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Any landscapers? Lawn help please.

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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
Looking to get my front lawn on point this summer. It's got patches of grass here and there but I want a nice uniform lawn. Anyone have any experience with this? It's one aspect of landscaping I'm very green at (ha pun intended). Looking for some tips or suggestions as well as a rough idea of materials I will need. Help is greatly appreciated and enjoy your summer ns. Thanks.
Jun 7 2012 3:53PM
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WorthDaMoney
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 741
heard from a bitch down the street that she seeds 3 times a year and waters regularly around sunset. seems to work for her
Jun 7 2012 3:55PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
Seeding is what I was curious about. Do you have to use a rotatiller or something?
Jun 7 2012 4:00PM
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roddy116
Posts: 10627 - Karma: 7,423
no you just put the seed down and water regularily, but if you have the money, i would just get a new lawn with those rolls of grass.
Jun 7 2012 4:03PM
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sniche
Posts: 493 - Karma: 37
Did that shit all summer last year. Unfortunatly its not something you can permanently fix in a short amount of time. Yes there's all the miracle grow grass food shit thats loaded with chemicals but you'll have the same problem next year.

I don't know if grass is different around the country but I did lawn maintenance in the Midwest.

The first thing you want to do is rent lawn Aerating equipment and Aerate your lawn (It helps with strong new grass growth).

Then Next year use Scotts Turf builder for new seed and water the shit out of your lawn. It should be looking good, but its a long process waiting for that shit to grow in with strong roots.



OR


Rip up your whole lawn and lay fresh sod, then all you have to do is water it.....
Jun 7 2012 4:05PM
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sniche
Posts: 493 - Karma: 37
aerator

Click for larger image

scotts turf builder
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water
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Jun 7 2012 4:07PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,364
it sorta depends on your square footage and time/money you can invest.

go to home depot and rent a tiller. try and hoe up what grasses and weeds you can before you till. till it. mix in some top soil and sod fertilizer. then lay sod down, they sell it at home depot.

this is hands down going to look better than anything else you can do. not to mention laying sod is a pretty good work out. i added ~750sq feet to my yard last year after i took out a hedge and it looks amazing.

clean up any adjacent planting areas. put in the rhizome blockers or if you have a species over taking the area already you will need to cut em down to nothing then put yard fabric down. cut holes in the fabric and plant bulbs for the future, tulips are my favorite. make it look clean and simple. fresh bark does wonders

if your feeling like a boss wire in some lights, its really pretty easy and its such a nice touch.
Jun 7 2012 4:08PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
I'm in New England but that part of lawn does get plenty of sun luckily. In terms of aerating equipment what does that consist of? I'd like to get it to grow in as opposed to sod if possible, I mean I have the time and it's my house so I don't mind putting in the effort. Thanks for the help.
Jun 7 2012 4:10PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,364
water for long periods at night. if you soak the grass really well the water will percolate deeper increasing the depth of the roots, and your grass will be stronger/more drought resistant.

some people say dont water at night cause shrooms will grow but ive never had that problem in the PNW
Jun 7 2012 4:12PM
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Simmo
Posts: 512 - Karma: 28

Sod it man. Seed will probably not work, definitely take a long time and probably wont look great even by the end of summer.

Jun 7 2012 4:13PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,231
you're probably starting too late if anything. Get on it this weekend!
Jun 7 2012 4:13PM
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Barefootin_Fiend
Posts: 7618 - Karma: 4,727
till, seed, water, water, water, water. that's pretty much all there is to it.
Jun 7 2012 4:14PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,364
sod bro....instant lawn you can enjoy right away and it will be perfectly uniform.


Jun 7 2012 4:15PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
On that shit. Before and after pics coming ns. Surprisingly helpful thread is surprisingly helpful. I'm working with about 30' x 75' not a huge section of lawn but the most visible and everything. Gonna grab a tiller tomorrow.
Jun 7 2012 4:18PM
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sniche
Posts: 493 - Karma: 37
Well alot of time the top four inches of dirt can get really hard and compact and makes it hard for the soil to take in nutrients and absorb water. That may be why your lawn looks patchy/unhealthy, So when you aerate it your baisically loosening up the soil and putting little holes in it. Haha the lawn looks like there's goose poop everywhere when your done.

