I need to keep down some crabgrass & other weeds in the front lawn, but I don't want to take any chances with the crocus out there (especially since we've had fewer blooms the last couple of years). So I bought a container of Preen to sprinkle around (it's a really small area), and then I'll apply milorganite. Weed B Gone in summer, weed 'n feed in July, and in fall I'll aerate and overseed front and back. I've already got the weed 'n feed and winterizer, so I may as well use them this year... next year I'll switch to milorganite and sprayed weed control.

In the back, I actually encourage clover -- the bunnies and groundhogs seem to prefer it to my "good" garden plants!

I sprayed Green-it corn gluten weed preventer on my front yard today. I can't remember the last time I fertilized my lawn; I've been counting on the corn gluten and the annual top-dressing to do the job. You all have convinced me to get some Milorganite, though!

Your lawn sure looked good when I was there at the Spring Swap a couple years ago, Susan. Whatever you're doing was working well. Top dressing every year.... impressive!

Yeah, you add Milorganite to your lawn care routine and watch how green and healthy that lawn gets. Just be careful, your envious neighbors might steal your lawn (ever see the movie Fun With Dick and Jane?) hahaha

With the milorganite, you might be able to do the professional aerating and top dressing every other year, Muddy... (I got an estimate from them, so I know it's a splurge -- Jim said "I'm not paying that much for grass" LOL But I know how wonderful your lawn is!)

I went to Lowes to buy fence for around the veggie garden and picked up a bag of Milorganite 50% off for a hole. I also picked up grass seed at Ace and will mix it with screened compost and Milorganite to over seed the front lawn. Fencing the garden will allow me to take the dogs along out with me, and keep out ground hogs and rabbits. I also want to try having a few ducks in the garden area.

I got some pre-emergent stuff down on the front lawn this evening... hopefully it'll get gently rained in tonight.

Are ducks better behaved than chickens in the garden?

Got the lawn mowed and put down 7 bags of Milorganite. Rain should come in later tonight and tomorrow.

I think between all of us, we're keeping the owners of Milorganite quite happy.

Seven bags of Milorganite? I bought one bag at HD, checked it off my list. Smacking my forehead.

How big is your yard, Lisa? Counting your flower beds.

I'm thinking yes, once it's a bit established. they should help with emerging weeds and bugs. Chickens can scratch plants clear out of the ground as well as peck ripe fruits.
I know they used to let geese in tobacco fields to eat bugs and emerging weeds.

Saw a video online a few weeks ago where around 1,000 ducks commute en mass daily to a large vineyard as insect control specialists.

CAMfromMD said:Got the lawn mowed and put down 7 bags of Milorganite. Rain should come in later tonight and tomorrow.

I think between all of us, we're keeping the owners of Milorganite quite happy.

Maybe we should apply for a volume discount!

RickM said:

Maybe we should apply for a volume discount!

I don't know, I bought 120 bags of mulch from them last year and didn't get any darn discount.

Aeration and top dressing is a splurge, for sure, but it has made a huge difference in the health of my lawn. In the backyard, in particular, I feel I really need it because I'm constantly walking around back there and compacting the soil.

Yeah, I aerate every year in the fall, Susan. I fear if I top dressed my lawn every year, my lawn would get so healthy and thick that I wouldn't be able to mow it. I'm only half kidding... in April and May when it's at its healthiest point, I can't let it go more than 4 - 5 days without mowing or it will choke out my push mower.

Well, there's no question my lawn needs help. Skipping lawn care other than mowing last year was Not Good. I threw fertilizer on the crocus patch but nothing more. I figure get rid of weeds and fertilize this summer (pre-emergent now. then milorganite Mem day & July 4, and weed b gone as needed), then aerate and over-seed this fall. I can top dress the front yard myself; it's small, and it's the only area that "needs" to be purely grass. ?

Cam, I think we have 1/4 acre including the hellstrip between the sidewalk and kerb. Technically, hellstrip is city property but homeowner must maintain it. How many bags of Milorganite would you recommend?

For a quarter acre... 2 or 3 would be fine, Lisa. I put mine on pretty heavy. Nice thing about Milorganite, you can't burn the lawn or damage the plants from putting too much down. But you don't need to put it down as heavy as I do... so yeah, two or three bags would be good.

7 bags of Milorganite + 1.8 inches of rain =

= too much mowing for me
well, for Mark, actually

Good for you achieving your dream lawn!