Lawn Reseeding

[nrc]

When we bought our house the previous owner was raving about how he had finally discovered a lawn grass that would grow in the shady parts of the back yard. Last fall I was figuring out what type of grass was to make sure the stuff I was going to put on it for the fall wasn't going to be a problem. I'm pretty sure it's tall fescue or some varient. The sources note that tall fescue is not self-repairing. I think that confirms it as the shady areas are looking increasingly clumpy.

Since I have plenty of other outdoor projects to keep me busy I'm thinking of the laziest way to reseed these areas that will actually achieve some results. I'm thinkin of scratching up the bare patches with a rake and using a spreader to put down one of the newer fescue mixes that has some repair ability. Any suggestions?

[RaceGrrl]

Any suggestions?

Brady turf?

[Wheel-Nut]

Didn't you just buy a new mower?

[chop456]

As long as we're playing the lawn question game, my lawn is lumpy. What do I do?

[Warlock!]

As long as we're playing the lawn question game, my lawn is lumpy. What do I do?
Easy, that one...

http://www.colwellequipment.com/images/400%20Roller(1).jpg

[rosawendel]

As long as we're playing the lawn question game, my lawn is lumpy. What do I do?

stir more frequently.

actually, warlock's pretty close. you can rent a roller full of water that will help with the high spots.

[nrc]

Didn't you just buy a new mower?

Yes, late last summer. Now I need to keep the lawn alive to justify my purchase.

Seriously though, we have a lot of sunny area that grows like crazy, but it's very shady around the house.

[SteveH]

As long as we're playing the lawn question game, my lawn is lumpy. What do I do?

Pick up the dog crap. :D

[RichK]

Lawn receding

Rogaine?

[Turn7]

Tift no. 4

[Andrew Longman]

Seeding is best done late summer/early fall. Cover with straw and water morning and night until it is well up and established.

This time of year you can only really do patches very well.

In the shady areas you may have a problem of the overhead trees sucking all the water out of the ground (water more than you think), or depending on the trees, some throw off something than might be making the the soil too acid or alkaline (test the soil)

[dando]

Seriously though, we have a lot of sunny area that grows like crazy, but it's very shady around the house.

Get an axe? :gomer:

My lawn is infested with tall fescue that I'm about to go Round up on. :\ Friggin' park to be across the street sends all of it's weed seeds our way, so I'm about to call a lawn service to come nuke the yard. I'm generally opposed to them suckers.

-Kevin

[Wheel-Nut]

What type of grass do y'all get to grow up there on the frozen tundra of O hi o? :D

[Ankf00]

What type of grass do y'all get to grow up there on the frozen tundra of O hi o? :D

corn or barley, depending on the subsidies, no?


:runs:

[dando]

What type of grass do y'all get to grow up there on the frozen tundra of O hi o? :D

Well, they get that whacky grass y'all grow down there to grow in the farm fields, yo. :gomer:

Good ol' Kintucky bluegrass grows just fine up here, thank you. As does that tall fescue crap. :saywhat:

And it's oHIo, yo.

-Kevin

[dando]

corn or barley, depending on the subsidies, no?


:runs:

Since when are corn or barley types of grass, holmes? :gomer:

-Kevin

[Gnam]

step 1: go to a park with trees.
step 2: find a tree with grass under it.
step 3: "borrow" grass.

[Don Quixote]

Aerate with a plug aerator every spring and fall. Then broadcast a shady seed mix along with organic (chicken poop) fertilizer. The shady mix will probably have a mix of shade tolerant bluegrasses, annual and perennial ryes, tall and short fescue, etc. Whatever species likes the area best will thrive. You should repeat this every spring and fall. :)

[Elmo T]

I had a serious lawn problem when I first moved into the house. After resolving the erosion issue with 10 yards of topsoil, it was time to reseed.

I don't recall the exact seed mix, but I staked burlap over the seeded areas. I tried to keep it tight to the soil. The grass grows right through the burlap which eventually is lost to the new lawn. There were a few areas where the burlap lifted up - I later cut that out.

I've used that a few times and it works extremely well.

I've also used Scott's Patchmaster a few times. It wasn't the best grass, but it worked well.

[nissan gtp]

my approach to lawn care is Darwinian. whatever grows, wins. :laugh:

I do apply some weed/feed to help out :D but other than that, it's every plant for itself.

[chop456]

Easy, that one...

http://www.colwellequipment.com/images/400%20Roller(1).jpg

If it was soft, that'd work. I think compaction is part of the problem, but it'd take aerating it twice a month for like 9 years to loosen it up.

[SteveH]

^

http://www.mileskimball.com/mileskimball/images/p3968b.jpg

[TravelGal]

my approach to lawn care is Darwinian. whatever grows, wins. :laugh:

I do apply some weed/feed to help out :D but other than that, it's every plant for itself.

That's pretty much our approach also. LOL!

That, and the cute booties Steve H pictured. Yes, they do work. You just have to make up your mind that you're going to walk quite a bit before the lawn is truly aerated.

edit: which is why we currently have St. Augustine and Bermuda Grass peacefully coexisting. Both survived the Roundup quite nicely, thank you. I think they thought it was fertilizer.

[chop456]

^

http://www.mileskimball.com/mileskimball/images/p3968b.jpg
I actually considered those but most reviews (except TravelGal :D ), say they're junk and the spikes bend after a couple of uses. My lawn's hard enough that they'd probably bend as soon as I put my weight on them. Maybe I need to try it after a few straight days of rain.

[Wheel-Nut]

Wear golf shoes when you mow. Invest some time in this site. http://www.jerrybaker.com/ I've tried some of his tonics and they really do work.

http://www.jerrybaker.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=2

[dando]

Wear golf shoes when you mow. Invest some time in this site. http://www.jerrybaker.com/ I've tried some of his tonics and they really do work.

http://www.jerrybaker.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=2

Jerry Baker is awesome. :thumbup: :thumbup:

BTW, most of us golfer types wear soft spikes these days, yo.

-Kevin

[Andrew Longman]

Wear golf shoes when you mow.

I read Johnny Unitas' biography that came out at Christmas. (good read about football in general in that era) In it it mentioned that the Hall of Fame wanted the pair of high top cleats he wore in his last game. He wouldn't give them up because he like them for mowing his lawn. That is SO in character for him.

[Napoleon]

I can almost write a book on this.

Actually seeding over the winter is what I have heard is best, or real late in the growing season although I have had great success this time of the year.

I always buy topsoil and spread it around, even if fairly thin, so the seed has something to take in. I rake the seed into the dirt and make sure it stays damp until it sprouts. That prepackaged seed/cover/fertilizer mix works good also.

fescue is not self repairing, that is the big downside to it.