The Lawn Tracker - Year One

One of my favorite things to do is sit outside with my Java and admire the birds, the trees, my craptastic lawn.. An acre and a half of a mix of every weed known to man with some beautiful patches in between. This lawn hasn't seen an aerator or fertilizer in at least eight years. I decided to create the lawn tracker for myself based on a twice a year program. I'm no guru on the subject - this is merely a way to look back and say this worked and that didn't. I also realize that I'm not alone. Perhaps through comments we can track our successes together and enjoy that perfect cup of Joe to the fullest.

Fall 2011
• Rented aerator from Mt. Holly Farm Supply (MHFS)
• Purchased 3 huge sacks of Fescue, 3 bags of Green Charger
• Two weeks into October (warm winter ahead) aerated and spread the above
• Settings for the pull behind spreader was half way open for both

Spring 2012
• Purchased six bags of pre-emergent and six bags of lime from MHFS
• Spreader set half way last week of February
• Cut the grass two weeks later
• Normal cutting - mower deck set one setting lower than half (Bolens)
• Hand spread Pennington advanced seed to fix Mr. 704's pee spots

Year One Results
• Pennington seed worked so-so.
• Crab grass has a long way to go to get rid of
• Different species of grass causing different shades of green
• Opt to weed and feed after pre-emergent next Spring?
• Lime twice a year with Green Charger due to high acidity in the soil?

I welcome your comments below to adjust Fall 2012's prescriptive program!

Exposed

A young couple was riding down the road. First road trip together. Happy as could be. Along with them was the husband's trusty dog. Its a package deal of course. She puts up with the dog for her love of him. Windows down. Life couldn't be better except the wind blown hair plastered across her face. The look at him through held back bangs - his guilt for wanting to have a good time. A/C on and the windows go up. The first deal breaker to be exposed comes through the vents. How could he have withheld this vital piece of information?!

An enclosed and extremely small environment emits the first accusation. He had smelly feet! Did her friends know this? How could her parents not say anything? In horror, he deflects the question. No one had told him this either in all of his 27 years. All she could think about was the betrayal, what her friends were thinking of her new beau, the last time he might have washed his feet based on the rating his smell had on the obnoxious scale, and the fortune it would cost at a pediatrist if she did not want to be embarrassed. All he can think about was, "What the hell is she talking about!" Unspoken words - clear emotional discomfort. Until, that is, the dog put his comforting paw on her shoulder.

The smell clearly coming from whatever it was he stepped in prior to hopping into the car. Something dead apparently.

It was the last time an accusation was raised by her in their relationship. A dog paw of a misunderstanding you might say. The lesson for her was to question before accusation. The lesson for him? Wash his dog's goddamn feet.