Yard ripped up, What kind of grass should i plant?

ctc1111 · Mar 31, 2005

Hi, over the winter my yard got pretty ripped up becuase i got a new sandrail and non of the trails open till may. I couldn't help it. So anyways this year i'm going to grow a nice new yard. I'm not sure what kind of grass would be best. I want it to be thick, durable, and really green. Yanno the envy of the neighborhood. And also when should i plant this grass. I'm in Northeast Mass. Any suggestions on fertilizer?

Henro · Mar 31, 2005

I can't help with the grass...

But in case anyone wonders what a sandrail is:

Am I the only one who didn't know, I wonder??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

PineRidge · Mar 31, 2005

I wonder how Zoysia might hold up for sandrail traffic.......

johan3400 · Mar 31, 2005

I would put in a blend of three Kentucky Blue Grass varieties. Moonlight, Brilliant, and Bedazzled. These are the new shorter aggrressive growing grasses. The have been engineered to withstand heavey traffic on golf courses and athletic fields. Great dark green color and would look like a nice fairway or football field. These are all good varieties which are on the first page of the NTEP(National Turf Evaluation Program) data. I can not help you with the Sandrail, but I do know turf ; /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

rdln · Apr 1, 2005

astroturf

RalphVa · Apr 1, 2005

I'd agree with Johan's advice re the Kentucky Blue. Don't think Zoysia would be green very long up there. Kentucky Blue is about the best in northern areas.

You need to first check you soil pH with either a test kit or send a sample in to your extension service. Needs to be around 6.2-6.8 for most grasses.

Don't fertilize until fall. Use plain fert, not that junk with weed killer in it. That kills weeds but weakens your grass roots. Yeah, it'll be strongly without the weeds but not as strong as if you keep it mowed high and fert in fall and keep pH about right.

Ralph

ctc1111 · Apr 1, 2005

alright thanks for the help. And i don't plan on driveing the sandrail on it anymore. All the trails are opening up in may around here. Now I shouldn't put fertilizer down now? How should i plant it? I plan on getting some loam and a landscape rake and spreading it out then seeding it heavily. I don't know to much about fertilizer, so what kind should i use for it and about when should i plant this stuff. I don't know to much about lawn care, i was always a canidate for paving the front yard and painting it green, untill i got my 2210 /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif now i want the good lawn. So yanno i'm not to familiar with to many terms here. Lots of people tell me that that scotts fertilizer stuff is good. Should i use any of that high traffic seed? still confused....

ctc1111 · Apr 1, 2005

Would i use the chemical fertilizer or the manuer from the local farm that they sell? Or should i just get some fertilizer delivered with the loam and mix it.

johan3400 · Apr 1, 2005

I would use a 1:2:1 ratio of NPK. New grass needs more Phosphorous for root developement. Then go with a 1:0:1 after the lawn matures. I lean towards the organic fertilizers, but all mineral would be fine. I use a
14-28-14 fertilizer. I like it and it provides great food for the young grass. Many areas are banning phosphorous as it contaminates the ground water. In our area a healthy lawn does well on 2.5 pounds of N and K per thousand square feet per year.

hhw · Apr 2, 2005

Down here when we put in a new "yard" we tend to stay pretty basic. After preparing the seed bed as best as possible we use spreaders for the seed and a good starter fertilizer (Scotts is good). We then LIGHTLY set the seed and fert. mix by "sliding" an old piece of carpet over it. We then straw over any possible runoff areas. Then water in early a.m. for ten days. The seed we've been using is a mix of blue, fescue and one of the newer perennial ryes. Seems to work OK.