My Yard is Pathetic

[snpower]

Looking for advice/ideas here. I live in central virginia; in my neighborhood the soil isn't great and pretty rocky. On top of that, lots of trees although many are on the border of the yard.

Basically, the front yard seems about shot. It wasn't great when I moved in 5 years ago and it's worse now despite the fact that for two years I paid for a lawn service to aerate, fertilize, etc. I've hit it with lime every spring myself.

This fall, I was planning on a core aeration, followed by a heavy overseed of a fescue and Kentucky 31 mix. My concern is that I've never done this before and I don't know if new grass will grow with all of the clover (see picture) in the yard. Do I need to kill the clover off first? Would it be best to maybe add a layer of compost on top once the overseeding is done? What else can I possibly do, short of paying $$$...

 

[hosspuller]

you haven't mentioned a soil test. Without a soil test you're just throwing money on the ground. The soil test will tell you what the ground is lacking to support the grass.

2,4 D is deadly to clover but the clover adds N2 to the ground.

 

[om21braz]

you haven't mentioned a soil test. Without a soil test you're just throwing money on the ground. The soil test will tell you what the ground is lacking to support the grass.

+1 That is your best first step to a better yard.

 

[snpower]

Ph 7
nitro low
Phosphorous low
Potassium medium/high

Used a test kit from Lowe's; thanks.

 

[Western]

You need to get a soil sample done by your local or state Agriculture dept, usually less than $20. On the paper work they'll ask you what you want to plant, test your soil and make recommendations for fertilizer requirements.

There are other places to get a sample tested too. The instructions are pretty clear and you need o follow them, so you get good results. I usually dig up several areas with a post hole digger, take out the grass, dirt anything that isn't dirt, then mix it all in a clean 5 gal bucket and take your sample from that.

Check this site out.
http://www.pecva.org/anx/index.cfm/...-in-Support-of-Nutrient-Management-Plan-WP-4D

 

[Fixemall]

I would run a dethatcher set low to rip it up, followed by a core aerator or slit seeder, next over seed and apply seed starter and water. Top dress and Refertilize in spring and you should be good. I have grown lawns in some poor conditions using the above method.

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Looking for advice/ideas here. I live in central virginia

snpower,

I live just North of Ladysmith (between Fredburg and Richmond). Howdy Neighbor.

My yard is field grass and it has never been watered or pampered. I did use some scotts turnbuilder with weed control to knock down the dandelions (marginally effective).

Shockingly, this yard is FAR SUPERIOR to the lawn at my big house in the city I just got tenants for. My fancy city house yard has had all the treatments and it still dies out to nothing but weeds every summer.

My advice is to plant native field grasses (I know I sould smart alecky, but I'm just looking at my results).

I also own 2 acres of grass near Lake Anna that I have rented out, and the field grass there has never died out and needs mowing all summer and grows well into November.

Just my 2 cents.

Be well, Happy Tractoring.
David

 

[Egon]

I would run a dethatcher set low to rip it up, followed by a core aerator or slit seeder, next over seed and apply seed starter and water. Top dress and Refertilize in spring and you should be good. I have grown lawns in some poor conditions using the above method.

That sounds like a plan.:thumbsup::thumbsup:


Note: If there are trees bordering the lawn depending on their species it may make it difficult to get the lawn you wish.

 

[tmajor]

snpower,
My advice is to plant native field grasses

I sometimes feel the same.
When I was a kid, if wanted to reseed, we went to the barn floor and gathered a bucket of seeds from the hay and threw them on the ground. That lawn is still decent.

My front lawn, which I totally re-did a few years ago, is now covered in ground ivy (creeping charlie), crab grass, etc. It's had soil tests, fertilizer, lime, pre-emergents, etc..

My daughter's lawn has been another ongoing project, with few results. In her case, I believe the top soil, which was brought in, was a lot of clay, too thin and bunches of rock underneath. Even though her lawn has had treatments, more seed, etc., I'd guess 1/2 of it is now, crab grass.

