My Yard is Pathetic

[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?