Sewing grass

[Richard]

Trying to extend yard into area where I cleared out some trees (mostly pine) Been trying to sew grass and it never seems to really catch. The soil here seems to be primarily clay'ish, so I've been bringing soil over from other side of farm where I found a nice pocket of "black dirt" (probably an area of sediment eons ago... this "topsoil" layer is probably 5 or 6 feet deep before turning into clay)

Might bear to mention, the area this "topsoil" is coming from was ALSO timbered for pine trees at same time my side yard was.

I understand pine trees acidify the soil?

Don't really care if that's true or not, but if it's a factor, what might I put on soil to help prepare it for my current attempt at sewing grass?

Worked it all up last night with boxblade, going to bring couple more bucket loads over & try to finalize the "shape" we want then fertilize/sew..

What might I use to help? The entire yard has grass but it's rather cobby looking, nothing "lawnish" that you see on well manicured houses. I have 1/2 a mind to redo the entire yard after having 10 dump trucks bring in "real" dirt /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Richard

 

[thcri]

Richard,

I believe you are right on the acidity. Around here we would use lime to get rid of the acid's. You also may want to talk to some people in your area about the fertilizer your using also with the lime.

As far as sewing the grass I did a bunch of it myself and it worked great. I just used my broadcast spreeder to spreed the seed around and then used a drag to drag it in. Point being to get the seed to be buried about an 1" in the ground. You want to do this in a cooler time of the year. This way you don't have to keep it as moist.

murph

 

[Richard]

cool time eh? like now lol. My goal (live on slope) is to get it to root some prior to rain so my yard doesn't wash away (again) /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[beenthere]

Re: Sowing grass

Sure got my curiosity up when you said you were "sewing" grass. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have some of the same dilemna's with what to do given poor soil, and am thinking I will try punching holes in it to aerate it. After 35 years of mowing, maybe it needs a breather.

 

[MossRoad]

See if you can get a soil test kit at a local garden shop. That is probably the only way to make sure the soil is OK. They are pretty inexpensive, alot less than wasted grass seed /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

As for a new lawn, I've had good success with preparing the seed bed, sowing the seeds, covering with lose soil and rolling it to make sure the seeds have soil contact. Plant it too deep or too shallow and it won't work. What's the magic depth? 1/4 to 1/2 inch worked for me, your results may vary. Then water, water, water until it sprouts and then water it some more until it gets high enough to cut. Bag the clippings until the 4th cut. After that, treat it like a normal lawn. Only water it once or twice a week, deeply. If you give it short, shallow drinks, the roots will never develop to reach down for water, then you'll be suceptible to drought.

 

[Richard]

How bout that.. soil test kit.. just called the local box, and for $3.20, I can get a test kit....

Guess what I'm doing today presuming it doesnt' rain /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[cowboydoc]

Are you just sprikling it out there? You need to prepare the soil first. Grass won't grow in clumps of dirt very well. You really should have your soil worked down pretty fine. Then use a drill. If you don't have a drill broadcast it and harrow it. Also it's going to need lots of water to get est. If you can't get water to it pray for rain and plant during the rainy season.

As has been mentioned get a good soil sample. That will tell you where you need to be there. Also I would fertilize a week or less before I plant the seed.

 

[Richard]

preliminary update...

Tested ph and it showed 8 (?) lol

Am currently letting my soil/water mixture settle for rest of sample.

I'd NEVER thought about fertilizing PRIOR to seeding, I'd done it afterwards. Thanks for the heads up.

Will post other results after dinner

SOMEONE on this board is absolutely starving now. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Richard

 

[Richard]

Ok, stomach be darned and all with it's growling at me for sustinence....

Couldn't wait on results, so if I read this scale correctly

PH = 8.0 Alkaline
Nitrogen = very low (or lower than that actually)
Phosphorous = very low or below.. actually, the strip shows light bluish and the vile looks more color of lemonaid.. lol not blue at all
Potash = I'd guess between low and very low


Hmm..seems all I have is black organic material? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

If this tidbit helps, (washing acid out?) the pine trees were harvested maybe 2 years ago, possibly 2 1/2.

Anyway, that's results of my test as best I can tell. I called the test kit company and they close at 5:30 eastern, so I missed them of course.

Thanks for any thoughts.

Richard

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> just called the local box, and for $3.20, I can get a test kit.... </font>

Pretty cool, huh? /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

At least it can get you in the ballpark before you start. good luck. Be sure to take before, during and after pictures for yourself(and us too /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif)