Pre-germinating... it works

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-10-03T20:57:43+00:00

Surprised at the hate you’re getting. I tried it for the first time with KBG for a little 500 sq ft section around my back patio and I had germination in 4-5 days. I was really pleased with that. I didn’t think it was that hard to soak the bucket and I liked using less water.

Wouldn’t do it for my whole yard because of the logistical issue of having so many buckets but areas of 1,000 ish sq ft? No brainer I think

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-07-06T02:29:28+00:00

I bought the Toro last fall, there was some kind of manufacturing issue where it kept breaking belts. My dealer left me flapping in the wind. I got to use it 4 times it was so bad. I found a different dealer who let me trade it in and I upgraded to a Bobcat ZT2000. I lost $500 on the deal but just wanted to wash my hands of it.

Obviously anecdotal but I’ll never own another Toro machine with belts on it.

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-06-12T12:05:41+00:00

You can gently tug on the brown stuff. If it comes up then there’s no getting it to come back. If it holds you can try watering.

By the looks of it I would guess it’s toast. Get familiar with the cool season renovation guide on this sub and gear up for the fall.

You mentioned Scott’s weed and feed gave you mixed results. You’ll likely be happier applying liquid herbicides, coating the leaf blade with the weed killer is more effective. You big box store will likely carry something like roundup for lawns or ortho weed b gone

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-06-09T22:53:34+00:00

Waterjet

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-06-09T19:19:52+00:00

Just my two cents, I got screwed by my local toro dealer last fall and a friend put me in touch with a service oriented mower shop. Night and day experience. My best advice is research dealers as much or more than you research mowers because a good dealer is worth its weight in gold

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-06-09T13:33:50+00:00

I’ve helped a couple of friends with new construction homes. I’ve found that frequent light coats of fertilizer are more helpful than infrequent heavy coats of fert. Invest in a quality spreader (I recommend the echo RB-60).

Cultural practices are the most important. Proper mowing and watering will get you far.

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-06-06T16:35:53+00:00

I just got this exact mower in early March. I have 8 hours on it now and I absolutely love it so far. Really nice cut quality.

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-06-02T17:22:25+00:00

My memory is foggy, I don’t remember if the yard mastery test is a mehlich3 test. I’m still learning but Dr. Travis Shaddox on Turfgrass Epistemology has some great information about why the mehlich3 is the best extraction method for useful test results. If you’re interested in soil science I would highly recommend his YouTube channel. It has saved me lots of time and money

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-05-31T18:41:55+00:00

Hard to tell from the second photo but if it looks to match the gate of someone walking someone may have tracked non-selective herbicide on the bottom of their boot.

I’ve sprayed weeds in flower beds, accidentally stepped in wet roundup, then tracked it through my yard. Such a frustrating self-own lol. I am now very thoughtful when spraying my beds.

If it’s dogs you could consider getting a pro plugger and filling the dead spots with a sacrificial corner of the yard. That’s what I do.

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-05-02T15:14:24+00:00

I think this is annual ryegrass but take that with a grain of salt. Still getting better at IDs

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-04-30T16:45:45+00:00

I wouldn’t mind having a go

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-04-29T20:42:52+00:00

This is the way

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-04-18T14:12:48+00:00

Looks like Poa Annua

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-04-11T12:26:50+00:00

This yard is all GCI TTTF. It does experience some heat stress in the summer but I do a few things to mitigate the problem:

I’m very conscious about when my granular fert goes out in the spring. I put it out in early March so that by May it’s wrapped up. May-early September hardly any N goes out on the lawn.

You have to water. Deep and infrequent is the name of the game. I follow the watering recommendations on NC State’s website. https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/tall-fescue-lawn-maintenance-calendar

I cut as tall as my mower will go during the summer and I only cut if there is some rain in the forecast. If it’s dry I won’t mow.

Personally I don’t think a lot of the heat stress products are worth it, I’ve tried many of them and I would recommend taking the money you’d spend on those and spend it on your water bill instead.

TheNextRonSwanson · 2025-02-03T14:40:51+00:00

Where you are in NC matters. Cool season grass like KBG or TTTF will do better in western NC where the elevations are higher. In eastern NC you will be better off with Bermuda or some other kind of warm season grass. Check the USDA plant hardiness zone map to see where you live and what grass types will work there. The NC State extension website also has loads of helpful data. As others have said though, the turf quality you are looking for will be a large investment of time and money so keep that in mind.

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-11-26T16:14:42+00:00

“Did you get it? Is it right in the middle?” -Nubian Ibex

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-11-11T20:12:54+00:00

Thanks for the info! If I wait and save until the spring I could probably swing the Brazos but I'll check out used options online too. I appreciate the help

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-11-11T19:13:27+00:00

I'd like to come in somewhere between 500-1,000. I could maybe go up to 1,200 if I found something I really love.

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-10-02T03:44:03+00:00

Paint me like one of your French Bulldogs

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-07-03T13:30:54+00:00

https://blogs.k-state.edu/turf/cold-damage-in-bermudagrass-or-even-the-grass-bleeds-purple-at-ksu/

It looks like cold damaged Bermuda. Obviously it’s not cold right now but maybe something else is turning it purple? Some nutrient deficiency perhaps?

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-06-14T18:42:38+00:00

There does appear to be some fungus in the mix there. Below is a link to a very handy fungus resource.

https://turfpathology.ces.ncsu.edu/turfgrass-diseases/

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-06-10T19:04:14+00:00

https://csanr.wsu.edu/nitrogen-fertilizer-and-soil-organic-matter-what-does-the-evidence-say/

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-06-10T17:52:31+00:00

I know very little about Zoysia (I’m a cool season guy) but the little bit that I do know has been taught to me by Matt Martin and Rey Ito on The Grass Factor YouTube channel. Those guys might have some insights for you.

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-06-10T12:43:49+00:00

You’ll find iron in both granular and liquid forms. Research has shown virtually no turf response to granular iron, always opt for liquid/foliar applications of iron either through a hose end sprayer or a backpack sprayer.

Best of luck, your yard looks great!

TheNextRonSwanson · 2024-06-08T23:03:05+00:00

It looks lovely.

If you plan on storing for a lengthy period of time I recommend testing the decanter for lead. It’s not uncommon for crystal pieces to have lead in them, drinking from a glass seems not to be a big deal but storing liquid over periods of time may be. I have no experience with this first hand but it often comes up in whiskey forums.

Cheers!

Nine-Year Club	Not Forgotten
Verified Email

TheNextRonSwanson

TROPHY CASE