Is it Crabgrass?

If you walk out on your lawn and see some ugly grass you don't want, don't think "ah, that must be crabgrass."

Chances are, at this time of year, it isn't. Crabgrass dies every fall, and at that time it drops seeds in the soil that germinate the next year. Those seeds won't germinate until the soil reaches a certain temperature...much like your "good" grass coming out of dormancy, or spring bulbs like dafodils blooming when the temp is right.

You may have heard, as a rule of thumb crabgrass starts germinating when the forsythia blooms. Well, that just started last week in my area. My neighbors have a forsythia shrub in their front yard so I see it right out the window.

I just now applied Turf Builder with Halts, so don't think you don't have time to do it this spring. In fact, it is probably more important than a weed n feed, such as Turf Builder with Plus 2. You can always apply that one 6 weeks after you apply Turf Builder with Halts. Or, if you have the dandelions now, just spot treat them with Ortho Weed B Gon MAX.

For the area above the transition zone, crabgrass usually will germinate up through the end of May. So, you have definitely have time to put down that important first application of Turf Builder with Halts.

As for that ugly grass you see now, it's probably just tall fescue.

eeeegads a bug!!!!!

Here is some information on just a few good bugs that can be found in the yard and gardens.....

Solution
Don't let all bugs bug you. Find out which ones are good for your garden.
If you're like many gardeners, the first thing you say when you see a bug is, "Where's the bug spray?" While some bugs cause damage to your garden, Mother Nature has a way of taking care of them. She sends in other bugs. Lady Bugs, Ground Beetles, and Praying Mantises are just a few of the many insects that can help you control real pests in your garden. Make them feel at home by planting nectar-producing flowers, spreading some mulch, and putting out some water for your little helpers.

Prevention and Maintenance
Beneficial bugs that hunt
Hunting bugs are the ones that stalk, kill, and gobble up the pests that attack your plants. Some specialize: Lady Bugs love aphids and scaly bugs. Other hunters aren't very picky: Praying Mantises will eat anything. Still others attack the gooey, slimy, slithery pests in your garden. For instance, Ground Beetles attack slugs, caterpillars, and maggots.
Beneficial parasitic bugs
These beneficial bugs don't kill as quickly as the hunter types do, but they're very effective. They plant their eggs in pests that act as hosts. When the eggs hatch, they eat the innards of their hosts. It's gross, but it works. Tachinid flies are a good example of a parasitic bug, and they make great use of caterpillars. Braconid wasps use caterpillars, aphids, flies, and other pests.
Beneficial pollinating bugs
If you didn't have pollinating bugs in your garden, you wouldn't have a garden. Bumble Bees and Honey Bees bounce from one flower to the next, seeking nectar. While they do it, they pollinate the plants they visit. In fact, Honey Bees are so good at this job that farmers and orchard-keepers pay lots of money for their services.