posted
I've been researching "Scott's Turf Builder With Crabgrass Control". The active ingredient is "pendimethalin", which is a pre-emergent herbicide. I didn't want to use it if it would hurt my birds in any way, so after a lot of reading on the web I found some specs on it at the Cornell University website. It said that it would not harm birds. So, I guess I will use it. Has anyone else used this?
* * * * Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car! Plants: 43285 | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 24.49.153.3
posted
I have used pendimethalin based herbicides for years, they do work very well, as long as they are applied at the correct time. They will not do any good if the crab grass has already germinated, and putting it down too early may weaken the application before it has its chance to work. As a rule of thumb ( I don't know if forsthyia grows in your area or not) but it should be put down when the flowers fall from that plant. This coinsides with the timing of crabgrass germination. If that is not an opption, you can still check the soil temps. Crabgrass will not germinate until you have a mininum temp of 65* for 3 days in a row, with the temprature being taken in the morning before the ground is heated by the sun. This is soil temps, which will greatly differ from air temps.
posted
Yep, we have forsythia here. They are in full bloom right now, so I guess I should wait a while before applying it. Says it's O.K. for birds, but lethal to fish. THANK GOD I don't have any fish in my yard!
I bought the Scott's TBw/CGC today. It didn't come cheap, either!
That's what I am worried about...putting it down at the right time. I want rid of this crab grass SOOO bad! I'm glad to hear that it works. I am so excited now! (Gee...what a life. I get excited about crab grass extermination!)
(Maybe I should get a REAL job.)
* * * * Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car! Plants: 43285 | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 24.49.153.3
posted
Believe it or not the ground rates its own special type of thermometer. It kinda looks like a meat thermometer, but has a lower scale to it. You can usually pick one up at a garden supply store, for pretty cheap.
posted
Oh, great! So, let's see...instead of the neighbors thinking I'm taking my yard's temperature with a regular thermometer, they will just think I'm basting it!
Seriously, thanks for your help!
* * * * Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car! Plants: 43285 | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 24.49.153.3
posted
Cindy, you crack me up girl. The first giggle came from the "Thank God I don't have fish in my yard" (images of fish flopping around on the grass and among the irises and roses) and then the image of you taking your soil tempature with an oral thermometer. I don't know what you look like so I'm imaging someone like me out there saying "open up" with a tongue depressor in one hand and a thermometer in the other!! And now you are going to be basting it!! Too funny.
By the way, I didn't know there was a special soil thermometer either. Learn something new every day. We have crabgrass occaisionally in our lawn and that stuff is such a pain in the you-know-what. I feel your pain. Good luck and keep us updated.
* * * * Women and cats will do as they please. Men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea. Plants: 766 | From: The real OC in sunny So. Cal. | Registered: Aug 2003
| Seeded: 216.114.206.2
posted
Right before I read your reply to this post I had just read an email from a friend of mine that I had told about this website. She said she'd gotten on here last night and was amazed at how nice and SMART everyone was. She was going on and on about the credentials a lot of the people had...then said "I read all your posts; the praying mantis, the chicken attack, the drunk slugs, the mystery hole. And you must be the forum fool!"
* * * * Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car! Plants: 43285 | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 24.49.153.3
Jiffymouse
guest
posted
forum fool?? hey, that's a new designator! but i don't think you have the corner on the market when it comes to that title... i promise!!
Seeded: 12.77.200.36
posted
Well, after all my anguish over the crabgrass, finally deciding on Scott's Turfbuilder with Crabgrass Control, putting it down at the proper time, watering it in until 2 a.m. for several nights in a row... I HAVE NEW CRABGRASS COMING UP!!!!!
* * * * Buckle up! It makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car! Plants: 43285 | Registered: Mar 2004
| Seeded: 24.49.153.3
posted
Oh no! How awful I wish I had a magic answer for controlling crab grass...my yard is full of it & no matter what I do it comes back...I feel for ya Cindy.
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Believe it or not the ground rates its own special type of thermometer. It kinda looks like a meat thermometer, but has a lower scale to it. 
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I wish I had a magic answer for controlling crab grass...my yard is full of it & no matter what I do it comes back...I feel for ya Cindy.
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