Winter grass time? (costs, versus, food) - Phoenix area - Arizona (AZ) - Page 5 - City-Data Forum

DetroitN8V · 10-10-2013, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Relax grasshopper, it's an Arizona tradition if you want NICE grass. The Rye will be so much nicer than that crappy Bermuda grass it's replacing. You're making way to much out of growing some simple grass.

I know I am. I'm uptight and hate when my house looks like crap (especially when literal!). We tried to have dinner on the patio last night and the flies and smell made us hightail it inside. Still better than gloom and snow, so I guess I should stay positive.

RCR · 10-10-2013, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

I know I am. I'm uptight and hate when my house looks like crap (especially when literal!). We tried to have dinner on the patio last night and the flies and smell made us hightail it inside. Still better than gloom and snow, so I guess I should stay positive.

It is way better than snow! I would rather mow it than shovel it any day of the week. Especially when you can do it in shorts.

As far as doing it yourself, I did than once.....and only once. I have roughly 1500 sq. ft. and I scalped it then went out and rented a de-thatcher and had such a big pile of grass clippings that I ended up paying someone to haul it away for me.

What I do now is hire someone to do the scalping then I take care of the overseeding myself. Summerwinds Nursery sells packages for 750 or 1500 sq ft which includes the seed, fertilizer and topper (not manure). Another option is Scotts offers a package where the seed, fertilizer and topper are all rolled into one little ball which you apply just like the seed alone. I have seen it at Home Depot and Lowes. It looks much easier and less smelly but it is also much more expensive. I calculated for my yard the cost to be over $200 where the traditional method runs me $75.

Ponderosa · 10-12-2013, 04:39 PM

Put the grass in today. I am getting too old to be tossing all that mulch. Whew. I did an experimental patch where I did not put mulch down just spread seed into the bermuda. I will see how this goes. Maybe the mulch is a waste of time.

DetroitN8V · 10-12-2013, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Put the grass in today. I am getting too old to be tossing all that mulch. Whew. I did an experimental patch where I did not put mulch down just spread seed into the bermuda. I will see how this goes. Maybe the mulch is a waste of time.

Better than poop! I still get a few whiffs every now and then. Mine is starting to come in just around the edges. The verdict is still out...

LBTRS · 10-12-2013, 06:47 PM

Did mine today also and this is my last year doing it myself. Getting too old and out of shape to be carrying and spreading all that topper. Next year the Landscapers get to take over this annual task.

Now a couple weeks of trying to keep the birds from eating the seed and my two dogs from rolling in the topper. The new puppy seems to think it is good to eat.

LBTRS · 10-12-2013, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Better than poop! I still get a few whiffs every now and then. Mine is starting to come in just around the edges. The verdict is still out...

The Kellogg Topper still has manure, still stinks and still draws flies. Don't be fooled thinking this stuff eliminates all the nastiness. I think that is what Ponderosa said he uses.

I spread six bags of it today and have all the issues you were concerned with.

Ponderosa · 10-12-2013, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBTRS

The Kellogg Topper still has manure, still stinks and still draws flies. Don't be fooled thinking this stuff eliminates all the nastiness. I think that is what Ponderosa said he uses.

I spread six bags of it today and have all the issues you were concerned with.

I have no flies and the odor is nothing like manure. Have you ever used manure? As for odor, it goes away fairly quick and it has that acrid smell of mulch more than the down on the farm smell of manure.

Ponderosa · 10-12-2013, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LBTRS

Did mine today also and this is my last year doing it myself. Getting too old and out of shape to be carrying and spreading all that topper. Next year the Landscapers get to take over this annual task.

Now a couple weeks of trying to keep the birds from eating the seed and my two dogs from rolling in the topper. The new puppy seems to think it is good to eat.

It's a lot harder than one would think, isn't it?

LBTRS · 10-12-2013, 07:55 PM

Yes, first couple of years I used manure and have used topper last few years because it was readily available at home depot. I have lots of flies and it may not be all manure but it certainly contains manure. It may not stink as much and for as long but still stinks like manure. Just don't want him to think this stuff solves all his concerns.

LBTRS · 10-12-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

It's a lot harder than one would think, isn't it?

Yes, I always think I can handle it and about the time I am finishing I wonder what I was thinking.

I also noticed that the bags of Kellogg Topper vary a lot from bag to bag. Some bags have lots of clumps of manure and is moist, other bags are drier any have more mulch and is a lighter color.