I would just look up how to videos on youtube to see how to use an aerator. They are usually available at rental stores.
Jun 7 2012 4:18PM
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sniche
Posts: 493 - Karma: 37
Your lawn won't look good until late next year if you go through the aerating/seeding process
Jun 7 2012 4:21PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
^ will do thanks. I always like to start on ns though. More fun/personal. As for sod, I would like to but I don't mind if this is a couple year process. It's my first house I feel like growing it would be gratifying, hopefully it comes out okay or I will just invest in sod.
Jun 7 2012 4:21PM
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sniche
Posts: 493 - Karma: 37
I never had to seed my lawn but this is the year after I aerated it.
 Note: I havent mowed in almost 2 weeks.
Jun 7 2012 4:27PM
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sniche
Posts: 493 - Karma: 37
Click for larger image
Jun 7 2012 4:28PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,364
is it bad that the first thing i wanna do is hit golf balls in your yard? looks clean and uniform. how big is your lot? from that shot it looks more like a field than a yard
Jun 7 2012 4:33PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
Exactly what I want. It's my front yard which is smaller than this but looks great man.
Jun 7 2012 4:35PM
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Montville57
Posts: 1364 - Karma: 18
What I do is put some good fertilizer (don't get the cheap shit because it really doesn't work well at all) water it every other day depending on of it it's in the you might want to water everyday. If that doesn't work get some hay and spread a thin layer on that and water a couple times.
Jun 7 2012 4:36PM
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Montville57
Posts: 1364 - Karma: 18
In the sun* fucking mobile
Jun 7 2012 4:38PM
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1337
Posts: 31054 - Karma: 29,231
if you're going the seeding way tear everything up before. loosen up the soil, get rid of the weeds and roots, start fresh. Get seed, and lots of it. Seed a couple times (now, maybe in a couple of months at the end of summer, next year, etc), but make sure you get enough for that process because you don't want your seed to go out of stock, and have to mix strains/variations/shades, your lawn might turn out patchy if that's the case (we have massive patches in my front yard from mixing different seed strains, and its looks awful. No bueno!)
Jun 7 2012 4:45PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
Good advice 1337. Thanks.
Jun 7 2012 4:48PM
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e_strapp
Posts: 1116 - Karma: 212
This is my fifth summer landscaping, it's really simple. I haven't read the thread, but, alls you gotta do Is get some top soil, grass seed, straw and/or penn mulch. (straw works best). Spread the topsoil on on the bare patches, spread the seed, put the straw on top, and water it enough so when the wind blows it doesn't come up and BOOM. Looks awesome.
Jun 7 2012 5:00PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,846
Don't cut your lawn too short and dont mulch. Water frequently and use some topsoil if it looks like you need it. and PICK YOUR WEEDS, it's the most effective way to get rid of them. - The Weed Man
Jun 7 2012 5:10PM
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Dwight_Schrute
Posts: 579 - Karma: 18
Rake soil hard to loosen it up, lay the seed evenly, and then go over it lightly with a leaf rake to cover it up with just a liiiiitle bit of soil. And always water in the morning and let it dry through the day, if water sits on the roots all night it can cause rot.
Jun 7 2012 5:45PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
If it were beets I was planting I would be inclined to agree. Lol kidding.
Jun 7 2012 5:52PM
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TallerThanThou
Posts: 615 - Karma: 13
Those are all good ideas.

The easiest way to aerate the lawn is to get a big boner and then just try to have sex with the ground.
Jun 7 2012 6:02PM
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Bread_Fish
Posts: 760 - Karma: 71
Just a heads up sod/turf grows very fast right after you put it down. You gotta mow like twice a week and not in the direction the sod is going. Dont know how expensive because didnt pay for it.
Jun 7 2012 6:22PM
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Spinoza
Posts: 12763 - Karma: 3,846
if i were into having lots of sigs,   i might use this one
Jun 7 2012 6:32PM
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.travis.
Posts: 1737 - Karma: 46
I've been landscaping for like 4 years. This is my suggestion, it's always worked for me.

Cheapest, easiest way is to take a rock rake and sort of till up the area that wont grow. If necessary, dig out a bit and add new loam to area. seed it. get good seed though. if the seed says, "contractors mix", steer away. that is the cheap shit and grows shit grass. get sun and shade mix. throw some straw over it, make sure it's straw and not hay. it's a bit more expensive but hay can also produce shit grass. water it a few times a day if you can but at least in the morning. don't mow it for a while. the grass will come up and the straw will slowly go away. if anything, weed wack the tall shit, but don't cut it all the way down like your lawn until it looks nice and full. Once it's looking full mow just like you mow the lawn. any excess straw can just be mowed up too.

Or you could get it hydroseeded. It's fucking expensive but grows like crazy. you have to water the shit out of it though.

Jun 7 2012 6:51PM
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Toaster-Tony
Posts: 3531 - Karma: 5,850
Worked at a golf course for 4 years on the grounds crew. It's all in the soil. If you have cheap dirt under the lawn it makes things 10x harder and almost impossible to grow a uniform lawn. If it's just spotty, I recommend just going to the hardware store or whatever and asking them what is the best soil for you situation.

If your whole lawn is spotty, then the landscapers that built your house probably did a piss poor job laying a foundation for sodding. It's not even really worth fixing it if this is the case, unless you want to spend the money.
Jun 7 2012 7:27PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
honestly never had such a productive thread. I have so much fucking work to do this weekend now. Thanks a lot ass holes..
Jun 7 2012 7:30PM
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El_Barto.
Posts: 11661 - Karma: 24,364
have you considered garden gnomes?
Jun 7 2012 7:33PM
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WorthDaMoney
Posts: 1140 - Karma: 741
quoting for emphasis
Jun 7 2012 8:04PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
I hadn't...
Jun 7 2012 8:19PM
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Lt-Aldo-Raine
Posts: 2309 - Karma: 120
I've been in the lawn care business my whole life, got a little company going and all that jazz. Good replies so far but you should take a picture of the lawn so we can see what we're really dealing with here.
Jun 7 2012 8:41PM
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bdarb207
Posts: 3057 - Karma: 438
Will tomorrow when it's light out. Good looks everybody karma wave later when I'm on my pc.
Jun 7 2012 9:05PM
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