Help me to setup my backyard?

Question

I recently bought a house and so far I lived in apartment and no idea about the grass and trees. Current backyard has grass on the center and desert like small stones on the sides and few trees here and there. Now the grasses are grown on some sides but it is totally empty on the center and other sides. Now I want to know what should I need to do to get the grass growing in the center and what are all the must need equipments for my backyard and what type of fertilizers or maintenance I need to do for the grass and trees. I can’t afford to hire an expert now because I put lot of money already in this house. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

clean up the yard! remove stones,rake up rocks,go to home depot etc.,rent roto-tiller.loosen top 2inches.do something around trees.landscape blocks? whatever!.now whats the soil look like? you'll need some knowledeable advice. i would spread at least an inch of clean topsoil. laying sod is instant lawn,but pricey, hydroseeding is second best, could be not in the budget. lastly is grass seed which ain't cheap,takes longer.i've done a 240sq.ft. yard with seed before.if you get a handheld broadcast spreader and apply very dense then cover with a thin layer of topsoil you might keep most of the seed out of bird&squirrels stomachs.this also promotes faster sprouting.usually sprouts within a week.keep moist constantly. good luck!

Answer 2

With my new home I was also strapped for cash and did not opt for the instant lawns the retailor offered. I first looked for grass seed that was right for my type of lawn and the local temperatures. I recommend putting a weedkiller down beforehand to kill the weeds that will grow or are already there. Then put down grass seed mixed in with soil. I put a little more than was told to on the packaging. I used a rake to help mix and flatten/shape the ground and seeds together. The contractors for the home pretty much removed all the top soil when installing my septic system. I had to purchase topsoil by the truckload. I used a shovel and wheelborrow to mix the soil and seeds. It was cheaper than paying a contracted landscaper. Remove all rocks, and cut down tree and brush that you find unappealing. Its proubly a good idea to go ahead and add the landscaping plants and accesories at this time. Call your refuse company about seeing if they will pick up the tree cuttings and what legnths they have to be. Use free natural decorations if you can. I used loose rocks that I had picked up from the yard to decorate around a water drainage pipe by the side of the road. Make sure to keep your newly seeded grass areas moist and try not to cut or disturbe the areas. I could have used a tiller to break up and mix the soil, but then its more money and I needed the exercise. It took a few months but my lawn is growing nicely, and the bermuda grass grows outward filling in vacant spots. From my understanding you should use a neutral fertilixer before the summer and also before the winter. I dont understand all the chemistry stuff, but my rule is some fertilizer is better than none. Make sure to water the grass fairly deep so the roots grow deeper. this helps in the hot summer. Also mowing the lawn will help trampel some weeds as they seem to not tolerate the abuse. Good luck.

Answer 3

There are a lot of factors that go into answering your question, most of which you don't give. Climate you live in, size of yard, urban or rural. These are all factors that enter into your final decisions.

As far as planting grass, this is not the best time to do it without using a lot of water wherever you live. We are getting into the hot summer months and grass makes it's best growth in cooler temperatures. It would be better for you to wait and do the job properly. I would just start cleaning up and looking for ideas by seeing what your neighbors are growing and visiting your local garden centers for advice. In September you can seed the bare areas and start a weeding and fertilizer program. You can also plan for planting flower beds or vegetables next spring.

Check out our website for more gardening ideas at-
http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/

Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Answer 4

Draw up a rough plan of what you want to see when you look out the window and do a little bit at a time keeping your final product in mind. It will keep you entertained year after year because gardening is never done! Research what types of plants and trees are hardy for your climate zone and balance out the colors and textures of plants as well as blooming times to keep it interesting throughout the year. Rocks and stones are good to give your yard variety! It's all about placement- and they are expensive, so keep 'em!

Answer 5

your grass needs water when its hot and dry.about an hour twice a week.you will want to use a lawn sprinkler.if the grass is dead you should probably seed it then water it twice a day for a couple of weeks until you see the grass come up.you will want to use a lawn sprinkler.if you notice patch spots in your lawn that will most likely be pescy bugs which you will need a pro to take care of .i wouldnt worry about fertilizers unless you like cutting your grass often.for the most part trees grow themselves.

Answer 6

Well i just want to add this note. Find out what kind of grass is already there. If you have St. Augustine grass,then be careful which fertilizer you do use. St. Augustine grass is sensitive, very sensitive. If you use just any fertilizer, you may end up with a bare yard. Just be cautious.

Answer 7

Basic materials needed are a rake, a shovel, a sprayer to kill weeds, a pair of long sharp clippers, and a good set of gloves. Remove all weekds, all stupid rocks, all rocls of any kind. Once you do that you have a clear picture of what you are working with. Talk to neighbors, get free cuttings, learn along the way. Enjoy. Good luck and congrats on being a homeowner.