How to kill all weeds before greenup?

bermudalover – posted 16 February 2005 09:16

I live in NC & have a hybrid bermuda 419 lawn. The grass is dormant now & I want to basically kill everything that is green in the lawn! What is the best product to use? (Will Roundup kill my dormant bermuda?)

[This message has been edited by bermudalover (edited 16 February 2005).]

bermudalover – posted 16 February 2005 10:57

Have read other threads about the possibility of Roundup killing the bermuda even in Jan. so I am not going that direction. Spectricide makes a product called “Weed Stop” which can be used year round on Bermuda and at this point in the season I need something quick. It can be re-applied in 3 weeks using spot treatments. I found it at Lowes for $7.00 and it will cover 8,000 sq. feet by hose connection. I’m spraying after work today & will hit it again in 3 weeks. Then fertilize the 3rd weekend in March. I fertilize with Scott’s products every 2 months & spray Miracle Grow in-between the Scott’s applications. Keeps it thick & green…………and of course I mow often!!!

[This message has been edited by bermudalover (edited 16 February 2005).]

Buck – posted 17 February 2005 08:11

While you’re at it, this is a good time to hit it with Dimension 0-0-7 or some other pre-emerg. Also, what is the ratio your are using with Scott’s? 419 generally likes something in the 5-1-2 range and and I’m not aware of a Scott’s product that comes close to that ratio.

And to prevent the winter weeds next year consider an application of pre-emerg in early September and then again in late December. If you use the label rate you will find that three apps a year are OK.

Good idea to forget the Roundup, too late I think for NC.

bermudalover – posted 17 February 2005 08:59

Where do I find Dimension? The Scotts fertilizers I typically use are Turf Builder (29-3-4) & Turf Builder with 2% iron (27-3-4). I will also put down Ironite to get a deep green color. Also Lime is an every year application here due to the pine trees nearby. If I use a fertilizer product with the ratio you are recommending, will my bermuda stay green & grow less? I will implement the Sept & Dec weed control this fall followed up by another shot in Feb. – sounds like a great plan!

bermudalover – posted 17 February 2005 09:10

Where do I find Dimension? The Scotts fertilizers I typically use are Turf Builder (29-3-4) & Turf Builder with 2% iron (27-3-4). I will also put down Ironite to get a deep green color. Also Lime is an every year application here due to the pine trees nearby. If I use a fertilizer product with the ratio you are recommending, will my bermuda stay green & grow less? I will implement the Sept & Dec weed control this fall followed up by another shot in Feb. – sounds like a great plan!

bwmaier – posted 17 February 2005 10:45

Just curious as to what near by pine trees have to do with the soil requiring lime? (My neighborhood appears to have been all loblolly planted pines about 20 years old, up until a few years ago.)

I also have 419 bermuda. I have been told that my GA red clay (Dallas, GA) requires lime (every year) and it is best done in the fall. Others have said that lime only needs to be applied every few years because of how slowly it leaches into the soil and the root zone of the turf. How often should lime be applied?

bermudalover – posted 17 February 2005 12:10

Lime applications can be made every 60 days until your desired Ph level is reached. The pine trees around my house constantly drop needles which in return leach acid into the soil over time. A yearly dose of lime keeps my Ph where I want it.

ted – posted 17 February 2005 14:12

i hope your soil testing regularly- i can’t imagine yearly applications of lime to a lawn, unless it’s in extremely small amounts. the max per application is 40 pounds per 1000 sq. ft. -i’ve seen lawns in the 5-5.5 range on ph and one ap gets it close. dimension is a pro product but you may be able to purchase it at a hardware store in a diluted form.

BigH829 – posted 14 March 2005 15:31

Heavy clay soils can require routine light lime applications. Add in pine straw (usually water runoff from dropped needles or spread as mulch) and you can have a pretty good acid problem. Not a problem for azaleas and other acid-loving plants, but a definite lime requirement for neutral to alkali lovers like zoysia.

bermudalover – posted 15 March 2005 06:15

BigH29 – You hit it on the nail. I have Bermuda in the front yard which gets full sun & Zoysia in the backyard which gets partial sun. We have azaleas in our pine straw flower beds. The bushes love it but it’s a constant battle to neutrilize the pine needles’ acid in the lawn. I make a yearly application & my lawn looks great!