Hello all.

I live in Missouri and have a fescue lawn of about 10,000 sqft. I usually bag my clippings and mow at a medium setting. 8 weeks ago I used Scott's Turfbuilder w/Weed Control2, distributed by drop spreader, to control a significant dandelion problem. It worked great and we had an abnormally wet Spring so the lawn looked wonderful.

Unfortunately, my dandelion problem was quickly replaced by a rash of white clover (and some short, dense yellow and purple blooms as well; I am not sure what they are). I am hoping to lay seed to patch a small bare area of my lawn next weekend, as well as overseed the entire lawn as well. Last year I put down Scott's Turfbuilder Seeding Soil in the bare area, added Scott's Tall Fescue Mix, and fertilized with Scott's Turfbuilder with Summerguard, and it worked reasonably well. I blame myself for not raking the seed into the loose soil.

Can I use the same products and hope to affect my white clover problem? I am unsure if the Summerguard has MMCP or the nitrogen I'll need to stop the clover. I was thinking of adding a full application of Ortho Weed-B-Gone MAX Weed Killer Spray as well: do I need to be careful in applying it so close to the laying of seed? Should I apply one first, and what kind of delay between?

On a side note: I missed a day of kindergarten and never learned how to care for mulch. I had some nice landscaping done last year, but the mulch they put in my garden area has lightened significantly and is full of Maple sprouts from the million whirligigs (real word or one my grandmother made up?) that landed in it this Spring. I tried to turn it with a pitchfork but pulled up a lot of soil and it looks terrible now. Do I need to replace the mulch every year? Do I remove the old mulch before putting down the new? What is the purpose of and at what interval do I put down mulch around my trees?

Thanks, this is my first house and I never learned about this type of thing.

Dan Hermann

St. Louis, MO