OK OK! Give me the chemicals (subject:Kill Weeds)

[r0GuE]

So I can cut the heck out of my lawn with my super duper tractor, but the lawn forgot to do its part. I am absolutely inundated with dandelions (the less than dandy variety).
So although I do not typically care to dump a bunch of science powder on my lawn, I'm afraid that now I must.
So...
Weed n feed?
Do I cut it short first or leave it long before applying. Do I need to be sure it rains right after I'm done, or doesn’t rain for a while?
Pointers and tips appreciated from all you chemically experienced lawn engineers! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[BrettW]

did you already feed? if so, then just weed. Need 3 dry days to make it work well, so check the weather channel, bw
I weed and feed tomorrow after the last of the storms,

 

[BillG_in_TX]

rogue,

I've been using weed & feed for several years, but my weed problem just kept getting worse. I finally decided to try corn gluten meal and I gotta tell you, my yard has never looked better. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

The jury is still out on the long term effects, but it's certainly worth looking into. Search for another thread on this topic a few weeks back.

 

[Justaplain]

K Mart Broad Leaf Weed Killer. [concentrated] + 3gal hand sprayer and havve at it. bcs

 

[alco141]

i have used ortho weed be gone for the dandelions ever three or four years, have had good luck with it and a hose end sprayer.

alex

 

[MossRoad]

Isn't corn gluten meal a pre-emergence product; that is, it stops seeds from germinating, but will not kill exisiting weeds?

Anything with 2-4D will kill the exisiting weeds. Then the pre-emergence stuff might prevent any more from sprouting. Ortho weed-be-gone seems to work pretty well for existing weeds if you don't want to fertilize.

 

[r0GuE]

I bought the weed n feed. Once the weeds are killed, I'm going to have to replant about 1/5 of my yard. When the grass gets going good, I'd like to try the corn gluten meal. Where do you get it, and is it expensive?

 

[BillG_in_TX]

Here's a link to the previous discussion. I am obviously not a expert on this, so please keep that in mind. I was looking at my yard yesterday, and the area that was so weed infested is nearly weed free, 3 weeks after application of the CGM.

It is a pre-emergent, so perhaps this is just the result of water, fertilizer and warm weather. I intend to treat again with the CGM in the fall, and if the weeds are gone next spring, I will consider it a success. As I said, use of weed & feed over the past 3 years or so has not been effective for me.

By the way, I also tried horticultural cornmeal on some recurring fungus problems in my yard - with great success. I have been on a fungicide spray program for 2 years, and while I would see some benefit from that, the patches kept spreading. Here's a quote from Howard Garrett:
</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Cornmeal has become one of the staple products that I talk about every day as I’m sure you know but it is confusing. The confusion comes in because there is grocery store cornmeal, horticultural cornmeal, whole ground cornmeal and corn gluten meal.
The research on cornmeal was done by the Texas A&M Research Station in Stephenville. Dr. Joe McFarland headed that work before his retirement. The discovery of cornmeal’s fungal disease control came about by noticing the peanut crops. Under research observation at the research center these crops didn’t have fungal diseases when they followed the corn planting in rotation. Lab tests related to that later discovered the beneficial organisms in cornmeal were as effective or more than chemical fungicides at shutting down fungal diseases. That’s why we now recommend it for use on brown patch in St. Augustine grass, damping off in seedlings, black spot on roses and many other fungal diseases. Dr. Nick Christian’s stuff at Iowa State University discovered the use of corn gluten meal for use as a natural weed and feed. Time to put it out right now before weed seed germination, at 15-20 lbs. per 1,000 square feet.
)</font>

My grandmother used to say "there's no recipe that can't be improved by adding a little cornmeal". I guess she was on to something. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif