Neighborhood Envy: 7-App Pro Program

Who This Plan Is For

You've done the basic 4-app program and you're ready for more. You want the darkest green on the block and you don't mind spending a couple extra Saturdays per year with a backpack sprayer. You're comfortable reading product labels and mixing liquid concentrates.

This plan adds pre-emergent splits, targeted herbicide apps, fungicide prevention, and micronutrient boosts to the foundation.

The 7-Application Schedule

Round 1: Early Spring — Split Pre-Emergent #1 (Soil Temp 50°F)

Product: Prodiamine 65 WDG (liquid application via backpack sprayer)

Instead of one heavy pre-emergent, we split the application into two rounds. This gives you 6+ months of crabgrass prevention instead of 3-4 months. Prodiamine is the gold standard — it lasts longer than Barricade at lower rates.

Rate: 0.183 oz per 1,000 sq ft (half rate — we'll apply the other half in Round 2)

Mix with water per sprayer instructions. Apply evenly across the lawn and water in with 0.5 inches of irrigation within 24 hours.

🔬 Science Note: Split applications at half rate provide better season-long control because the chemical barrier refreshes mid-season instead of degrading by July.

Round 2: Mid-Spring — Split Pre-Emergent #2 + Fertilizer (Soil Temp 60-65°F)

Product: Prodiamine 65 WDG (second half) + Granular 24-0-6 Fertilizer

Apply the second half of your Prodiamine via sprayer. Same day or next day, throw down a granular fertilizer for the first nitrogen push of the season.

Rate: Prodiamine: 0.183 oz per 1,000 sq ft | Fertilizer: 4 lbs per 1,000 sq ft

Round 3: Late Spring — Broadleaf Weed Killer (May)

Product: Trimec 992 (2,4-D + MCPP + Dicamba) or Celsius WG (warm season)

Now that weeds are actively growing, it's time to nuke them. A three-way broadleaf herbicide applied with a surfactant (like NIS) will eliminate dandelions, clover, chickweed, and henbit within 7-14 days.

Rate: Per label. For Trimec 992: roughly 1.5 oz per gallon per 1,000 sq ft. Always add a non-ionic surfactant at 0.25% v/v.

⚠️ Warm Season Users: Do NOT use Trimec on Bermuda during green-up. Use Celsius WG instead — it's safe on all warm-season grasses.

Round 4: Early Summer — Fertilizer + Iron (June)

Product: Granular 30-0-4 + Liquid Iron (FeSO4 or chelated iron)

Push color hard going into summer. The nitrogen feeds growth; the iron darkens the green without excess top growth. Your lawn will look spray-painted.

Rate: Fertilizer: 3.3 lbs per 1,000 sq ft | Iron: 2 oz FAS per gallon per 1,000 sq ft

Round 5: Mid-Summer — Preventative Fungicide (July)

Product: Azoxystrobin 2SC (generic Scotts DiseaseEx) or Propiconazole 14.3

Brown patch and dollar spot peak in July-August when nights stay above 65°F with high humidity. A preventative application is 10x cheaper than trying to cure an active outbreak.

Rate: Azoxystrobin: 0.38 fl oz per 1,000 sq ft. Apply and water in lightly.

🦠 Rotation Note: Don't use the same fungicide class all year. Rotate between strobilurin (azoxystrobin) and DMI (propiconazole) to prevent resistance.

Round 6: Late Summer — Recovery Feed (August-September)

Product: Milorganite 6-4-0 or Carbon-X 24-0-4

Your lawn took a beating from the summer heat. This slow-release feed helps recovery without pushing excessive growth. If you're planning a fall overseeding, this app sets the stage.

Rate: Milorganite: 9 lbs per 1,000 sq ft | Carbon-X: 4 lbs per 1,000 sq ft

Round 7: Fall — Winterizer + Potassium (October-November)

Product: Winterizer 10-0-20 or Granular SOP (0-0-50)

Max potassium going into winter. This strengthens root systems and cell walls for freeze tolerance. If you overseeded in September, this also feeds your new seedlings.

Rate: Targeting 1 lb K₂O per 1,000 sq ft.

Shopping List (Full Season)

Expected Results vs. Weekend Warrior

Ready for the ultimate program? Check out the Country Club plan.