who's putting pre-m already in the northeast

[SimonCX]

So who's already putting pre-m down in the northeast. I though it was still early but I saw tru-green putting it down 2 days ago. I don't understand why, theres still snow covering parts of the grass in my yard and the ground is frozen solid 1/2 inch down.

[thomsoutdoor]

I am looking at about 2 weeks. I am using Dimension so I am not to worried about getting it down to late. Balt Md.

[turfsolutions]

Are we supposed to be suprised to see Chem lawn, Lawn Doctor, Weed Man, Scotts, etc.. applying a product before or after it is actually needed so the zillion lawns that each applicator has can be done on time. To the big co.s, it's all about what's right for the money, not the lawn.

[lqmustang]

I saw some fresh Tru-green flags go up in January here while we were having crazy warm temperatures. :hammerhead: I've seen some new flags here and there over the last week as well. I won't be putting anything down until the last week of March.

[RigglePLC]

I learned at Tru Green,

I start the day the snow is gone. I am anxious to complete every lawn by the 10th of May. I hate it when several customers are calling me in early May wondering when their applications will be completed.
But the snow is still deep here--about a foot--and some of it is heavy rain soaked snow. Those 5 foot tall snow banks will persist for a long time.

In some cases, we just have to leave a note and come back later for a shady heavy snowpile area.

We have data on time of application and the amount of crabgrass later in the year. Early date of application doesn't seem to make any difference.

[Shades of Green LService]

So who's already putting pre-m down in the northeast. I though it was still early but I saw tru-green putting it down 2 days ago. I don't understand why, theres still snow covering parts of the grass in my yard and the ground is frozen solid 1/2 inch down.

where in jersey are you? Where i'm at the groung is soggy not frozen. In fact it is so soggy one of my machines almost got stuck.starting in a week or 2. Stonewall 1 shot , no split.

[SimonCX]

where in jersey are you? Where i'm at the groung is soggy not frozen. In fact it is so soggy one of my machines almost got stuck.starting in a week or 2. Stonewall 1 shot , no split.

I'm by the trenton area, the ground is soggy but still frozen if you try to dig. I was going to start in a week or 2 also but putting pre-m in feb is alittle early.

[Shades of Green LService]

Unless you name is Tru green or scotts.

[Rtom45]

If you were to put down pre-M around here you'd be pushing thru a foot of snow, on average. Our first softball / baseball games are scheduled for the last week of March, but the kids will be lucky if they can use the fields by mid April.

[garydale]

When you guys get to where your workload,cash flow,employee productivity and payroll have to be met it will become clear to you why some start early.

Ideal is just that "ideal". When weather is predictable,cash is no object and dependable trained help is abundant. We can all "do it by the book" JMO

[thomsoutdoor]

When you guys get to where your workload,cash flow,employee productivity and payroll have to be met it will become clear to you why some start early.

Ideal is just that "ideal". When weather is predictable,cash is no object and dependable trained help is abundant. We can all "do it by the book" JMO I can understand that. As far as applications go I could definitely use more work.

[turfsolutions]

Rationalize it anyway you want, talk business management 101 all you want, the truth is the truth. I don't have a problem with guys out spreading right now in the northeast, but not pre emergant. If you need to start early, then apply lime, gypsum, or straight fert, but don't put down a pesticide when there is no target pest.

Say what you will, but you cannot justify putting down pre emergant in the the northeast with soil temps being so low right now. The whole point of the pre emergant is to prevent crabgrass seed germination. If we keep getting the rain / snow that we have been getting, by the time crabgrass starts to germinate, that product will be long gone, or at least ineffective. So why the heck put it out? MONEY

If you had just aerated and seeded in sept and you put down pre emergant so early, then you are definately damaging the root sysyem of the young grass. How do you justify that? MONEY

It goes without saying that money drives our business, but I cannot see justifying spreading a product when it is doing no good, or worse, damaging the lawn we are getting paid to improve.

Or keep doing what you're doing, and when the customers have had enough, they will give a quality treatment company a call, like so many found on this site. When I hear a prospective customer say "I had Chemlawn, Scott's, Lawndoctor, WeedMan etc.." I know I will sign them up and keep them for a long time.

[willietd2]

Hey No Kiddin, I Saw Tru Green Out With The Push Spreaders Just Yesterday. We Only Got About 2.5 Inches Of Rain Last Night. Ha Ha I Love It

[scweedman]

I started pre-emergents the second week in February. I have to start
early are i may run out time the ground temps are critical here.

[ant]

if you are doing split applications of dimension i say get er down or is it get er done. i look at it this way ,its not gona start working till it gets rained in. nobody is gona to water it in.. the way i look at it is even in april its not getten watered in.

[garydale]

Come on guys, it takes us 6-8 weeks to complete R-1. Somebody has to be first.

IMO any product lost is more than made up by having something down.
When have to figure in workload, then a week of rain or March winds you need to think it through.

For you perfectionists, start taking soil temps,only treat the sunny side of house then go back and treat the shady side when it warms up.

My only point is there is a "fudge factor" built into these products that will cover weather ,workmanship and ignorance.

If a customer complains, you haven't educated him on what he gets and why.
We sell results, not lbs. of product, time on site or scheduled timing.

[turfsolutions]

[QUOTE=garydale;1733674]Come on guys, it takes us 6-8 weeks to complete R-1. Somebody has to be first. QUOTE]

I bet it takes 6-8 weeks to get round one down when you have 6 different programs you are offering.

How many of you have actually tried skipping pre emergants on lawns with no crabgrass history and no surrounding crabgrass pressure?

Don't be afraid to try it on a few lawns. You will be suprised at the results. I haven't put down crabgrass pre emergant on my lawn and many other of my lawns that fit the bill, and have had no more crabgrass issues than my other lawns that get split aps.

I don't mind lost product, but IPM should be the standard for all of us.

[Shades of Green LService]

[QUOTE=garydale;1733674]Come on guys, it takes us 6-8 weeks to complete R-1. Somebody has to be first. QUOTE]

I bet it takes 6-8 weeks to get round one down when you have 6 different programs you are offering.

How many of you have actually tried skipping pre emergants on lawns with no crabgrass history and no surrounding crabgrass pressure?

Don't be afraid to try it on a few lawns. You will be suprised at the results. I haven't put down crabgrass pre emergant on my lawn and many other of my lawns that fit the bill, and have had no more crabgrass issues than my other lawns that get split aps.

I don't mind lost product, but IPM should be the standard for all of us.

Doing that this season.eg shady lawns

[turfsolutions]

Shady lawns are a prime example. With Drive and the new Q4 out there, spraying crabgrass is almost as easy and effective as spraying dandelions if you do get some breakthough. And the shady lawns roots will benefit much more if you can hold off on Pre emergant.

ShadyLawn - Let me know how the test areas turn out, I'll do the same.

[turfsolutions]

Sorry - Shades of Green

[FINN]

I did it last year on a shade covered lawn. No crabgrass. It was one of my "test plots" not a paying customer.

[Shades of Green LService]

Sorry - Shades of Green

Will Do.
-Jay