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crazy2medic wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 10:59 pm Moles are insectavores, they are eating the grubs, worms, insect larvae in the soil, they don't actually damage the grass, but do make the lawn unsightly! Get rid of their food supply and they'll go away! The bug larvae is most likely what is causing the damage! Fertilize the grass and get rid of the pest! Long road won't happen in a single season!
I was a Pest Control Operator for 30yrs! I had Texas Pest Control license 11G

mrvmax wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:13 pm Here is the best info I’ve found, he’s on the radio weekends.
http://www.randylemmon.com/lawns/fertilize.html

RottenApple wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:31 pm

The Annoyed Man wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:47 pm I confess that I am at a loss regarding lawn care issues ever since we moved back in 2017, and I could sure use some suggestions.

When we first moved to this house, our front lawn wasn’t perfect, but it was respectably good. Today, 2 years later, it is shot through with all manner of weeds; the St Augustine is faring poorly; and moles have turned it into a high risk place to walk. We have a what I would call a large front lawn, and I mean that nearly the whole thing has become treacherous footing. My wife is very unhappy with the way it looks (I confess more so than I am), and because she's not happy with it, I'm not happy.....if you know what I mean.

We water regularly as needed, and are careful not to over-water, so that’s not really an issue. I can no longer afford a gardener or lawn care service....not that the service I used to have (TruGreen) was worth a cup of warm spit....and so I’m curious to know what you do-it-yourselfers who take pride in your lawns do to keep it looking nice.

I'm willing to put in the sweat equity, but I don’t even know where to start...although it makes sense to me to start by killing off weeds and moles. What do you guys suggest?

.

I leave it to my wife. She likes yard work. I don't.

The Annoyed Man wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:13 pm

mrvmax wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:13 pm Here is the best info I’ve found, he’s on the radio weekends.
http://www.randylemmon.com/lawns/fertilize.html

I just printed out a copy of his lawn care schedule. Thanks for the link.

Thanks to everyone else too. It looks like I’ve got my work cut out for me. I was just out earlier today, raking up the rest of the leaves from our red oak, and I just can’t believe how weed choked the lawn has become.

Another question..... what do you guys think of fescue as a filler for bald patches?

The Annoyed Man wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 4:47 pm I confess that I am at a loss regarding lawn care issues ever since we moved back in 2017, and I could sure use some suggestions.

When we first moved to this house, our front lawn wasn’t perfect, but it was respectably good. Today, 2 years later, it is shot through with all manner of weeds; the St Augustine is faring poorly; and moles have turned it into a high risk place to walk. We have a what I would call a large front lawn, and I mean that nearly the whole thing has become treacherous footing. My wife is very unhappy with the way it looks (I confess more so than I am), and because she's not happy with it, I'm not happy.....if you know what I mean.

We water regularly as needed, and are careful not to over-water, so that’s not really an issue. I can no longer afford a gardener or lawn care service....not that the service I used to have (TruGreen) was worth a cup of warm spit....and so I’m curious to know what you do-it-yourselfers who take pride in your lawns do to keep it looking nice.

I'm willing to put in the sweat equity, but I don’t even know where to start...although it makes sense to me to start by killing off weeds and moles. What do you guys suggest?

The Annoyed Man wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:13 pm

mrvmax wrote: ↑Fri Jan 24, 2020 5:13 pm Here is the best info I’ve found, he’s on the radio weekends.
http://www.randylemmon.com/lawns/fertilize.html

Another question..... what do you guys think of fescue as a filler for bald patches?

Grayling813 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:06 pm We had a large place in the yard where the grass just wouldn't take hold. Bought a dump truck of rocks and made a rock garden.

jason812 wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2020 9:28 pm

Grayling813 wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 6:06 pm We had a large place in the yard where the grass just wouldn't take hold. Bought a dump truck of rocks and made a rock garden.

TAM, if you go this route, you don't have to buy my rocks. Just come pick up all you want.

The Annoyed Man wrote: ↑Sat Jan 25, 2020 5:13 pm
Another question..... what do you guys think of fescue as a filler for bald patches?

cheezit wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:51 pm When I worked at the prison farm near magic mountain in cali. We used propane and pushed it in the mole and gopher holes with oxygen then hit an igniter. It may a bit of a boom but you would see the dead mole/gophers fly up 8n the air from the other ends of their tunnels.
I'm not sure the city or hoa would approve of this method however

The Annoyed Man wrote: ↑Mon Jan 27, 2020 12:53 pm

cheezit wrote: ↑Sun Jan 26, 2020 8:51 pm When I worked at the prison farm near magic mountain in cali. We used propane and pushed it in the mole and gopher holes with oxygen then hit an igniter. It may a bit of a boom but you would see the dead mole/gophers fly up 8n the air from the other ends of their tunnels.
I'm not sure the city or hoa would approve of this method however

I don’t have an HOA (and never will), but I don’t know if any of the tunnels run under my foundations, so I’d like to not blow up my house if it’s at all possible.