Several stupid newbie questions
 

We have a small yard that is green. Some of it is grass, some crabrass,
some weeds & some clover.

I like the grass and the clover, but I don't like the other stuff. Will
a pre-emergent kill the clover & all the other stuff?

Do pre-emergents have runoff problems or wildlife consequences?

Is that all I should do in spring?

Should we overseed now?

I really wouldn't mind if the lawn was all clover; it's the really short
kind with little white flowers, it attracts bumblebees, doesn't need
watering, fixes nitrogen and doesn't need mowing. What are the odds of
it taking over?

TIA for your patience.

Several stupid newbie questions
 

"montana" wrote in message
...
We have a small yard that is green. Some of it is grass, some crabrass,
some weeds & some clover.

I like the grass and the clover, but I don't like the other stuff. Will
a pre-emergent kill the clover & all the other stuff?

Do pre-emergents have runoff problems or wildlife consequences?

Is that all I should do in spring?

Should we overseed now?

I really wouldn't mind if the lawn was all clover; it's the really short
kind with little white flowers, it attracts bumblebees, doesn't need
watering, fixes nitrogen and doesn't need mowing. What are the odds of
it taking over?

I am sure not an expert on this. The only pre-emergent that I am aware of
is for crab grass only. Won't harm any other plants. Now is the best time
to over seed. Are you planting grass or clover? :)

Since you like the clover I would spot treat the weeds with a liquid weed
killer in a one gallon sprayer mixed to label directions at anytime they are
growing. You really don't want a pure stand of clover because of the winter
die back factor.

Everything has some potential to harm the environment . Read and follow
label directions and you will be as "friendly" as possible.


--
Colbyt
Remove " stopspam." from the email address to reply via email

Several stupid newbie questions
 

"montana" wrote in message
...
We have a small yard that is green. Some of it is grass, some crabrass,
some weeds & some clover.

I like the grass and the clover, but I don't like the other stuff. Will
a pre-emergent kill the clover & all the other stuff?

Do pre-emergents have runoff problems or wildlife consequences?

Is that all I should do in spring?

Should we overseed now?

I really wouldn't mind if the lawn was all clover; it's the really short
kind with little white flowers, it attracts bumblebees, doesn't need
watering, fixes nitrogen and doesn't need mowing. What are the odds of
it taking over?

I am sure not an expert on this. The only pre-emergent that I am aware of
is for crab grass only. Won't harm any other plants. Now is the best time
to over seed. Are you planting grass or clover? :)

Since you like the clover I would spot treat the weeds with a liquid weed
killer in a one gallon sprayer mixed to label directions at anytime they are
growing. You really don't want a pure stand of clover because of the winter
die back factor.

Everything has some potential to harm the environment . Read and follow
label directions and you will be as "friendly" as possible.


--
Colbyt
Remove " stopspam." from the email address to reply via email

Several stupid newbie questions
 

In article ,
"Colbyt" wrote:

snip

Since you like the clover I would spot treat the weeds with a liquid weed
killer in a one gallon sprayer mixed to label directions at anytime they are
growing. You really don't want a pure stand of clover because of the winter
die back factor.

Luckily, where we are, the clover stays green until the snow covers it.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Several stupid newbie questions
 

"montana" wrote in message
...
We have a small yard that is green. Some of it is grass, some crabrass,
some weeds & some clover.

I like the grass and the clover, but I don't like the other stuff. Will
a pre-emergent kill the clover & all the other stuff?

Do pre-emergents have runoff problems or wildlife consequences?

Is that all I should do in spring?

Should we overseed now?

I really wouldn't mind if the lawn was all clover; it's the really short
kind with little white flowers, it attracts bumblebees, doesn't need
watering, fixes nitrogen and doesn't need mowing. What are the odds of
it taking over?

TIA for your patience.

Several stupid newbie questions
 

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and put in
a good low maintenance turf? I don't know of a sure way to kill some weeds
and not others. Your current lawn will look different during different
seasons since each weed has its own season. If you don't EVER want to water
or cut it then be prepared to live with what you have now. Turf is just as
environmentally friendly as clover but it does require some
maintenance;Don't worry about the bees...they will survive. If you pick a
turf variety that spreads it will choke out most of the weeds. You will have
to fertilize and lime your lawn occasionally but this seems better than
using weed killer.

"montana" wrote in message
...
We have a small yard that is green. Some of it is grass, some crabrass,
some weeds & some clover.

I like the grass and the clover, but I don't like the other stuff. Will
a pre-emergent kill the clover & all the other stuff?

Do pre-emergents have runoff problems or wildlife consequences?

Is that all I should do in spring?

Should we overseed now?

I really wouldn't mind if the lawn was all clover; it's the really short
kind with little white flowers, it attracts bumblebees, doesn't need
watering, fixes nitrogen and doesn't need mowing. What are the odds of
it taking over?

TIA for your patience.

Several stupid newbie questions
 

In article k.net,
"Bill Nunnery" wrote:

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and put in
a good low maintenance turf?

What kind of turf would you recommend?

Several stupid newbie questions
 

montana wrote:
In article k.net,
"Bill Nunnery" wrote:

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and
put in a good low maintenance turf?

What kind of turf would you recommend?

Where do you live?

--
"It ain't exactly Democratic, but it's either them or us and it's the best
we can do". Steve Earle
http://NewsReader.Com/
50 GB/Month

Several stupid newbie questions
 

Steveo wrote:
montana wrote:
In article k.net,
"Bill Nunnery" wrote:

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and
put in a good low maintenance turf?

What kind of turf would you recommend?

Where do you live?

