We just moved to the Chicago area and I just got a call offering me a quote for a service to fertilize and weed control. I have never, ever had this service, nor have I ever been solicited for this service. Is this more common in the midwest. We've never had a serious issue with weeds and we've done basic fertilizing ourselves. Lastly, I was hoping that our yard service would be cheaper here (versus California) since the cost of living is less, but yard service seems to cost the same as California. So the new gardener is me. That's OK. Can anyone recommend a gardening "bible" for the midwest that's similar to Sunset's Western Garden Book. Thanks.
Not uncommon at all.
In the midwest, do crabgrass control/feed in March-April, and weed and feed in May-June. If you're going to overseed, do it now.
I do my own general lawn care, but we do have someone that comes to spray once or twice for dandelions, otherwise our lawn would be yellow instead of green. If I had a choice, I wouldn't have it...it's our rental agency that does it.
The best stuff to use is from a company called Gardens Alive. Get the Wow Supreme, it kills dandelions and crab grass, it's great for promoting growth too; and it's safe for kids and pets. Use this stuff and you won't have to use a service that uses terrible chemicals, and yes it is common in our area.
Chicago is a bit different than St Louis because it is cooler. Still it isn't that different. I assume being on the ocean Cali gets more rain. We don't! Hell my water last summer was around six hundred and that was keeping the back alive and the front green. Oh and our garden but it is drip so doesn't use a lot of water.
Thing is you have to have deep roots to last the summer and that take a good lawn.
Anyway if you want to do it yourself and want good results, pass on the books and just buy the Scott's system.
I can't recommend a book for you, but I can tell you that using pesticides is not safe for your family and pets. For example, you can use pesticides for a beautiful lawn, but at a higher price than you think. Lets say you have a dog who likes to go outside and roll around the yard. Your dog will be bringing that pesticide into your home. Then your dog will roll on the carpet spreading it deep into the fibers. Now if your family members like to lay on the floor to watch TV or a baby crawling across the carpet then they are exposed to chemcials. Round-up is one of the worst chemicals to use in your yard. Dogs are starting to come down with nose and other types of cancer. Lawrence DuBose (beekeeper with over 40 years experience) has been researching what is killing the honey bees believes it is pesticides, varroa mites. He talked with someone who works at the EPA and that person said "I will NOT let my child play on grass that doesn't have danelions on it."
Sincerely
J.
We do use a service here (Western suburbs of Chicago), True Green, because we had neighbors whose yard was overrun by weeds, and we are downwind of them. So, our yard was really in rough shape after a while. We had many different types of weeds growing, so True Green got it under control the first summer, and the maintenance hasn't been that bad. I pass on their extras, like their shrub and grub worm options.
For cutting, we pay $26/cut for our yard, which is probably about 1/3 acre suburban lot, and that is done bi-weekly from late April to early November.
In my experience, it's pretty common for some services to solicit. I don't have any book recommendations, but a good starting point is your local university extension's website. I found this for Illinois: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state/hort.html
this year do nothing
When summer comes check out the yards in your area that are really nice and ask what THEY use. You'll meet neighbors and find out what really is good. And your grass WILL go brown, it's ok, it is NOT dead. Just let it be, do NOT water it, it is not worth it. When it rains again it will come back to green really quickly. Do not waste the water unless it's new sod.
