New Yard Pics

[Farwell]

Highbeam,
Straw is relatively weed seed free, there will always be some weeds mixed in with the straw but not enough to matter. Hay can be loaded with weed seed.
I have used straw for cover when planting grass, it makes a great cover, holds moisture and eventually decays. The price of straw is less than peat moss.
I have a problem believing the amount of grass seed for one acre can be more than 40 to 50 pounds but am willing to get educated.
Farwell

 

[dooleysm]

The number I saw online was 43,560 square feet in an acre.

At 11 pounds per 1000 square feet you need 479 pounds of seed
At 14 pounds per 1000 square feet you need 609 pounds of seed

Sounds like we were about right, maybe a little light, according to what the bag recommended.

 

[michiman]

Yep you are going to need a new mower.

 

[ronjhall]

Nice job.
I was hoping to see some pictures of the power rake and blower.

 

[Gatorboy]

Here are the results:

That's sure some brown grass.

 

[czechsonofagun]

OK, if I am correct, 11 to 14 punds/1000 sf translates to 500 - 630 pounds an acre.

 

[rdln]

real pure kentucky bluegrass can be spread at ~150lbs per acre. Our southern members may be used to bentgrass which can be thinned to about 50lbs per acre which is a good thing at $8/lb. Straw is the way to go, will dissappear in a couple of years and any weeds seeds hiding in it will germinate with the weed seeds that are always present anyways, just spray them.

 

[dooleysm]

8 days in now and you can see the grass starting to come up nicely. Thunderstorms in the forecast starting tonight and continuing through Monday and Tuesday. I hope we don't get any worm stranglers that cut big channels through the yard like the guy down the hill got when he planted his yard this past spring.

http://bigd.trachbang.com/shawn/yard/IMG_0176.JPG
http://bigd.trachbang.com/shawn/yard/IMG_0177.JPG
http://bigd.trachbang.com/shawn/yard/IMG_0178.JPG
http://bigd.trachbang.com/shawn/yard/IMG_0179.JPG

 

[dooleysm]

I found the Kentucky 31 on sale at Rural King for $47.99/50# bag. I've got about 20 pounds left that I plan on spreading in a couple weeks on any thin spots.

 

[andrewj]

The number I saw online was 43,560 square feet in an acre.

At 11 pounds per 1000 square feet you need 479 pounds of seed
At 14 pounds per 1000 square feet you need 609 pounds of seed

Sounds like we were about right, maybe a little light, according to what the bag recommended.

gentlemen, I'm not arguing with you but remember you are following the directions of the seller - they will always recommend you buy their product in bulk!

The problem with poor germination mentioned by the other poster could have been many things other than seeding rate. poor ph, low nitrogen, potash, potassium, dry weather, gullywashers, failure to cultipack, there are a myriad of factors that can limit gemination. To simply buy the seed store and throw it out is ok (kidding here) but to most folks that regulary grow grass for profit to feed cattle, the system that works is 25 pound to acre if you drill it, and 50 if you spread it. 60 bucks in chicken litter will cover 3 acres of N, P, and K. Lime may be a little more than that for one acre. So I guess what I am saying is it is no substitute for soil analysis to just throw more seed at acreage.