New Year Same Yard Problems. HELP!!!

[DennisH]

Hi Everyone

Well another year has gone by and my yard still looks like crap so its time to get serious about fixing this mess. Question is where to start.

Problem #1 is weed control of which I have 1) Hinbit 2) Clover 3) Broadleaf 4) Onion throughout most of the 2.5 AC yard area.

Problem # 2 is a 4000 sq ft problem area that pretty much nothing grows in except the hearty weeds. This area is hard Alabama Red Dirt of which I'm guessing has little to no top soil. See Pictures

Equipment I own

1) JD X495 Mower
2) JD 870 w/ FEL
3) 3pt 40 gal sprayer
4) 5' Disk
5) 5' Tiller
6) 5' Rock Rake
7) 5' Box Blade

Any ideas on how to start approaching this would be a great help. I'm OK with re-sodding the 4000 sq ft bad area but need it to grow and not just die off. I did a soil test in that area and everything was good except adding 1000 lbs of lime per acre.

Thanks Dennis

 

[Deerherd]

First thing I would do is determine the true makeup of your soil, an over abundance of magnesium can cause the compactness of your soil and you may be surprised at how little clay you actually have. To give you better advice you need to do a soil test to determine the ratios you have. Here's a link to a soil hydrometer test you can do at home.

http://utah.agclassroom.org/files/uploads/fieldguide1/texture.pdf

 

[DennisH]

Dave thanks for that info I will post up the results.

 

[DennisH]

OK I did the soil hydrometer test and my conclusion is I have 100% clay or best known as Alabama Red Dirt.

Below is the soil test results from 2012.

Recommendations for Bermuda Lawn:
Ground Agricultural Limestone = 2.0 tons/acre
Fertilizer N-P2O5 -K2O = 80-80-80 pounds/acre


Lab Results

Soil pH = 5.0
Phosphorus*** P = 4 lb/acre
Potassium*** K = 30 lb/acre
Magnesium*** Mg = 132 lb/acre
Calcium*** Ca = 432 lb/acre

See Comments 3,5,6,7,8

Comment No.3: Final remark - For small areas, comments give examples of ways to meet the fertilizer recommendations. Other fertilizer
grades or materials that supply equivalent amounts of plant nutrients may be used with equal results. If you need
assistance in calculating amounts of other materials to use, contact your county agent or fertilizer supplier. A pint of dry
fertilizer is approximately 1 pound.

Comment No.5: Soil acidity (low pH) can be corrected with either dolomitic or calcitic lime.

Comment No.6: 1.0 Ton limestone per acre is approximately equivalent to 50 pounds per 1,000 sq. ft.

Comment No.7: Follow limestone recommendation given for tilling the soil to establish plants. Where plants are established and
limestone will be applied to soil surface without tilling, reduce application to 1.0 ton limestone per acre now and apply
the remainder in 1.0 ton applications yearly until the total recommendation of limestone is met.

Comment No.8: Per 1,000 sq. ft. apply 8 pounds 13-13-13 or equivalent when spring growth begins and repeat in mid-summer. If more
growth or better color is desired, make additional applications of 1 pound N (3 pounds 34-0-0 or equivalent) at 2-month
intervals. A pint of dry fertilizer is approximately 1 pound.

 

[/pine]

Just my personal preference but I would look into at least partially xeriscape some of the area...you have the equipment to create just about any type of motif...

here are a couple of links for AL

xeriscape (Hayes Jackson)

Converting to xeriscaping - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

good luck...

 

[Deerherd]

Ye gads, you do have some clay!

First thing you should do is kill everything you have with roundup. The next step is to bring in enough mulch or topsoil to cover the area you want seeded. Mulch takes a while to work but topsoil gets you planting seed sooner. Your wallet and time will determine which way you go.

Some people recommend tilling the top couple of inches, it's been my experience that this brings up more dormant seed and causes a whole new crop of problems. The idea behind tilling is that your yard over time acts the same way as your jar test, silt and clay settles on the top, tamping off oxygen to the roots.

In your situation, mixing the top 3-4 inches of your predominately clay soil will aerate the soil for sure and allow grass to quickly grow. But the weed seed you expose will soon out-compete the grass and you will get the same tamping off as your soil compacts itself.

After roundup I would LIGHTLY rake to remove all trash. Apply topsoil, seed with a tall fescue or Bermuda grass, cover with straw and water generously. Both those types of seed do well in clay soil.

I would retest your soil in a couple of months after the grass was growing because the new topsoil you bring in will change the nutient requirements and fertilize accordingly.

Good luck!

 

[Deerherd]

A caution about mulch if you have a dog. Depending on where you get it can create problems with mamma. A friend got some real fertile well decomposing stuff from a horse farm. Great for grass but almost caused a divorce. The dog couldn't keep away from it and rolled in it constantly, which was hilariously funny to those of us who didn't live in the house, but his wife wanted to kill everyone involved. Just a heads up!

 

[DennisH]

Thanks Dave

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have similar soil and find that adding organic matter, lots of lime and fertilizer makes for a good lawn/garden. My soil has little to no organic matter so that is the main ingredient needed besides the lime and fertilizer. I would first kill every thing in the yard, then put out the recommended lime and till it in. Let is set for a rain or two then fertilize it as recommended and then spread out the rich in organic matter top soil and till it all in well. Then reseed and harrow it to get it good and level/smooth.

 

[knukey]

You need to kill all you have, order 1350 cy of topsoil, spread, fertilize, lime, seed and WATER.

It might be cheaper to get you some green outdoor carpet.

I have the same problem, sorry to say I just gave up.