Update on massive lawn project

[KeithInSpace]

Last fall, I bored everyone to tears with my worrying about the 300# of seed that I spread not growing fast enough. On the first day. I checked it every hour. Started sprouting after a week and came in nicely around Halloween.

For those who weren't here, I went through a major lawn rehab of about an acre. This included 60 CY of screened topsoil, 300# of seed 150% of which was very expensive shade mix), 300# of starter fertilizer, my BX2230, FEL, and Box Blade. When I was done, there wasn't a single blade of grass standing on my property. Some low areas I raised over 18 inches.

When I started, there was sickly sod on the "hill" around the house. This amounted to thin sod sitting on heavy red clay that didn't hold ANY water. The front yard under the trees was very patchy to non-existant...mostly dirt. I've attached a couple pictures of what that looked like in March 2006. The front slope near the road was even worse...all clumpy crabgrass on red clay...just awful looking.

Anyway, the pictures speak for themselves. The 'alley' on the left side of the yard (basically the whole are to the left of the front door off the hill) was entirely 'reclaimed' from the woods. I'm having a minor weed issue since I didn't put a pre-emergent down (just fertilizer to maximize density), but hopefully using Scott's Weed Control now and in the fall will get that under control.

It's an ongoing project, but a small example of what a few days work with a BX can accomplish!!!

Now if I can just get around to mulching...

 

[hazmat]

Looks great.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the shady sections may not look so good come fall as the trees leaf out. You may have to keep renewing the seed every couple years. Lawn likes sun (even the shade mixes) I forget the number but it needs some minimum hours of sunlight (4 hours?)

 

[asylum575]

Looks good Keith. I'm kinda doing the same thing. My house was 40 years old and the structure was a mess and the grounds were overgrown. I've dropped about 30 trees so far, alot of small ones. and still going. Planning on getting about an acre of lawn. It was very overwhelming at first. Like any project, I kept looking at it and putting it off. Since I'm close to getting the house done( all I have left is the back side siding and windows). I decided o start messing in the back. I've used my old craftsman lawn tractor with bagger to go out back and pick up the old leaves. So far, about 40 large recyleable lawn bags. I've been using the BX to spread some fill and remove stumps. I'll probably order about 20 yards of topsoil. What I did notice was, under the leaves was some very rich soil. Probably compost, so I'm looking for a landscape rake and boxblade to start scrapping and leveling.

Your property looks good. Did you do any irrigation? Lawns need sun and water.

 

[KeithInSpace]

Mr. Hazmat: I tend to scar my lawn up through use, other projects, dog pee, etc. and plan on overseeding each fall. I may put it off this year depending on what the weeds are doing, but in my other houses a well placed fall aeration, seeding, and fertilization has done absolute wonders both through the winter and with spring density. I could probably get by with 100# on my land on an overseed...50# shade and 50# regular. About $150.

Mr. Asylum575: The main thrust behind the project was to suit the installation of a 12 zone sprinkler system. I didn't want to install it then need to raise my sprinkler heads to suit my new elevations. So I nuked the yard, placed all the soil, graded everything out just perfect, then had the sprinkler guys come in and make a mess. I graded their work out again, seeded, fertilized, and watered the heck out of it...2 and 3 times a day for 5 or 6 weeks last fall.

Also, Mr. Asylum, my biggest mistake was not getting a Landscape Rake. It would have been much easier to prepare the yard with that instead of doing it by hand. $300 well spent, in my experience.

At this point, I haven't run the sprinkler except one time to "soak in" my first fertilizer application to minimize runoff. I've mowed my lawn 5 times now and none of my neighbors have touched theirs. I'm getting AMAZING cuttings...very dense and green...every week. Each of the 3 collector bags probably weigh a solid 40# when I dump them. And I used to only make 2 trips to the compost pile per cut...I'm taking 3 or 4 trips now, depending on if I let it grow 6 or 8 days before cutting.

It seems I've created a little work for myself!

 

[Tom_H]

Sweet!!

 

[Nasty135]

Shazzam!! Beautiful.... Turned out very nice...

 

[Chuckanut]

It seems I've created a little work for myself!

YES, YOU HAVE!! But it justifies having a tractor!!

 

[asylum575]

Thanks for the input Keith. It's great to discuss these projects and get ideas. You're prepping the earth, then setting up the sprinkers is a great idea. What better way to test the ability of your new irrigation systems then to seed and turn it on. I think I will do the same thing.
Landscape rake and boxblade are on my father's day list. My wife is out of work till September caring for our newborn, so funds are a little tight. So far the best price I've found is $400 each at TSC. I was hoping for a 10-15% coupon but no luck. If anyone knows of better pricing, let me know. I may have to just get the rake for now.

Keith, Nice work.

 

[KeithInSpace]

Not sure what types of projects you have going on, but generally speaking, I find the box blade more "necessary" than a landscape rake.

Put another way, a landscape rake would make the last hour or two of my projects easier, but I could not DO the project in the first place without a box blade. A box blade should be a required purchase with any small tractor...should come from the factory with one mounted. Just my thoughts, like I said...dunno what projects you have on the docket.

Going forward, my biggest need for a landscape rake is to clean up fall/spring litter and leaves that have compacted, and to spread compost and topsoil on the existing lawn without destroying the turf.

I purchased my 4' box blade for $300. It isn't the nicest one on the planet, but it has done the job. My dealership has a Woods model (or Bush Hog...don't recall) that has 4 scarifiers (mine has 3) and matches the OH SO PRETTY orange paint on my tractor. Wish I could justify it, but mine just won't break!

Not sure what other dealerships you could look at, but a $400 box blade or landscape rake sounds a little expensive.

 

[StrangeRanger]

Wow, your work looks awesome!! Nice job!

I'm about to start a similar project. But I don't have trees and moss to fight, I've got rocks, rocks and then some more rocks. Up here in Vermont rocks seem to go at it faster than bunnies.

If you don't mind sharing, I'd be curious to know what 60 CY of screened topsoil goes for down there? I've been considering it, but I'm doing a larger area and budget funds are tight.

Thanks,