Cost-effective ways to prep lawn grass in San Antonio (Bowie: renting, house)

[SanAntonianByChoice]

Other than hiring a lawn care company which can be costly for some, what cost-effective ways are there to love your lawn this time of year i.e. applying fertilizer, grass seed, weed killer? And if so, what methods did you use to apply said items? How often do you water? Am trying to make lawn look as healthy/lush as possible but without stressing pocket-book.

P.S. I don't know the type of grass either.

THANKS!!! Am eager to hear from folks out and how they've beautified their lawns

[TexasRedneck]

With all due respect, you need to learn a bit more - about what kind of grass you have, etc. I'd suggest a visit to a nursery for some basic knowledge - many will have handouts/flyers that you can take home and read up on. Once you know your basics, listen to KTSA on the weekends - they have a good morning gardening show that can give you all kinds of insight on what you can/should be doing.
Most grasses need about an inch of water per week...

[Bo]

You can skip the chemical fertilizer and weed-killer if you do these three things. Apply a thin layer of compost to the entire lawn in the spring and fall. Feed the lawn with a good organic fertilizer, like Texas Tee or Medina granular about a month before you apply the compost. Apply corn gluten meal after the weather cools off in the fall to prevent weeds in the spring.

[SanAntonianByChoice]

Re compost, will any compost do? Do they have different types? And also, do you apply fertilizer and compost with tool that looks like a push mower? I don't know if it's called a seeder, or fertilizer?

I know it sounds silly, but is it possible to take a sample of your grass to a lawn care supply store and they would be able to tell you what type of grass you have? I look at pictures online and I swear they all look the same...\

Thank you all!!

[TexasRedneck]

Sure - if you take it in, any decent nursery can ID it for you! Can't help you on the compost - have never used it. I mulch all my trimmings straight back onto the yard with the mower, so haven't ever really seen the need.....may not have *the* award-winning lawn, but it looks pretty decent.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by SanAntonianByChoice

Re compost, will any compost do? Do they have different types? And also, do you apply fertilizer and compost with tool that looks like a push mower? I don't know if it's called a seeder, or fertilizer?

Compost is too thick to apply with a spreader, but granular fertilizer will go through it just fine. Compost is applied by dumping it onto the lawn manually and distributing it with a rake.

There are several kinds of compost. Any store that sells several kinds will be glad to tell you which of the kinds they have on hand works best on the lawn. I have gotten mine at Fertile Garden Supply or GardenVille. I've found that GardenVille usually sells it a little cheaper than FGS.

[SanAntonianByChoice]

Boundless Gratitude TexasRedneck and Bowie! Am eager to get my hands dirty

[buffy888]

I had heard you can/should apply corn gluten meal in spring as well - is that not correct? (And if it is good to do in the spring - about when would be a good time for that?)

Also, any suggestions for how to fill in bare patches? We have 2 dogs - inside dogs, but we take them out to play in the yard a lot - so I'm unsure how seed or that patch stuff would work with them running around. Would seed still do okay?

We are renting a house here as we still own a house out of state (which we are renting to family member), so don't want to spend a huge amount on the lawn, but it was in a sorry state when we moved in and I would like to improve it as much as possible for a reasonable amount. The yard is a hodgepodge of grass types, though - some St. Augustine plus I think 2 more types of grass (thin blades) - also think there is Bermuda grass?

[HillCountryHotRodMan]

Yeah, that is the St. Augustine and Bermuda grass mix that is popular because it costs a little less. You will want to get some good topsoil (not the cheap sandy bags they sell at Home Depot for a buck... that stuff is like cement) and fill in the bald areas. I would keep all pets off of the bald areas. You can buy St. Augustine squares in the spring to fill in the bald areas.... but the St. Augustine will still battle with the Bermuda.

Don't overwater the lawn. Even when it gets hot. If the water is running off the yard and into the street, you are watering too much.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by buffy888

I had heard you can/should apply corn gluten meal in spring as well - is that not correct? (And if it is good to do in the spring - about when would be a good time for that?)

Supposedly, fall is the ideal time for that, but applying it in the spring before the days get too hot will help, too. If I hadn't applied it in the fall, I'd consider doing it now.