For a listing of our products and application guidelines, click here to view the Lawn & Garden section of the MFA Agronomy Guide (pdf 103KB) View the entire MFA Agronomy Guide   F.A.Q.s I have a history of moles in my yard. Is there anything I can do to prevent or get rid of moles? If you have moles, you can use a mole trap or bait that can be placed in the mole run. Baits are available that either taste like grubs or earthworms. Preventing moles by applying a season long grub control across the lawn will also help by extinguishing the mole’s food source. Applying a grub product will not always get rid of moles, but will definitely help. You will have a healthier lawn because of it. Can I do anything to prevent or control white grubs? There are two products that work well. If you want a quick knock down of grubs that also degrades quickly, use the 24 Hr-Grub Killer. If you want season long protection from damaging larvae, use a systemic product like Season Long Grub Control. The larvae living in the top two inches of soil are the most damaging. Grubs feed on the lawn’s roots which lead to an unhealthy lawn. Premature drought areas or brown spots are indications of grub feeding. However, do not confuse the brown spots with disease. In early summer, grubs will turn to beetles that will feed on roses, shrubs, and other plants. Apply season long grub control in May through early summer and apply 24-Hr Grub killer when damage is observed. How do I control clover in my yard?To control clover apply any product containing dicamba in the fall. Spring applications will work, but fall application is preferred. Do not spray near desired flowers, shrubs, or vegetables because of drift to sensitive plants. A concentration is preferred over a granule compound for clover control. I have a lot of dandelions in my yard. I have been applying weed-n-feed in the spring. Why am I still seeing escapes? Dandelions germinate in the fall. Fall is the best time to control dandelions and implement other practices (fertilize, lime, dethatch, reseed). Products containing 2,4-D or dicamba applied in the fall will not only kill, dandelions but will also control plaintain species, henbit, clover, chickweed, and thistles. Please repeat product application every fall because of a large supply of weed seed in the seed bank. Poor fertility, lack of grass stand, or mowing your lawn to low can also contribute to the appearance of dandelions and other weeds. If I apply herbicides to my lawn or near my house is it safe for my children or pets to reenter the area? Please consult the label. For a good rule of thumb please don’t allow your children or pets to enter the area until the chemicals have dried on the plants. There should be a REI or Reentry Interval on the label that will tell you when people or pets can enter the area. I have noticed holes in the base of my tree where something has tunneled into the trunk. The tree has symptoms of drought and stress. Ash bores or bore species can cause injury and under severe infestations cause death. The application of an insecticide should be injected into the holes and covered them with a rag for a short time. This will insure the borers will be drenched by the treatment. Also use a drench treatment around the base of the stem. A systemic insecticide that is taken up by the roots can prevent and also cure insects from penetrating or harming trees and shrubs. Apply in early spring or late fall annually to get 12 month protection. Back to Top I have noticed a brown patch in the yard.First rule out if you have any grubs present in the questionable area. Dig a 12/12 inch square and check for any grubs present eating on the roots. If they are there, apply a product that gives you a control of grubs. If grubs are found, the problem is likely to be a fungus called brown patch. It is caused by heavy watering or high humidity situations in the summer. Apply products which contain active ingredients of bayleton, propicanozole, or daconil to control the fungus. Avoid watering at night. Dethatching your lawn in the fall or early spring will also help in removing dead residue. The residue can be a host of diseases. Is there anything to keep weeds down in a flowerbed or shrubs? There are chemical products available that you can apply before grass and broadleaf weeds emerge. Not all shrubs and flowers are labeled for such applications. Please check labels to see if cultivars are listed. Post emergence chemical applications of grass weeds can be accomplished but post emergence chemical application of broadleaf weeds are not labeled. Usually mulch and hand weeding would be the safest and most effective weed control method. How do I control crabgrass?Timing of application is very important in controlling crabgrass. Products in the market place need to be applied before crabgrass emerges. However, Dimension is the only product that will also give you early post emergence activity. There are many herbicide combinations with fertilizer as well as herbicide only treatments. Two applications are recommended for both. The first should be done when red bud trees are coming out, and the second application six weeks after. Apply 2/3 of the recommended rate early and the remainder with the second application. Most failures occur when consumers apply the product too early or do not apply a second application. These herbicides degrade quickly, and crabgrass has a long germination period. Products used for crabgrass control include dimension, balan, pendimethalin, and trifluarlin. Do not apply crabgrass preventer if you have just seeded your yard. Wait until after the third mowing to apply. When is the best time to seed or reseed my yard? Fall is the best time to reseed your lawn. Spring seeding can be effective, but watering and mulch is needed to keep moist conditions for proper germination. Working a smooth seed bed and applying starter fertilizer will help in getting a good start. Place seed no deeper than ¼ inch deep. Apply straw to hold moisture in. Interseeding can be done by renting a verticutter from a local Rent-a-center. This will help in increasing populations in thin stands of grass without destroying your existing stand. A verticutter allows for better seed to soil contact than broadcasting seed over your yard. Keep the soil moist until emergence is complete. A waiting period of 3-4 weeks after herbicide application of 2,4-D base products is required before seed is sown. What if I have grass weeds in my lawn such as crabgrass or dallisgrass? Products containing MSMA do a good job on existing crabgrass and dallisgrass. Mix according to label. Some products will also contain broadleaf weed killers. If I am going to apply a broadleaf herbicide to my yard, when can I reseed? Generally you will need to wait 3-4 weeks after application for the herbicide to degrade before reseeding your lawn. Back to Top