Hi,
Zone 7a (Maryland). We moved into our house in June. Yard was mainly mix of Fescue.
Our backyard is heavily shaded, while front yard is full sun.
Weeds (Stiltgrass and Creeping Charlie) took over my back yard shortly after. Our front yard got some creeping charlie and lots of crabgrass. We did a soil test, and late in the summer, we killed off the backyard, and replanted a mix of dense shade grass. The Creeping Charlie started to grow back and also started taking over our front yard.
I am in the process of taking out the Creeping Charlie with Tricopyr and 2,4d. Its working (albeit slower than I would like, but it apparently can take 2-3 rounds).
As the weeds (and crabgrass) die out in the front yard, I am getting large bare spots in my lawn. In addition, while the seed in the backyard came in, there are areas where its spotty and thin, ruts marks from lawn mower and holes from squirrels. My concern is that next spring, there is still going to be a lot of thin and bare spots that weeds are going to try and take over quickly.
I am not sure what I should do this spring. I've watched a ton of LCN videos, and read the subreddit a lot. Here are the options, but would like feedback:
1) Overseed as early as possible in March (or dormant seed); and fill in bare spots (use scotts starter with tenacity); then drop Dimension in mid/late April after grass is established. This should fill in some of the bare spots. I will likely need to fight the Japanese stiltgrass with a post-emergent (like Acclaim).
2) Drop Barricade/Halts in early March; then some Dimension later in the Spring. Focus on stopping the Japanese stiltgrass in the first place. Overseed in the fall. This seems to be traditional wisdom - however I am concerned that broadleaf weeds, moss and others will take over all the bare spots in the back.
Any thoughts or recommendations?
Thanks!