You will be fine just water in at recommended .5" of water. Next time you have someone apply a product to your yard make sure they calibrate the spreader with the product they are using. Also make sure you 13000 sq. ft. of lawn and not 15000.

I'm also just starting to put forth some effort in learning about lawn care. This will be my first time using a pre emergent. From everything I've read, this is the perfect time to put it down for the Fall. So I went to a big box store in San Antonio and the only pre em they carried was Vigoro Crabgrass & Weed Preventer (Dithiopyr). I tried to find some Dimension or Prodiamine like you guys recommended, but that's all they had and I wanted to get something down this weekend. I do have a crabgrass problem, so I guess it can't hurt. I have a few questions: 1. The instructions said to only use it once a year, but the label also said it only protects for 4 months. I was planning to use it again in the Sping, but don't want to cause any damage. How does that work? Can I use it again, or should I use something else? 2. Speaking of using something else, would it hurt anything if I was able to find some Dimension or Prodiamine and put that down this week? Or would that be too much at once? Thanks for any feedback!

Dave, I think they they may be overused and are useful in a limited set of circumstances. A row of conifer screening happens to be one of those uses. Yes, the fabric (and I was only recommending a geotexile type, not a roll of impervious black plastic) will degrade. By the time it degrades completely, the conifers will have grown large enough that their shade will start to cut down on weed germination. In my observation, they undoubtedly increase soil moisture retention and reduce the need for watering. And in their first couple years, they do keep weeds down, which is the most crucial period for reducing weed competition as the plants are getting established. Later on, the few weeds that start growing in the mulch are easy to rake or pull out. I've had some in my landscape now for 5 years, all the plants around it have grown just fine, I've never had to water them in the past 3 droughty summers, and I expect in 5 years it will probably mostly degrade but by then it will be filled in with mature plants and there will be less light for weeds to grow. One size does not fit all and the article you posted has some good points, but I stand by my recommendation. BTW Ken's recommendation to not make a screen of a single plant type is good too.

Hehe Quirky, well good, I'm not slow after all. SteveGA -- my Father-in-law didn't know what was going on until after it was done. It was a birthday surprise...she told him she was hiring someone to come mow down the overgrown brush on the unlandscaped areas of the property. They only go down to the cabin on weekends and she paid the landscaper to come in during the week prior to his birthday. He had no prior knowledge, it's her I'm a bit peeved at for not thinking it might be a good idea to at least let me know what she wanted to do. I really don't have any problems with it if they had decided to go a different way. I tried a more minimal approach so that the cabin would blend in with its natural woodsy surroundings but I think that style was lost on her. What's there now is certainly going to be beautiful but moreso what you would see in front of a big new subdivision or shopping center. I wouldn't think Knockout Roses are a smart choice for under a tree canopy but hey, this guy was a "professional" so who am I to argue. Not that they won't live but I wouldn't think they'll bloom too great without much sun. He also moved the Hosta I had planted in a shade bed near the house out into a part of the front yard that actually gets hot afternoon sun. I guess I should be thankful he didn't throw them away, and I know some Hosta can stand more sun than others but I have a hunch they won't do so great there. Will have to wait and see the results next year. Maybe I'll sneak over there and move them back under cover of darkness lol! Danielle