--
"It ain't exactly Democratic, but it's either them or us, and it's the
best we can do". Steve Earle
http://NewsReader.Com/
50 GB/Month

Several stupid newbie questions
 

montana wrote:
In article k.net,
"Bill Nunnery" wrote:

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and
put in a good low maintenance turf?

What kind of turf would you recommend?

Where do you live?

--
"It ain't exactly Democratic, but it's either them or us and it's the best
we can do". Steve Earle
http://NewsReader.Com/
50 GB/Month

Several stupid newbie questions
 

Steveo wrote:
montana wrote:
In article k.net,
"Bill Nunnery" wrote:

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and
put in a good low maintenance turf?

What kind of turf would you recommend?

Where do you live?

--
"It ain't exactly Democratic, but it's either them or us, and it's the
best we can do". Steve Earle
http://NewsReader.Com/
50 GB/Month

Several stupid newbie questions
 

In article ,
montana wrote:

In article k.net,
"Bill Nunnery" wrote:

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and put in
a good low maintenance turf?

What kind of turf would you recommend?

N.E. Ohio. Near the lake.

I'm also looking for a low ground cover for a tiny, very dry back yard
that gets a lot of dog traffic. Any suggestions would be a major help.

Several stupid newbie questions
 

montana wrote:
In article ,
montana wrote:

In article k.net,
"Bill Nunnery" wrote:

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and
put in a good low maintenance turf?

What kind of turf would you recommend?

N.E. Ohio. Near the lake.

I should send you my card, we're almost neighbors. ;)

I'm also looking for a low ground cover for a tiny, very dry back yard
that gets a lot of dog traffic. Any suggestions would be a major help.

Myrtle or English Ivy will usually work.

--
"It ain't exactly Democratic, but it's either them or us, and it's the
best we can do". Steve Earle
http://NewsReader.Com/
50 GB/Month

Several stupid newbie questions
 

In article ,
montana wrote:

In article k.net,
"Bill Nunnery" wrote:

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and put in
a good low maintenance turf?

What kind of turf would you recommend?

N.E. Ohio. Near the lake.

I'm also looking for a low ground cover for a tiny, very dry back yard
that gets a lot of dog traffic. Any suggestions would be a major help.

Several stupid newbie questions
 

montana wrote:
In article ,
montana wrote:

In article k.net,
"Bill Nunnery" wrote:

If your lawn is small why not kill it with Roundup or equivalent and
put in a good low maintenance turf?

What kind of turf would you recommend?

N.E. Ohio. Near the lake.

I should send you my card, we're almost neighbors. ;)

I'm also looking for a low ground cover for a tiny, very dry back yard
that gets a lot of dog traffic. Any suggestions would be a major help.

Myrtle or English Ivy will usually work.

--
"It ain't exactly Democratic, but it's either them or us, and it's the
best we can do". Steve Earle
http://NewsReader.Com/
50 GB/Month

Several stupid newbie questions
 

In article ,
Steveo wrote:

snip

I should send you my card, we're almost neighbors. ;)

I'm also looking for a low ground cover for a tiny, very dry back yard
that gets a lot of dog traffic. Any suggestions would be a major help.

Myrtle or English Ivy will usually work.

Heh. I did see that you were to the south a bit.

The problem with Myrtle or Ivy is that it makes it really difficult to
see the dog poop to clean it up! I need something that's really low
growing.

Several stupid newbie questions
 

montana wrote:
In article ,
Steveo wrote:

snip

I should send you my card, we're almost neighbors. ;)

I'm also looking for a low ground cover for a tiny, very dry back
yard that gets a lot of dog traffic. Any suggestions would be a major
help.

Myrtle or English Ivy will usually work.

Heh. I did see that you were to the south a bit.

The problem with Myrtle or Ivy is that it makes it really difficult to
see the dog poop to clean it up! I need something that's really low
growing.

You want dog shit proof ground cover, how's about some clover? ;)

--
"It ain't exactly Democratic, but it's either them or us, and it's the
best we can do". Steve Earle
http://NewsReader.Com/
50 GB/Month

Several stupid newbie questions
 

In article ,
Steveo wrote:

You want dog shit proof ground cover, how's about some clover? ;)

I should just transplant from front to back in the spring, I guess. I
see nurseries selling these different "Step-on" ground covers... some
might be a form of sage or some other kind of low grower that smells
nice when you walk on it. That couldn't hurt with the dogs...

I'm guessing I couldn't overseed the clover in the front and be
successful. Except for getting rid of the crab grass, DH & I don't
really care too much about the make-up of the yard. He'd be happier with
an all clover lawn because he's allergic to grass. I'm slightly
concerned about future resale value, but I suppose if the clover takes
over it will ammend the soil nicely for the future.

Several stupid newbie questions
 

montana wrote in message .. .
In article ,
Steveo wrote:

snip

I should send you my card, we're almost neighbors. ;)

I'm also looking for a low ground cover for a tiny, very dry back yard
that gets a lot of dog traffic. Any suggestions would be a major help.

Myrtle or English Ivy will usually work.

Heh. I did see that you were to the south a bit.

The problem with Myrtle or Ivy is that it makes it really difficult to
see the dog poop to clean it up! I need something that's really low
growing.



If you're living in NE Ohio, it's too late in the season to be killing
an existing lawn and reseeding. One problem is you need to use
roundup to kill the lawn and roundup becomes much less effective in
cool temps. It will take about a week for the lawn to die in warm
weather, longer when its cool, at which point you can use a slice
seeder to reseed. While you could reseed in mid Oct, for your area,
this is really too late.

Pre-emergent is used for crab grass control and is applied in the
spring. For other broadleaf weeds, you have two choices. Apply a
product like weed and feed to the entire lawn, or do spot control.
Applying to the whole lawn will kill the clover. Spot control is more
environmentally friendly and suitable if the weeds are not everywhere.