Growing Grass?

Question

1- We just bought a house that was vacant for some time and grass in the backyard is pretty much dead/taken over by the weeds. What should we do to get the grass gorwing back?
2- Also what is that spray-on grass stuff that they spray on the side of the road to grow grass?

Answer 1

First of all, This depends on where you live and the time of the year. Ideally, you want to sow grass in the spring after the last frost, or in the fall six weeks prior to the first frost. With your lawn preparation, you need to kill all of your weeds and old grass with "round-up", "kills", Or a "High-Yeild KILLZALL". These can be purchased from most hardware stores, lowes, home depot, etc. Also purchase a soil tester kit (usually these contain a small glass vile and some test strips for around $5) to test the ph balance of your soil. This is important if you want a successful lawn. Do the test before you apply the weedkilling chemicals to your lawn. Depending on the test results, you may need to apply lawn lime to your area in question to obtain a satisfactory ph balance. Lawn lime also helps the new grass absorb fertilizer and nutrients and I use it with every new lawn installation. Apply your lawnlime (if applicable) and fertilizer (10-10-10 maximum, Preferably 6-6-6. Anything with higher numbers will burn your grass shortly after germination) two weeks after your weeds and old grass die. Aerate your lawn (an aerator can be rented from most tool rental stores) AFTER you lime and fertilize your to be lawn. This will push the lime and fertilizer into the terra firma and allow better absorption for your new grass roots. Lastly apply a generous amount of grass seed of a grass that is indiginous to your area. Cover the area of grass seed with wheat straw or hay, whatever is available in your area. This will deter birds and other animals from eating your grass seed, and will help the seed from washing/blowing away during inclimate weather. As soon as you are finished applying all of this to your grounds, water your lawn for about 30 minutes. This will begin the germination process. Water your lawn for 20 minutes every evening. Not during the day or morning. Waterdrops on new grass blades act like a magnifying glass to the sunshine and can overheat and literally burn up your young new lawn. So wait until evening to water. You should see green shoots poking through the straw/hay within 21 days. To summarize: 1) kill your existing lawn 2)wait 2 weeks 3)apply lime, fertilizer 4)aerate 5)apply seed, then hay 6)water 20 min in the evenings 7) enjoy your new lawn. I hope this helps and good luck. Any questions you can email me at [e-mail] Oh, and the "spray on grass stuff" is "hydroseed" which is a mixture of grass seed, and soluble fertilizer, and adhering agents. I don't recommend this for residential applications

Answer 2

First thing to do is get a soil test. Take a few plug of dirt from various areas down to about 4-6 inches. mix it up in a bucket to get an average blend. Call to hardware stores, farm stores or your area cooperative extension office to find someone to send it to a lab for you, and then to help you decipher the results.
If you don't straighten out any pH(acid level) problems first, the money and work for seed, fertilizer, and weed control will be wasted. Take some samples of the weeds with you to your chosen help source and they may be able to identify them and the right treatment. They should also be able to reccomend a reliable grass type for your part of the country and the sun- shade ratio of your yard. What grows well in the sun won't always do well in the shade, what grows in FL probably won't thrive in ND. You will need patience and time unless you have a fortune for a sod company and a landscape firm. Good luck. Not all back yards need a true LAWN. Kids and outdoor pets often prefer a YARD. Sometimes just a little lime, fertilizer, and regular mowing will get it back to that level.

Answer 3

I bought my house in sept 2005, in about the same condition as you.....

I have put down winter and spring weed and feed, and I have planted grass seed everywhere I could, at least three times

My lawn is still yellow/green compared to the deep, dark green of the best lawns in my neighborhood

I take out the weeds by wand, and with the weed killer, its a slow process but i think in a few years, it will be as good as the other lawns....

By the way....I pick up the grass clippings in my front yard, and i leave the clippings on the grass on the strips of grass between the sidewalkd and the street.....guess wehre the grass looks the best?????? YEP, on those little strips.....it is a deep dark green there.

Answer 4

Like each thing else those days, there is not any such concern as a magic pill that might assist you gain greater effective grass. yet there are some problem-unfastened suggestion that would help you as you pass the long thank you to construction lush, healthful grass your cat will love. that's actual that your grass desires water to strengthen, yet comprehend that grass have shallow roots that don't strengthen in too deep into the soil. in certainty, maximum grasses basically require a million – a million.5 inches of water a week, that's adequate to moisten the soil to 4 – 6 inches below the exterior for clay soils and eight – 10 inches for sandy soils. subsequently, over watering your grass might reason greater injury than a loss of water.

Answer 5

back yards are worse for growing grass because that is where the contracts dump the ground from your basement spray the weeds you have now , if you have a farmer in the area ,cow manure or chicken ,will make a difference . make sure it is dry or older not fresh for it will burn . mix in if you cannot find that buy peat and mix in , it will lighten soil and help hold moisture in the dry years , this will last for a year or two than you can always more peat on top of grass Ron

Answer 6

1. Rent an overseeder from your local Home Depot and do it that way. You could also rent an aerator first and aerate.
2. A mixture of seed and fertilizer.