It’s time to dump those generic 4 step programs fertilizer companies push. Check out this simple, 3 product lawn care program and get real results.
Before I got my lawn care ‘education’, I stuck mostly to the 4 step programs you see at the big box stores. To be honest, my lawn always looked half way decent using these products. The main benefit though was the convenience and availability of these products.
After becoming very familiar with the 4 step programs, I realized that some of the products worked OK, while others barely worked at all.
For starters, the crabgrass pre-emergents didn’t seem to be that effective. My lawn always had a lot of crabgrass each season.
I also noticed plenty of broadleaf weeds, even after applying products like Weed & Feed.
Eventually I became convinced that the Weed & Feed wasn’t working, even though I was applying it correctly. It greened up my lawn, but didn’t do much to combat weeds.
After a lot of experimentation, I realized that a next level lawn really came down to 3 products. The best part is these 3 products are usually supplied by the big box stores. If not, you should be able to get them shipped to your store.
Product 1
Lesco 19-0-7 Fertilizer with Dimension Pre Emergent
Dimension is one of the best pre-emergent herbicides out there. It’s a common choice among professionals. It was hard to find in big box stores until Lesco came out with this awesome fertilizer and Dimension combo.
I recommend using this product for your first 2 applications, and then a 3rd time a little later in the season.
The first 2 applications are for preventing crabgrass as well as other broadleaf weeds. The 3rd application is mostly for preventing Poa Annua.
Once soil temps are nearing 55 degrees it’s time to throw this product down. About 5 weeks later as soil temps approach 70 degrees it’s time to throw it down again. Once soil temps hit 80 degrees, crabgrass and broadleaf weed germination slows.
The 3rd application is going to be after the hot summer months when soil temps start decreasing back down to 70 degrees. This is the time of year when Poa Annua seeds germinate. Poa Annua drops its seeds in spring and summer and germination begins in early fall.
Applying the Lesco fertilizer with Dimension when soil temps are heading back down to 70 degrees will help prevent Poa Annua seeds from germinating, as well as other broadleaf weeds.
* It’s important to point out that if you plan on doing any fall seeding then don’t apply this product. Doing so will prevent grass seed from from growing. Instead, use a starter fertilizer when applying the new seed.
Check out Greencast to find out when your soil usually hits the 3 important benchmarks of approaching 55, approaching 70, and coming down below 70 heading into fall.
In terms of a fertilizer, this product provides 19% nitrogen, 0% phosphours, and 7% potassium. The 7% potassium plays a big role in balancing this program since our other go to fertilizer is Milorganite which doesn’t have potassium. Instead it has phosphorus which the Lesco product is lacking.
Product 2
Milorganite 6-4-0
For times when you’re not applying Lesco’s fertilizer and pre-emergent combo, shift to a good organic fertilizer such as Milorganite. I was never a big organic fertilizer guy until I realized all of its benefits:
- Builds soil health instead of temporarily feeding roots
- Slow release for longer lasting results
- Doesn’t burn if over applied or applied in poor conditions
- Eco friendly
Milorganite has 6% nitrogen, 4% phosphorus, and 0% potassium. This works great in this program with the Lesco product since it provides a balance of the Macronutirents N, P, K. It also contains iron which helps give your lawn that dark green color.
Product 3
Ortho Weed B Gone Plus Crabgrass Control, Post Emergent Herbicide
No pre-emergent plan is perfect. No matter how hard you try, there will be some weeds that emerge. The trick is to knock these weeds out right away using a lawn safe liquid herbicide.
All that’s required is walking your lawn and spot treating any visible lawn weeds. This product is a liquid herbicide that comes with a spray wand.
Spot treat weeds a couple days before mowing. This is when the weeds will be easy to spot and it will also be enough time for the herbicide to be absorbed by the weed.
Benefits of This Lawn Care Strategy
1. It’s a more aggressive and effective approach to combating weeds with pre-emergents. This schedule calls for applying pre-emergent herbicides at 3 specific times during the year.
Most of the 4 step programs only cover pre-emergents in the first step. It also uses spot treating for killing developed weeds which is more effective then Weed & Feed products.
