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HELP...before husband buys Scott's!!
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Author:  lewberger [ Thu Jul 26, 2007 11:36 am ]
Post subject:  HELP...before husband buys Scott's!!

We moved into this house about a year ago in Mansfield. The house is about 5 years old, and I have no clue what the former owner used.

My father has been organic for years, so I know the value in it. However, even after hearing him talk about it for years, I still feel clueless. I just got married in May, and am trying to convert my husband. He has been a little reluctant, and I commend him for trying.

We have Bermuda, not sure the specific type though. Below is a summary of what we have done so far.

July 06 - bought the house and grass was in good shape; did nothing but mow and water until spring

March 07 - CGM, Lady Bug Fertlizier, and foliar feed formula from gardner in Arlington (didn't know if I could mention her name); looked awesome and hubby was amazed

June 07 - downpour started; couldn't mow often; grass started looking dead;

1st weekend of July 07 - Nature's Guide (couldn't get to location that sold LB) and HG's Garrett juice foliar feed (back yard) and lady's foliar feed (front yard). I only put down one bag since that was how much LB I put down, but didn't realize Nature's Guide needed 20#/1000, so I am not sure I applied enough. I used 2 different foliar sprays to compare them. Back yard - green and soft, but it was mowed shorter than front to begin with. Front yard - still brown and crunchy.

Sunday, July 22 - HG's foliar feed on front yard only

After doing some research, I think we have been mowing it too high. So we just started a couple weeks ago mowing it progressively shorter. It may be close to 2 inches now, but probably almost 3 1/2 before. We thought it may be tall enough to droop over and hide the "undergrass" from the sun preventing it from getting green. Is mowing it too high my only problem?

Are there some soil amendments I should be using? Compost? Dried mollasses? Should I aerate?

We also were watering it often thinking that was the problem. But I just read on another post that Bermuda needs less water. So we haven't watered since last week.

HELP!! I want to get my husband on board, but the brown grass in the front yard isn't helping.

Thanks,
Bianca

Author:  Nadine [ Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:48 pm ]
Post subject: 

Aerating will help a great deal! Just wait until the soil is not squishy from the rain. Walking on the grass when it is wet is not good, either. It compacts the soil. I would not think that the 3 1/2" height would be an issue, even though it is Bermuda. I have Bermuda grass in part of my yard and I mow it at 4" and it is fine.

Scott's? Your husband wants to use Scott's? That will only make things worse.
The effects high nitrogen fertilizers have on the soil are not good at all. Furthermore, all but maybe 2% of the nitrogen is carried down and off into the water table creating algae blooms and making the water so full of nitrogen that fish can not live.

Author:  lewberger [ Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:56 am ]
Post subject: 

I called Green Mama's and discussed it with someone there. His suggestion was dried humate, dried molasses, and fertilizer. We are going to try that this weekend. Any objections?

Doesn't the humate aerate? Is there a need to aerate more?

Yes, that's right...Scott's. He is a work in progress...still has the conventional train of thought.

Author:  Tricky Grama [ Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:25 am ]
Post subject: 

lewberger-

I don't know what to tell you about hubbys & Scotts. You've only been married a short time. Been training my DH for 21 years. I believe Scotts hypnotizes husbands. Periodically, (we don't yet know all the trigger mechanisms but dead looking grass is surely one) husbands' eyes glaze over & they mutter: "Need to use Scotts".

One cure for sure is to attend one of HGs talks, allow DH to meet & talk to Howard in person. My DH has NOT said "Sscoootts" for over 2 months now.

Patty

PS-the unusual am't of rain has undoubtably wrecked havoc on most of our plants/yards.

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