Lawn Care on a Larger Scale

[DaRube]

Now that I have a larger lawn, I anticipate I will need a different approach to weeding, fertilizing, etc.

Once again, my basics are:

10 Acres, 7 of them in grass in Northern Virginia
Just got a Kubota B7500HSD w/Mower, FEL, and Rear Blade

What type of regimen do you guys recommend for regular lawn care? I don't think my little scotts push spreader will cut it anymore, so are there tractor drawn spreaders available? Do you use the suburban lime and Weed & Feed approach, or are there more appropriate chemicals available for this size lawn?

Actually, most of it appears to be in pretty good shape, but the front yard, maybe 2 or 3 acres, seems to be pretty weedy, tough scrub. Is there an approach I should take to killing the weeds and reseeding?

Or should I think of it the way my wife does.... "Well, we're living in the country now, so whatever's growing there, that what we should let grow." /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

 

[ejb]

Thats my motto, weeds can make a pretty good lawn as long as you keep them mowed...people who live in the country don't need (imo) picture perfect grass that can only be obtained by application of large quantities of chemicals.

Keep it mowed...keep it natural.

 

[beenthere]

I maintain about 8 acres of lawn, and broadcast fertilizer sparingly - usually once in the spring. For weeds, I spray 2-4 D once in the spring when the broadleaved weeds are growing vigorously, and again in the fall after cooler weather and fall rains come. Have been doing this for years, and the lawn looks great. I do this with a 445 JD w/54" deck. I like a well-kept lawn, and enjoy keeping it that way. Others may like the looks of those yellow flowers in the spring - I don't. I don't feel the three extra trips around the 8 acres (other than mowing) are excessive.

 

[Vermonster]

You mean those yellow flowers aren't supposed to be there?

 

[Molerj]

I mow around 8 acres. I take extra care of the 3 acres around the house. I bought a
sprayer that I pull behind my Garden tractor. I buy weed killer from the local golf course.
About 70 bucks for 3 1/2 gal. Don't know the name off hand. I usually spray in the spring.
I will reapply in the fall if the weeds are bad. This year I don't have to. I only fertilize right
around the house. Usually buy a couple large bags of Scotts fertilizer only. It doesn't take
that long. I can spray in one day & it really gets rid of the weeds. Especially that yellow
one. My house sits on a State Route about 275' off the road on a slight hill. Comments
about the nice looking yard, keeps me working at it.---Ron

 

[bpence]

I mow 5.5 - 6 acres......sometimes a little more and sometimes a little less. The way our house and property is laid out, it is easy to segregate the lawn (nice grass, etc. around the house - about 1.5 acres) from the yard (everything else). I use weed and feed on the lawn around the house and try to keep the broad leaf stuff under control. The rest, I just mow and let what grows keep growing. This probably means more weed and feed (especially the weed part) is needed for the lawn, but so what. I live on a dirt road 7 miles from town and am surrounded, for the most part, by State owned land. Nobody much sees our place but us, some friends, and some relatives. A nice lawn is a wonderful thing, but I like to play golf, too.

Bob Pence

 

[snowman]

I've got the same tractor set up you do.

I have about 3-3.5 acres of lawn to mow out of a little
over 7 acres.

Most of it was formerly field; after two or three mowings,
looks great. Mowed it once every two weeks this year.

I just moved here in January and originally was having the
same thoughts as you - I used to live on a 1/3 acre lot and
always fertilized it.

Bottom line is that you if you mow it on a regular basis, should
come out looking nice. If you have alot of bare spots or such, then you would have to do something with that.

 

[TerryinMD]

DaRube,

Many considerations....

First and foremost, how much are ya willing to spend? I'm a minimalist when it comes to lawn care.

I agree with some of the the posters that you should just mow the existing grass. You will be surprised at what field grass will look like after you mow it at 2.5 to 4 inches.

Do you have a well? If you do, do you want to put down any fertilizers or chemicals that could seep into your wellhead?

My suggestion would be to mow the grass very short this fall. Scalp that puppy!!! Try to gather up all of the mowed grass and dump it into your compost pile or around trees or shrubberies. Buy enough seed to overseed the entire area. Tall Fescue is nice in our area (I'm in Washington Cty MD). Sit back do other necessary fall and winter chores. Come spring, treat it like a lawn, mow it at about 4 inches. Why, you may ask. By mowing your lawn at about 4 inches, you minimize the germination of weed seed and lessen the need to use herbicides. It also helps keep the moisture in the soil.

My 2/100 of a buck.

Terry

 

[TerryinMD]

DaRube,

Many considerations....

First and foremost, how much are ya willing to spend? I'm a minimalist when it comes to lawn care.

I agree with some of the the posters that you should just mow the existing grass. You will be surprised at what field grass will look like after you mow it at 2.5 to 4 inches.

Do you have a well? If you do, do you want to put down any fertilizers or chemicals that could seep into your wellhead?

My suggestion would be to mow the grass very short this fall. Scalp that puppy!!! Try to gather up all of the mowed grass and dump it into your compost pile or around trees or shrubberies. Buy enough seed to overseed the entire area. Tall Fescue is nice in our area (I'm in Washington Cty MD). Sit back do other necessary fall and winter chores. Come spring, treat it like a lawn, mow it at about 4 inches. Why, you may ask. By mowing your lawn at about 4 inches, you minimize the germination of weed seed and lessen the need to use herbicides. It also helps keep the moisture in the soil.

My 2/100 of a buck.

Terry

p.s. you may wish to post questions like this under the Rural Living forum under Related Topics.

 

[DaRube]

Good ideas, guys. I still may take the minimalist approach....

....but since we're here, I still haven't been able to find a tractor drawn spreader, should I need one. Is there such a critter? Do any of you have them? What brands?

Thanks!