How do seed a good lawn in spring in NC? I face multiple problems!?

Question

OK, I know the best time to plant is in the Fall, but I face a multitude of problems.

1) I live in NC and we are in the midst of a horrible drought.
2) My lawn is overrun with crabgrass
3) Both my neighbors do not keep up with their lawns and are where I got crabgrass in the first place.

Number one is why I could not plant a lawn this fall, two and three are why I am asking you all this question. How do I kill the crabgrass and once I plant my grass seed, and hopefully make it to where it is nice and lush - how do I fend off my neighbors' crabgrass?

A detailed list of what I need, and what I need to do would be great!

Answer 1

You need some high powered weed killer that kills everything. if you dont have a fence then you are sol. so if not then build one first and then lay down some guards and spray their grass along the guards. i would suggest starting all new. rip up the lawn and reseed. good luck.

Answer 2

Okay I may not have the full answer but....

You could use a post emegence in the spring. Usually you can buy a granular in large bags you can spread with a spreader.

Keep in mind you cannot plant any grass seed with six to eight weeks of putting down any preemergent. It doesnt know the difference between a weed seed and a grass seed.

I live in Nc too and the grasses that do best here are bermuda, and zoysia. These are grasses you put out in the early summer. They withstand more heat and humitity and drought than most grasses. The are quite expensive though.
Of course if drought is as bad as last year you would probably have to water a lot until it got established.

The neighbors...hmmmm....always a hard question.
You could dig a little valley (like a small ditch) around your property and keep it cleaned out with a hoe (lots of work) or very inconspicuosly spray a small stream of roundup about once a month. Roundup is never a pretty answer but....

Answer 3

you'll need to hire a spraying company for a "pre emergent crabgrass spray" that is, it kills crabgrass seeds just as they're germinating. Call around now to find out the best time for your area.

After that, I would suggest you dethatch your lawn - you'll need something called a 'verticutter'. You may be able to rent this, or again hire a lnadscaping company with a good lawn renovation track record.

After that, topdress with a sandy soil mix. To do this, spread a 1/4 to 3/8 inch layer of soil all over your lawn, then work it in with the backside of a fan rake.

After that, seed with a perennial rye grass (where is NC? - if it's a warm area, you'll need a different grass). Roll the lawn lightly to establich good seed-soil contact. After that, keep it watered!

As for your neighbours, see if the spraying company will offer a discount for all your places. Maybe you can entice them with that.

Answer 4

hold off on everything, neighbor!.... until early spring, when the pre-emergent for crabgrass goes down..... in fact.... get in touch with your nearby COunty Extension Office.... they'll have all the info you need to get a good lawn going... from soil tests, to when and how and what seed...... the service is free and the Master Gardeners have info that they love to share!!.... make use of them!!... go to the office and pick up all their leaftlets so you have the info handy...

we're all hoping for relief from the drought... I'm near Charlotte and it's pretty ugly..... nothing like GA yet, but close.... luck to you......and RAIN..........

Answer 5

You have got to get it germinated in the fall, so do it now.
You will get enough rain for it to come up ,being it is cold
the ground will not dry out so fast, with what rain you will get.
After it gets up and has some time to mature, this spring,
after you mow it about the second time put a crab grass
preventer on it.