We let a part of our lawn go this spring and now it is completely thistles. Ugh! And they are drifting to our good section so I just know the entire thing is going to be a mess next spring. I’d like to do some “weed and feed” this fall and then keep after it in the spring. We are not talking about gigantic space - maybe 3-4 acres? I can’t imagine going to Menards or Home Depot is the way to go given that each bag for a suburban homeowner would not go very far. We have a compact tractor and a riding lawn mower for spreading. Suggestions? I do not have any critters turned out on it now but want to make sure the entire front 5 acres doesn’t turn into a thistly mess. We are in IL if that matters. We do not have access for a large tractor to come in, nor would that be practical.
Ask any hay farmer wher to buy chemicals. I use a mix of Trimec, ENC, and CoRon to control broadleaf and encourage grass growth. My mix is about $42 / acre.
talk to your county extension agent, Southern States, local farm stores, etc.
Some things require licenses to use, so you’d need someone else to do the work
Thank you - my extension office is a good one so that may be a place to start. $42/acre sounds way better than $42 for a backyard!
You would also be wise to soil test and see what is going on and what is needed. You don’t want to just apply chemicals. Get the soil healthy - that’s your goal.
Do you have any place that sells Lesco fertilizer? There’s a store around me (MA) called SiteOne that sells primarily to landscapers but will sell to anyone. You just need an “affiliation” with a professional to get the pro prices. My local place is pretty loosey goosey about this requirement.
