get new grass and apply normal apps of dimension in the spring of '05.

[timwaterworth]

Perfect solution

What I do is seed the lawn if it really needs it or wait until fall. However if you seeding in the spring, you can apply just straight fertilizer with the first application. After the new seed is up and far enough along you can spray the entire area with the herbicide DRIVE 75 DF. This is a post emergent grass control that also controls some broadleaves like dandelions. In the same application I will apply fertilizer with Dimension at the post emergent rate.

This application will control annual grasses already emerged and keep new ones from sprouting. This makes our customers happy. Don't wait too long because the DRIVE will leave behind brown crabgrass plants that are a little unsightly.