2. Focus’s on soil temps instead of calendar dates. Weed seeds don’t care what the date is.
3. All these products are easy to use, and easy to access.
4. It uses organic fertilizer for most of the applications which has many long lasting benefits.
The 3 Product Lawn Care Schedule
Once familiar with this schedule I highly recommend you check out : How to Fertilize Your Lawn
| Timing | Product | App Rate | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Right before soil temps hit 55 degrees | Lesco 19-0-7 with Dimension | 3.8 lbs per 1000s/f | |
| 2 | 4-5 weeks after previous | Lesco 19-0-7 with Dimension | 3.8 lbs per 1000s/f | |
| 3 | 5-6 weeks after previous | Milorganite 6-4-0 | 12 lbs per 1000s/f | |
| 4 | 5-6 weeks after previous | Milorganite 6-4-0 | 12 lbs per 1000s/f | |
| 5 | Right before soil temps head back down to 70 degrees | Lesco 19-0-7 with Dimension* | 3.8 lbs per 1000s/f | |
| 6 | 5-6 weeks after previous | Milorganite 6-4-0 | 12 lbs per 1000s/f | |
| 7 | Optional application right before ground freezes | Milorganite 6-4-0 | 12 lbs per 1000s/f | |
| ** Spot Treat | Weekly | Weed B Gone with Crabgrass Preventer, Liquid | Wet weed leaves |
* If you plan on core aerating and overseeding, or top dressing your lawn, or doing any type of seeding in general then don’t apply Lesco with Dimension for round 5. Instead use a starter fertilizer. Lesco and Scotts both make starter fertilizers so either one is a fine choice.
Soil Test for Best Results
While this program is great for putting your lawn care maintenance on auto pilot, it’s recommended you do some simple soil tests every once in awhile to see where you’re at.
A soil test doesn’t have to be complicated. I actually like using a simple one that gives you instant results at home. Check out this post on a soil test I did in the beginning of the season: How to Do a Soil Test
Limitations
This plan makes no mention of treating for grubs, fungus, or insects. The truth is, you may never need to do those things so don’t feel you have to. There’s no need to apply fungicides or insecticides unless you suspect you are having problems.
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How to Kill Weeds Without Killing Grass
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Why is it that the soil dries quickly. I can water at night in the morning looks like I haven’t watered in weeks. I’ve had my yard aeriated, thatched and everything else…can you help
Could be your soil is very sandy. I would recommend tops dressing your lawn in the fall using compost. This will add organics to your soil and keep it from drying out so quickly. check out my tutorial on Top Dressing
How did you decide on these two products?
the lesco 19-0-7 contains dimension which in my opinion is the best pre emergent herbicide. I see this product in most big box stores so it is easy to access. The Milorganite is my favorite organic fertilizer and contains phosphorus (middle number) which the Lesco product doesn’t contatin. So using these products together helps balance your 3 macro nutrients (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium). Also the Milorganite contains Iron which is a great micronutrient that gives your lawn a dark green color.
I just laid some seed today but my grass is full of weeds. What do you recommend for now to do.?
Where are you located?… at this point I would just wait and see what happens. In most areas with cool season lawns, a lot of lawn weeds will die as the weather cools and cool season grass will thrive. Don’t try and treat weeds if you just seeded. In the spring you want to apply a pre emergent to prevent weed seeds from germinating.
I would first like to say thank you! Since I’ve been following you and trying to keep up with your program (since summer) my lawn has never looked so good!
This fall (end of September) I aerated, filled a few low spots, and over seeded the entire yard. I fertilized with a starter/ winterizer with milorgranite in it. The grass has come up everywhere. Maybe a little thin in some areas, but I’m hoping it will maybe fill in next year? My main question is the new grass still looks thin and delicate, is that normal? Should I put something else down at this point or wait till spring? Has it possibly gone dormant?
I live in north east Ohio.
Hi George, I’m glad you’ve been finding the info helpful, thanks for sharing! The answer is a definite yes, it’s absolutely normal for the new grass to be thin right now! I did a major renovation to my lawn this past september and the new grass never even got tall enough to mow. Its thin and looks for the most part like it just germinated. That’s completely normal. A lot of pros call this period ‘sprout and pout’… meaning you get excited about newly sprouted grass but then it seems like nothing is happening. This is because all the energy is going into root development under the soil. This new grass will go dormant soon and wake right up in the spring. Stick to the program in the spring and you will see it get thick and blend with the rest of the lawn. Also don’t be alarmed if as it starts to go dormant you see a lot of brown in those new areas. Again, this is normal and just part of the new seed going dormant! At this point, if you recently put down fertilizer I wouldn’t hit it again. I’m actually putting down my last application of nitrogen today, knowing that it will be stored by the grass and used in the spring. It won’t really be doing anything for the lawn now as soil temps are getting cold here in NH as well.