Seeding a new yard

[GCLnIndiana]

I have about 2 acres of tilled dirt I would like to grow grass on. Any suggestions on type of seed for flat Indiana soil (clay)? Also, any suggestions on how to seed that much area? Broadcast? Seed drill? Thanks for any help. Im a novice.

 

[1523playtoy]

I have 3 acres that I seeded. The first 1+ around the house I went and rented a 6ft seed drill. The last 2 or so I just used a broadcast spreader in two directions and than pulled a de-thatcher across it and rolled.

The last two acres filled in the best. The time I spent picking up the drill and returning it plus the rental cost was a waste. I had tilled the whole area up before seeding. As for seed I went for a mix of blue grass and fescue.

 

[theboman]

I believe we used Kentucky 31, it's very popular for new yards and yards in general in northeast Kentucky.

It's been down a week 10 days and it's a coming up in places. We tossed 3 bales of straw in places (can't afford a lot straw at this time) and where's there is straw there's a lot of grass, where there is no straw there is spotty grass starting. We've just now got rain this week. It showered right after I sewed the grass with a broadcast spreader going in 2 directions and then ran a drag across the top. It's been raining off and on the past couple of days and grass has really been coming up. Looking forward to some more rain over the weekend!

 

[thatguy]

Our contractor put in Kentucky 31 and we have a beautiful yard.. The dry, hot summers late july/August will make it sound like rice crispies when you talk in it, if you dont water it (which being on a well, and the yard being close to an acre i dont).. But come fall or late summer rains it recovers nicely

I have been filling in bare spots with K31 and as long as you get rain it will come on in pretty much anyplace.. I aerate and overseed in the fall and/or spring and follow the Scotts fertilizer plan (upt to 4x/yr) and the grass comes in nice and green..

If you go to Lowes/Home depot/Walmart there are a bunch of other 'turf grasses/fescue mixes' that I bet would work as good as K31 as well..

Brian

Brian

 

[OlderToday]

I'm in Columbus and I've been switching my yard over to Scott's "Heat Tolerant Blue", which is 90% turf type tall fescues blended with 10% "Thermal Blue" kentucky bluegrass. House was built in 1962 and yard has many "patches" in it and is well past due for a total restoration with a newer cultivar. I was looking to go to a just turf type tall fescues, but I liked the idea of a blend with a bluegrass. First section went in last fall and looks pretty good now. We'll see how it does this summer.

 

[Duffster]

I have about 2 acres of tilled dirt I would like to grow grass on. Any suggestions on type of seed for flat Indiana soil (clay)? Also, any suggestions on how to seed that much area? Broadcast? Seed drill? Thanks for any help. Im a novice.

I can't reccomend a seed but I would use a Brillion type seeder to plant it

One like this

 

[theboman]

I believe we used Kentucky 31, it's very popular for new yards and yards in general in northeast Kentucky.

It's been down a week 10 days and it's a coming up in places. We tossed 3 bales of straw in places (can't afford a lot straw at this time) and where's there is straw there's a lot of grass, where there is no straw there is spotty grass starting. We've just now got rain this week. It showered right after I sewed the grass with a broadcast spreader going in 2 directions and then ran a drag across the top. It's been raining off and on the past couple of days and grass has really been coming up. Looking forward to some more rain over the weekend!

Oh we got grass a growing!!! I love the rain!

 

[aggiehortguy91]

When I worked up in Lafayette, IN, we usually seeded a mix of turf type tall fescues, red fescue, and blue grasses unless we needed something special. It gave us a very nice lawn but I don't remember the supplier or the varieties. We always broadcast with a hand held spreader (even very large areas) and then pulled a harrow over the area to incorporate or used a 4' aluminum rake by hand. A piece of chain link fence works well , also. KY 31 is a very tough grass, but is a little course for a lawn in my opinion. Makes a great pasture though and is used quite a bit for lawns as well (just not my favorite).

 

[charlz]

Since it has been tilled you will want to roll it or otherwise firm it up and make sure its level. I've had good luck with broadcasting fertilizer and seed then drag it to cover and keep it wet.

 

[GCLnIndiana]

Thanks. I'll post letting the results be known.