Hay seed is cheap! Lawn seed isn't.

 

[MMagis]

Are you sure that’s clover? It doesn’t look like any clover I’m familiar with. To get decent grass, whatever it is has to go. It looks like it’s taking over. 2,4D should take care of it. I’d do that while waiting for the soil test results.

 

[beppington]

In my current ~1/2-acre yard, when I first moved in & over the next year or so I'd plant St. Augustine grass plugs here & there around the yard, then just mow it, weeds, plugs & all. Weeds don't seem to like to be mowed, whereas grass seems to be stimulated by it. Over the next few years the St. Augustine took over & now that's all I have. I'm in FL, so I don't know for sure that it would work the same where you are.

 

[tmajor]

Are you sure thatç—´ clover?

When I looked at it, I couldn't identify it with clover, either. It almost looks like it could be "Crown Vetch". Which may be, why it's taking over!

 

[MMagis]

When I looked at it, I couldn't identify it with clover, either. It almost looks like it could be "Crown Vetch". Which may be, why it's taking over!

I think you're right, it's some sort of vetch. Though, I'm not familiar enough with them to identify which one. My suggestion to spray with 2,4D may not be a good one, as I understand crown vetch can be extremely difficult to get rid of. One way or another, it needs to go if the lawn is to get better.

 

[snpower]

2,4d is available... At Lowes or Southern States?

Where can I buy native field grasses?

I have lots of oak trees and rocks. The back yard is in much better shape.

 

[Egon]

Where can I buy native field grasses?/QUOTE]

Do a Google search. Lots of hits.

 

[MMagis]

2,4d is available... At Lowes or Southern States?

Where can I buy native field grasses?

I have lots of oak trees and rocks. The back yard is in much better shape.

Yes, you can even get it at Walmart sometimes. However, I would suggest going to Southern States and asking them what they suggest. There are a couple different types of 2,4D and other broadleaf herbicides that may work better on vetch. They should be able to give you the best help, as compared to the box stores.
They can also provide you with native grass seed.

 

[Brake Weight]

I cleared about an acre of woods on the edge of a field for a homesite. Then had a dozer come in and smooth it out. This didn't leave much topsoil and some spots were pure Mississippi red clay. I then moved a house trailer in and planted several pounds of Centipede seed. It started to grow quite well. This was maybe 4-5 years ago. 2 years ago everything was in order to build a permanent home. The contractor did the dirt work with the dirt on site. He moved some topsoil aside and used the red clay for the foundation. Smoothed out what he could with the topsoil, but I didn't cover as much as before (wrong moon I guess). Anyway, the centipede has just about covered it all up again. But the next spring after the new build I had centipede springing up from pure red clay. I dug up a clump and it was literally 1' deep. It must've gotten buried and decided it didn't want to die. I'll put a layer of grass clippings on the bare spots after I mow and this appears to help.

I'm a firm believer in centipede grass now. Seed is pricey, but it'll grow on a concrete pad if you keep it watered. I put some ryegrass out one winter to help slow erosion, but didn't like mowing in a down jacket so haven't done that again.

For reference, this is south Mississippi. It gets to around 90-100 degrees for the better part of the summer. But we'll get afternoon showers most of the time when the temperatures get this high. My place is on the east side of some heavy woods and bakes in the sun until about 5 pm.

 

[snpower]

Yes, you can even get it at Walmart sometimes. However, I would suggest going to Southern States and asking them what they suggest. There are a couple different types of 2,4D and other broadleaf herbicides that may work better on vetch. They should be able to give you the best help, as compared to the box stores.
They can also provide you with native grass seed.

SS wasn't much help. The shelf products they carry contain 2,4d but don't list vetch as something they work on??

 

[MMagis]

Our Southern Sates here is our local feed/seed store, so they’re usually pretty knowledgeable. I thought they’d be that way everywhere, but maybe not. I’m not sure how effective 2,4D is on vetch, I’ve never had any to get rid of. Do you have a local feed/seed store?