Lawn Care - Preemergents and Seeding

[edro]

Spring is here. We have a new house that has a smaller sized yard.
My previous yards were large and I did nothing to them except mow.
The new yard is riddled with mole holes, which I am trying to trap now.
I have raked out the mole mounds, which leaves bare spots of no grass.

TruGreen stopped by last night and offered their services for $57/application, with 7 applications per year. I denied, but he did comment about the bare spots.
He said "What do you expect to grow in those bare spots? Crab grass and weeds. Grass will not grow there unless you seed it. You need to lay down a preemergent now to prevent the weeds and crabgrass from filling in those spots. Then plant grass seed later in the season."

After he knew I wouldn't buy his services, he said I should at least go buy a few bags of preemergent and lay it down.

If I lay a preemergent and mow my lawn like normal, what will grow in the bare spots? Nothing?
Once the preemergent wears off and I can plant grass seed, won't the weeds grow int he bare spots then too?

People with nice lawns who apply products, what is your annual schedule?
I am pretty new to this.

 

[highland145]

Soil test several spots before you spend any $$ on grass or fert. The local farm supply did them and said I needed 16-4-8. Might need another application in a couple of months. No lime this year.

I did put down the pre emerge but too late. My beds were full of crap. I would think the fert and pre emerge are going to be a yearly event if you want the lawn to look nice.


3chordcharlie is a landscaper.

 

[cabri]

I always through down some weed/feed during the January thaw.

Then a second application in late April; wait a week and then lightly seed if needed for thin/bare spots