I just had my lawn tilled and cleared out completely, so all that's left is bare dirt. Previously, it was a mix of weeds, fescue, and some dirt patches. Now that it's all fresh dirt, I'm wondering if I should put down any pre-emergent weed treatments or herbicides to prevent anything from coming back when I seed. What do you guys recommend?
3 Answers
If you really want to control weeds, try to cover the area with a tarp for a while. After that, you can go ahead and put down some grass seed and straw. Just keep in mind that grass seed can come with some weed seeds itself, so this might not completely fix your weed issue right away.
You could also use Tenacity or Scott's fertilizer designed for seeding while laying down some top-quality TTTF seed. Just make sure you're choosing grass seeds that are compatible with your area!
You might want to consider using a starter fertilizer that contains mesotrione, like Lebanon ProScape 21-22-4 with 0.08% meso. Spread it down when you plant your seeds. While it may not eliminate all weeds, it will definitely reduce the number that pop up alongside your grass. If you're dealing with cool-season grass, this is a common approach. Once your lawn is thick enough after the first mow, you can start a fertilizing and weed control program. Also, I'm hearing great things about Turf Titan root booster for new lawns; applying it as soon as your grass sprouts can really help!