Lawn Maintenance

[mustclime]

I'm currently winning my streets lawn tournament this year... it took me 4 - 5 years to bring is back from the dead after a really bad season of bug infestations that ate the roots followed by tons of crab grass.. Basically started over from scratch in the front yard and recovered the back yard....

What do you get for winning the "lawn tournament"? Is there a trophy? My trick is to just go around and spread crabgrass and horsegrass seeds on everyone lawn on my street...that way mine does not look so bad...much less work🙄

 

[Mountain Bike Mike]

What do you get for winning the "lawn tournament"? Is there a trophy? My trick is to just go around and spread crabgrass and horsegrass seeds on everyone lawn on my street...that way mine does not look so bad...much less work🙄

Street cred... which makes it ok to parade around with my chest pumped up and nose and chin slightly higher...

 

[I Ride Bikes]

Question about this machine. Does this just cut the groves into the dirt and you have to lay seed in addition? Or does it have a hopper to drop the seed at the same time?

Also I'm a little confused about which methods to use. I'm not worried about renting machines if it is something I need. Between thatcher, aerator and seeder. Which combo is the best. My backyard doesn't have much thatch but my front does.

 

[pooriggy]

Question about this machine. Does this just cut the groves into the dirt and you have to lay seed in addition? Or does it have a hopper to drop the seed at the same time?

Also I'm a little confused about which methods to use. I'm not worried about renting machines if it is something I need. Between thatcher, aerator and seeder. Which combo is the best. My backyard doesn't have much thatch but my front does.

It will have a hopper to drop seed into the slits, assuming you can find a machine like this. Most seeders at rental shops are not that aggressive.

The goal when seeding is to get seed into contact with the soil. If you can find a seeder that can do this great. Otherwise you may have to do a combo of aeration and overseeding with what ever machines are available at the local rental shop.

 

[Jeremy]

Support your LRS.

 

[Red Mosquito]

It will have a hopper to drop seed into the slits, assuming you can find a machine like this. Most seeders at rental shops are not that aggressive.

The goal when seeding is to get seed into contact with the soil. If you can find a seeder that can do this great. Otherwise you may have to do a combo of aeration and overseeding with what ever machines are available at the local rental shop.

Home Depot has the slit seeder w/o the thatcher wheel. $66 for 4 hours or $94 for 24 hours.

They also have a power rake, $47 for 4 hours or $67 for 24 hours.

Several of each on hand, first come first serve.

 

[Red Mosquito]

I found another interesting seed option:

SOMERSET SUN AND SHADE: Our most popular mix, grows well in full sun to partial shade. 40% bluegrass 40% fescue and 20% ryegrass.

http://www.bellemeadcoop.com/price_lists/seed2010.htm

A bit different than the Jonathan Green Black Beauty I was leaning towards, which is 80% tall fescue blends, 10% bluegrass and 10% perennial ryegrass.

 

[I Ride Bikes]

Home Depot has the slit seeder w/o the thatcher wheel. $66 for 4 hours or $94 for 24 hours.

They also have a power rake, $47 for 4 hours or $67 for 24 hours.

Several of each on hand, first come first serve.

You are right down the street from me. Might consider splitting a full day rental. It will be cheaper than 4 hrs.:hmmm:

 

[Red Mosquito]

You are right down the street from me. Might consider splitting a full day rental. It will be cheaper than 4 hrs.:hmmm:

I would consider splitting but I haven't 100% decided on my method. After doing some more reading the home depot units might not be a slit seeder. This shit gets confusing fast! I was going to call around and see if I can find a good seeder from any other rental places.

How big of an area are you working?

 

[I Ride Bikes]

I would consider splitting but I haven't 100% decided on my method. After doing some more reading the home depot units might not be a slit seeder. This shit gets confusing fast! I was going to call around and see if I can find a good seeder from any other rental places.

How big of an area are you working?

I'm not sure of the method either. Trying to take everything in and make the right choice. I'm gonna keep reading stuff and try to figure it out. I'll keep you in the loop. I'm working approximately 5000sqft.

 

[Red Mosquito]

Will do the same, thanks

 

[Red Mosquito]

Not quite about the lawn but Lisa started a blog about her garden. Suggestions and pointers always welcome!

"cuCumberland Road"

So far the lawn looks great this year. All the work last fall and earlier this spring paid off. I've got a few things planned this fall to help keep it moving along in the right direction.

How did your lawn do this year after the overseeding?

 

[Red Mosquito]

I'm not sure of the method either. Trying to take everything in and make the right choice. I'm gonna keep reading stuff and try to figure it out. I'll keep you in the loop. I'm working approximately 5000sqft.

I've done a bunch more reading today including calling around for seeder prices. Most are in the $100-$150 range and it seems like a wildcard on what kind/quality of seeder you're going to get.

This thread has me thinking I might just mow short, spread my seed, and top dress with peat moss or compost. Also going to look into the tenacity thing, have zero clue what it is.

These threads have all contributed to the latest idea. Damn internet!

 

[Mountain Bike Mike]

Check your PMs...

I sent you the details... Have fun and good luck!

 

[I Ride Bikes]

Quick question. May have been covered but the thread is too long. Is there a recommended height to cut the lawn before thatching and aerating? I normally cut at the highest setting and I think that's too much grass for the machines to fight through.

 

[Mountain Bike Mike]

Removing the dead matted grass...

I do this in March... in the fall, I slowly taper the length down (shorter). In the summer months, I am at full deck height. As the fall progresses and the grass growth slows down, lower the deck, one setting at a time for a couple / three weeks. In November it will be nice and short and leaves won't get nested before the snow.

When March rolls around, before it starts to grow, the grass is still short. I may run a mower with low deck height over it to clean it up before I run a thatch rake through it.

Then after picking it all up, I'll run the mower over it again to vacuum it and give it a fresh groomed look.

Note - every time I reference mowing the lawn, I am always bagging it... I will never mulch again due to the amount of thatch build up...

Hope this helps!

 

[Glenlivet12]

How did your lawn do this year after the overseeding?

I haven't been on in a while i guess...:roll eyes:

Grass looks good this year, not nearly as many weeds as last year but they're still prominent in some areas of the yard. I never treated for weeds in the spring which was a dumb oversight on my part. But all of the bare sections from thatching last year filled in nicely with fresh grass with minimal weeds. I've got some nice big areas of yard that are all grass, the rest is a mix of grass and weeds. Hopefully after seeding this fall i can reclaim more yard next spring.

 

[Pearl]

Don't want to make a new thread, but yesterday afternoon I went ape shit and decided to take a shovel and rip up all the grass for in the area we want to put up a small stone wall and some mulch.

I just need to move all the crap grass out of the way. I started putting it a garbage bag but it got really heavy. Sure dudeman will not be happy with that. I was thinking of just dumping it into the backyard or something.

I started researching this morning on renting a tiller from the HD, but then I came across this thing called "cardboard gardening": http://www.birdsandblooms.com/blog/cardboard-gardening-turning-lawn-into-garden-bed/

You pretty much just throw wet cardboard down and then throw the mulch on top. I have access to vast amounts of cardboard boxes and newspaper.

Has anyone done this? Any experiences? This is a small spot, maybe 12x3? Should I just rent the tiller and do the weed mat?

 

[stb222]

For such as small area, a tiller is not required unless you can borrow one. The cardboard thing seems like it would work but ultimately, just suck it up and turn it over by hand. Your entire front yard is small enough to do by hand.

 

[gtluke]

I did this:
http://www.richsoil.com/hugelkultur/