How to plant grass seed in Durham (neighborhood, stores)

[Sonorio]

Watch Accuweather for a five-or-six-day sequence of sunny days after a good rain.

At the beginning of the sequence, get on your knees and scuff up the dirt to hold the seed.

Strew the seed and go over it with lime. Grass likes lime. Rake it in.

Water it gently so the lime settles into the ground.

Three days later a furious day-long rainstorm comes along and washes most of what that you did away.

Watch Accuweather for a five-or-six sequence of sunny days after a good rain.

At the beginning of the sequence, spread fertilizer. Water the ground gently so the fertilizer settles into it.

That night, Accuweather predicts furious thunderstorms, to wash most of what that you did away.

[wheelsup]

Use a garden weasel to rough up the soil after scalping the lawn. Use the flip side of a rake or the garden weasel again after spreading seed/fertilizer to work the dirt over the seed. No straw needed and it won't wash away. A little labor intensive. Alternatively get an aerator and go nuts, criss cross your lawn etc. multiple times, then spread seed. Problem solved!

[NM posts]

Originally Posted by wheelsup

Use a garden weasel to rough up the soil after scalping the lawn. Use the flip side of a rake or the garden weasel again after spreading seed/fertilizer to work the dirt over the seed. No straw needed and it won't wash away. A little labor intensive. Alternatively get an aerator and go nuts, criss cross your lawn etc. multiple times, then spread seed. Problem solved!

I am hoping for this scenario in my little corner of Durham - time to overseed!

Also I have to note that I've been hand pulling dreaded Virginia buttonweed all summer (lost battle, it took over half my front yard) (I tried to go no chemicals) and I got a spider bite or something.

[local2rtp]

Originally Posted by NorasMom

Also I have to note that I've been hand pulling dreaded Virginia buttonweed all summer (lost battle, it took over half my front yard) (I tried to go no chemicals) and I got a spider bite or something.

I went no chemical with respect to weed control. Not sure I would want to do that every year though it only takes a couple of hours spread across the year.

[NM posts]

Originally Posted by local2rtp

I went no chemical with respect to weed control. Not sure I would want to do that every year though it only takes a couple of hours spread across the year.

I was worried about the neighborhood dogs, and the bees. I'm not really sure of what to do - that buttonweed is definitely coming back next summer, ugh. I won't use roundup, trying to make my yard a bees welcome zone

[local2rtp]

Originally Posted by NorasMom

I was worried about the neighborhood dogs, and the bees. I'm not really sure of what to do - that buttonweed is definitely coming back next summer, ugh. I won't use roundup, trying to make my yard a bees welcome zone

Just being a good host or you need the bees for pollination? Honey even?

[NM posts]

Originally Posted by local2rtp

Just being a good host or you need the bees for pollination? Honey even?

Good host!

Also today I found out you've got to be quick about the garden weasel - sold out of three stores :-/

[luv4horses]

My favorite roughing up tool is a curved three prong (tine) garden implement with a long handle. Sometimes they are described as 'talon-like'. Just scrape the exposed soil a couple of times in the bare areas, sprinkle seed, and rake it in or cover with additional sprinkle of soil.

[NM posts]

I ended up using a rake to rough up some sections (where I'd pulled out all of the buttonweed and left bare soil). Overseeded with fescue last weekend and have been watering every day - fingers crossed!

Though I didn't find the garden weasel tool I'd wanted, I ran across the nut gatherer on Amazon - that thing is magic! Gets those dreaded sweetgum balls AND the acorns. My dog's paws and digestive system are happy once again.