neglected yard overhaul

JohnnyD · Apr 11, 2003

I bought a house which had a significant shade canapy and was not taken care of by the previous owner for many years. I have cut many of the trees down and now the yard gets sunshine on it. There is a lot of weed and a lot of moss. I have a B-21 . Should I (a) pay some one to come in with a dozer to scrap the top layer and level it a bit? (b) use the FEL on my tractor? (c) drag a york rake behind the B-21 and lossen the top layer that way? If I opt for option (a), will I have to york rake any way?

Thanks, John

markie61 · Apr 11, 2003

I had a similar issue to you:
1st, I aerated it (surprising how much this levelled it.
2nd, spread topsoil (1/2") by with FEL, reversed scraper blade, and by hand. (I wish I had a york rake....)
3rd, overseeded it
Still need to lime it.
I'll have to let you know in a month how it turns out /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Mark

r0GuE · Apr 11, 2003

First, core areate the heck out of it, that will tear it up plenty. I rented one from Saturday to Monday for $55 and it took 2 hours to do 3/4 acre. This is probably a critical step in the rehab, so you may want to go over it twice. Really tear it up good.
Then
Moss = Acid.
Put down a VERY heavy coat of lime. I like the pelletized stuff. Ask the guy at the store how much to use and consider that a conservative estimate. As far as i know, you cannot go too heavy with lime (unless yo pave the yard).
Then I'd spread a starter fertilizer with a good level of phosphorus (middle # in the ##-##-## code). Don't worry too much about the nitrogen on the first fertilization (nitrogen is the first number). I used Scotts Starter. Then overseed while the yeard is shredded from the core aerator.
After a few weeks you should have some good growth, then hit it with the high nitrogen fertilizer.
Then when it is hog wild in June, use the weed killer if you like.
Good luck, I am doing the very same thing this year.
I may lime again this weekend.

hazmat · Apr 11, 2003

<font color="blue"> As far as i know, you cannot go too heavy with lime </font>

Get a soil test. Costs $5-$15. Check your local ext school or LESCO. Get the "deluxe" test. It will tell you how much Phosporus (P) & Potassium (K). you need in addition to the lime which adjusts the pH (Acid-Base).

Step 1 is getting the soil chemistry right (see above).

Step 2 depends on how aggresive you want to be. If you feel it is best to start with a clean slate, spray roundup to kill grass & then till it under. At this point you can add soil ammendments if desired/needed. Keep in mind, compost ain't dirt cheap! I paid $25/yard in MA. Then you can seed, hydroseed or sod.

A less aggresive tactic is the above mentioned aeration / overseeding. Do not use any selective weed killers (weed & feed, halts etc.) the new grass doesn't stand up well to them. Water, Water, Water!.

If you plant in the spring, you will need to water all summer long. The best time is to plant in the fall (labor day +/-). Less weed seeds floating in the air and the grass has a chance to grow the roots deeper before the summer droughts hit.

It takes a couple months for the lime to adjust the pH of the soil, so if you do that now, a less aggresive aeration, and fertlize the lawn (see links for recommendations on how much, 2-4 lbs actual N per 1,000sq feet depending on grass variety). You may be pleasantly surprised at how the grass comes back. If it doesn't your chemistry is all set for you to aerate & overseed in the fall.

Spend some time on the web

My favorite lawn sites
Cornell
lawn talk
bud seed

The first two are for cool season grasses (not sure where you are). use google to find your local college info.

Darren · Apr 11, 2003

You can use too much lime.

Lime takes time to act so when you see the the effects of too much (three years after the application) it's too late. http://www.acresusa.com/toolbox/reprints/ExcessiveLime_kinsey_June01.pdf

As someone else posted, get a soil test to determine the application rate needed for lime. If you're in an area with a magnesium deficiency, use dolomitic limestone.

RET · Apr 14, 2003

Re: You can use too much lime.

....if you are in the South and have a turf grass like Centipede or St. Augustine....then you need a pH in the 6's....so lime ain't the choice. And, with Centipede at least, you gotta be careful about which fertilizers you use. It's very sensitive.
RET