Question
Thanks again Kenneth.  Yes, I'd heard that it might take a lot of applications to get rid of the annual bluegrass.  This past year I switched from mulching to bagging in hopes of beating back the annual blue by taking away some of the seed.  Maybe it will help.  

I have avoided the Turfbuilder with Halts for two reasons:  1) I have had some fungus problems in the past and believe I should minimize spring fertilizing.  2) Scotts says don't use it on creeping bent.  The only pre-emergent crabgrass preventer I've found without fertilizer and with an okay for creeping bent is Agway--but they give no spreader info on the bags.
-------------------------

Followup To

Question -
Hi again kenneth:
No, "I" don't have crabgrass but my neighbor has it all over his yard.  "I" DO have annual bluegrass.  If I do the corn gluen before forsythia stpps blooming will I prevent both the crabgrass and the annual bluegrass?  Or do I have to do something this fall for the annual bluegrass.

NYS Cornell Cooperative Extension poo poos the corn gluten.  Are any of the other state extension services giving it the thumbs up?

Regarding any of the pre-emergent (corn gluten or the baddies):  do they just stop seed from germinating, or do they also stop spreading of plants through rhizomes and tillers?

Any grasses that are harmed by the corn gluten?

thanks

Rick

Answer -
Corn gluten meal has the ability to stop seeds from germinating, but you have to apply approximately 20-25 lbs per 1000 sq feet evenly and then water in well. If you strictly follow the 1 lb/nitrogen per 1000 sq feet lawn rule, you would apply maximum 10 lbs product per 1000 sq feet lawn area, which is too little.

If you apply this September, it may prevent annual bluegrass from germinating but bluegrass sprout during various times of the year, and it is not certain that your timing will be good enough. Also if you apply in early spring before the crabgrass germinate it should help.

We have used corn gluten meal (@ 20 lbs per 1000 sq feet) in early april and we did not have a big problem with crabgrass that year. We also have used Scott's Turfbuilder w/halts in spring and also have not had any problems.

This year we have a lot of crabgrass, but we have not applied anything last two years. Next spring, we will apply Turfbuilder w/halts again.

Answer
Use a small spreader opening and meassure about 3 lbs of fertilizer per 1000 sq feet. E.g. if your lawn is 20,000 sq feet, you would pre-meassure 60 lbs (20 x 3) of the Agway and spread it evenly by making multiple passes in various directions (north/south + east/west) until all product has been applied.

The reason NY Cornell probably do not recommend corn gluten meal in early spring is that the soil temperatures are very cool and the microbes - which must break down the product - are not very active. Once the soil temperatures are warm enough to work the product fast, the crabgrass seeds have germinated. Oh well.

I normally recommend fertilizing late spring, early fall and late fall. However, you can add a 4th application in early spring and then cut the late spring application in half (or use a slow release fertilizer in late spring)