lawn care tips (Raleigh: transplants, house, buying) - The Triangle Area - City-Data Forum

esunshine · 03-07-2009, 06:32 PM

We have been in our house for about 2 years. It was new construction and our yard is looking pretty sparse. The sod didn't take well in the front and the back is mostly fill dirt so not much grass growing there! We have fescue (may not be ideal to some but don't want to spend to change it all!) I would really appreciate any tips and the timing of when to apply fertilizer, aerate, etc...basically what worked for you! Thanks so much!!!

JQ Public · 03-07-2009, 09:05 PM

Now is a great time to fertilize. If you were to reseed the fall is the best time because during the winter the roots will have time to establish. Its hard to establish grass-seed in the spring because the little plants get fried in the summer since the roots haven't had time to establish. I usually aerate and reseed fescue in the fall actually.

lamishra · 03-08-2009, 08:40 AM

Yep, now is the time to fertilize and apply pre-emergent weed killer if want to do that. Just go to any home improvement place or lawncare/hardware store and pick up some fertilizer with a spreader. Today would be a great day to do it! You can do small patch up jobs now on the lawn, but don't waste your money trying to re-seed now. As the PP mentioned, it will grow if you plant it now and look great, only to die in the summer heat. We usually aerate in the fall too.

JebediahScooter · 03-08-2009, 09:05 AM

NCSU's Turffiles

Tons of lawncare info--it's really thorough!

candlegirl · 03-08-2009, 10:28 AM

The biigest problem you likely have is the soil. Typically, builders put sod and seed right down on top of the existing soil - which around here tends to be very sandy and acidic. I would recommend starting fresh, particularly where it is really bad - if not everywhere. Rototill, remove all vegetation, bring in some high quality leaf mulch topsoil and spread 2-3 inches thick over the entire area. Then either reseed or sod. Best for this time of year is sod but seeding can be done if really soon. Like the others said, the new grass sprouts need to get established before the summer heat hits or they will struggle.

If you do not amend the soil, you will not get good results no matter what you do. Now would be a great time to apply fertilizer(24-0-11) and lime. If nothing else, topdress the lawn with a quarter inch of good soil across the entire lawn after aerating, this will help. If you are going to overseed, do it by no later than mid April.

TuborgP · 03-08-2009, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by esunshine

We have been in our house for about 2 years. It was new construction and our yard is looking pretty sparse. The sod didn't take well in the front and the back is mostly fill dirt so not much grass growing there! We have fescue (may not be ideal to some but don't want to spend to change it all!) I would really appreciate any tips and the timing of when to apply fertilizer, aerate, etc...basically what worked for you! Thanks so much!!!

If it was two years ago and your first summer was during the drought your lawn was doomed from the start. That is one of the problems with trying to do a lawn. We moved here in December of 2007 with a sodded (Bermuda Grass) front and junk for a back yard. The back yard was builders mix which was mostly rye and never meant to last long. I went with a professional lawn care company and our sod became amazing. It meant watering. Since I am retired I went on a mission and personally seeded the back and it came in well and the lawn care guy when came by a couple of weeks ago was very impressed. However I had a large water bill and it is Bermuda Grass. I have other neighbors who sodded their back. Unless you are doing a warm weather grass do as others are telling you and seed or sod in the Fall. I had great lawns where I lived previously and you are getting good advice about what to do if you are going to use a cool weather grass. Yes the soil is terrible and rebuilding it is on your list. Look into Gypsum for long term benefits.

North_Raleigh_Guy · 03-08-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TuborgP

Unless you are doing a warm weather grass do as others are telling you and seed or sod in the Fall.

I agree 100%. If you are planning on having a fescue lawn wait until the Fall to do any serious rennovations like seeding and sod. IF you do it now it will get too hot too quick and you will struggle to keep you young lawn alive in the heat of the summer. For now I would forget seeding and sod and would just focus on getting lime down and fertilizer down as well as a some crab grass pre-emergent. Even with a terrible lawn you will notice a difference if you feed it and get the ph level right. Then in the fall concentrate on your lawn rennovation. Good luck!

TuborgP · 03-08-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by North_Raleigh_Guy

I agree 100%. If you are planning on having a fescue lawn wait until the Fall to do any serious rennovations like seeding and sod. IF you do it now it will get too hot too quick and you will struggle to keep you young lawn alive in the heat of the summer. For now I would forget seeding and sod and would just focus on getting lime down and fertilizer down as well as a some crab grass pre-emergent. Even with a terrible lawn you will notice a difference if you feed it and get the ph level right. Then in the fall concentrate on your lawn rennovation. Good luck!

Transplants especially retired ones with gardening plans need to do some research and visit forums like this before hand. Folks from up North I can tell you this is a different ball game. Visit the thread by NRG on raised bed gardening. You can garden in the ground and I have finally figured out how to do it. It is basic and FORGET the fancy Scott's etc soil conditioners. They will create problems a few months after you use them. If you can afford a mini tiller go for it. It will be more than worth it. However if consult Consumers you will see there is only one worth buying. We can't mention brand names in here so I won't. By the way does anyone drive a Accord? I here they have great gas mileage. Now that I haven't mentioned the name of the company, the next part. Use the cheap from Loew's soil conditioner which is just cheap not shredded much. Use that and Gypsum and till it in good and make your hole extra extra wide and deep. Create enough so when you plant your planting is about 2-3 inches off the ground so yes it is raised mound planting and not raised bed. Use shredded mulch over it. That will break down and continue to improve the soil. Also use a good organic fertilizer that will aid in the transplant process and get the micro organism's doing their thing.
Now when I go to Loews to buy the ingredients and tell the guys there what I am doing they say yup this is what they do themselves and the other stuff isn't worth the money. I think you have to bring it up first since they make more off the other stuff etc.

I did this in the Fall in prep for this Spring and the soil is amazing. Remember Bermuda spreads so you don't have to fill everything in right away. Make sure that some of the areas you seed are especially well prepared and that will give you great spread next year.