GreenThumbin' & Weed Control- Need Help

[Cable]

I have tried all the spot and spray stuff out there. Problem is my neighbors on both sides rent and don't give a crap about their lawns. Yesterday I went and told one of them I was going to spray his side yard for all the broadleaf weeds encroaching on my yard. My side yard looks like a giant mixed bag of weeds! The other neighbor I just sprayed when she wasn't home.

I feel I am fighting a losing battle. I have even dug up or pulled hundreds of weeds over the past 3 years. And I mean using a spade and getting the roots. Doesn't make a difference they come back every time- usually worse than before.

So does anyone use a service to keep their yard looking nice? My neighbor across the street says he uses TruGreen- they come 8 times a year and spray and his yard doesn't have any weeds at all. It's $250 for the year. At this point I'm thinking that's a steal if it means no more spraying my yard and the neighbors. What are your experiences with weed control services?


The wife and I did get some flowers in the ground yesterday. Flowerbeds look great but the yard is in trouble.

[Chaindiggity]

I'm in the same boat you are, my friend. I really don't want to resod the whole front yard, but it's gotten out of hand.

[32drawlength]

following...
I'm thinking of dropping my DIY efforts and hiring out...

[iamntxhunter]

You need to put out a pre-emergent weed control. Timing is the key and properly water it in. I get mine from Calloways. Be sure and follow the directions on when to apply.

[ZackM]

I used trugreen last year for the same issues with the neighbors... seemed to work out just fine and they would come out anytime I called them in between scheduled visits if something popped up. In the end, I think it ends up costing the same as buying the stuff and doing it yourself, so I would give them a recommendation.

[manwitaplan]

Look up randy Lemmon on google and follow his guide. Might take a year but in the long run less problems.

I only use nitro Phos products. It is made here and for our soil. Unlike Scott's who sells the same stuff here and all over the us.

Have your soil tested through the county co op or send it to A&m. This will tell you what chemical you need more of.

Have you aerated your yard? If not got rent a good one and get after it. After you aerate go ahead and hit it with a fertilizer to help break down the soil.

[Cable]

Manwitaplan- I heard that aerating will help the grass breathe and crowd out the weeds. If I hire out they will do that plus a couple nitrogen treatments. I am leaning towards not messing with it anymore. It has become a major nightmare.

Neighbor to the right whose front yard connects to my front yard at the property line.



Neighbor to the left who I battle in the side yard and her weeds creep under my fence and into the back yard.



I poisoned this guy yesterday. I don't know if it was her pet or what but he was a solid 3 feet tall. Now he is drooping a bit and probably feeling pretty nasty after a healthy dose of Ortho.

[ZackM]

that's pretty much what I was dealing with when we moved in

I would advise that you do your own aeration and raking and whatnot because TruGreen overcharges a LOT on those services. The only thing I ever had them do was weed control. I've only been in the house about 18 months so I haven't gotten around to raking or aeration yet, but I have helped my neighbor do his. Pretty cheap rental from home depot.

[Cable]

ZackM at least your neighbor has some sense of pride in his home LOL

[fowlwaters]

When I was a kid my parents had Chemlawn come out and spray like once a month in the summer I was mower twice a week I would make it across the yard and back and have to empty the bagger.

[Jp.]

Pre emrg. four times a year from Lawn Lab. and I do the Scott's weed and feed the rest of the time. I live next to a power line easement and with a south wind I get it bad, but mostly I can keep it under control. It might take a year or two to get under control this way but it can be done.
I also mow out of the yard into the easement about 20 feet and take off the catcher and mow in one direction so Im pushing it away from my place. Afteward I wash my mower off so as not to drop seeds in my yard.

Edit:::If it doesnt have the weed and feed it doesnt get bought...This is Texas, the land of weeds...

[dustoffer]

You need to put out a pre-emergent weed control. Timing is the key and properly water it in. I get mine from Calloways. Be sure and follow the directions on when to apply.

Yeppers--AMAZE works well. Put it down 10 days to 2 wks before the last date of frost for your area, then again 90 days later for spring weeds. Re-treat in August and October for winter weeds.

[Bowtechlady]

Follow Randy Lemmons schedule and you will be amazed.

http://www.randylemmon.com/lawns/fertilize.html

Also you can listen to him on the weekends

http://www.ktrh.com/pages/gardenline2.html

[ZackM]

ZackM at least your neighbor has some sense of pride in his home LOL

Haha! I wish! Renters on one side and the other side is afraid of the sunlight! By neighbor, I mean my buddy I've known since kindergarten that lives a block away

Whichever way you go, good luck to you! Landscaping to me feels like the most expensive and time consuming part of home ownership.

[iamntxhunter]

Be sure to bag when you mow also.