Planting a new lawn

RadarTech · Mar 29, 2009

Hello folks,
I've been on here a year and read tons and tons of posts and even posted a couple hundred times myself..

And everyone has been so helpful-- from Curly Dave to Eddie Walker and Bird-- so many more to name.. Thanks to you all..

To that end, I have posted a couple questions about this, and asked about using hay for seed cover and got real good feedback. no hay for me..

Well it's nearly spring and it's time to go a planting... Lawn that is..

After reading a few things on the Internet and remembering what my dad used to do growing up..
Some things are just not adding up..

First, I remember dad spreading seed and throwing hay then just watering..

But on another occasion I remember him throwing seed and discing over it without hay. don't remember the differences....

Of course, this was 20-25 years ago and I was not real concerned with what or how he did it since I was an early teenager-- Yea-- I am still really young, but 40 is getting closer....

So do I disc the soil and then spread seed or ???

Second, aerators? do you use them?

Third, so I spread fertilizer with the seed or separate?

Lastly, what about those stabilizer blankets?
I saw these 4ft by 50 ft biodegradable seed covers at Lowes for $22.
This looked awefully cool. But is it worth it? how does a $5 bail of straw compare?
back yard would be 15 by 80.. with the side of the house being 50 by 15...
outside of these areas the rest is either wooded or banks.

maybe the seed covers for just a few of the banks and straw for the rest..
but how thick?

For soil... the house was dug out of the bank so we have red dirt (I wouldn't call it clay exactly) mostly.. the soil was at least 3-15 feet below the surface where the trees were growing..... So fertilizer or maybe a load or 2 of top soil will be needed..some of it looks like sandy loam. but other parts does not.

I do have a relative that has a 3 pt tiller. but that may be rough with all the rocks we have...

Any and all advice appreciated...

whatcha think?

J

hunterridgefarm · Mar 30, 2009

I would loosen the soil before I put the seed down, then roll it to firm the seed bed, pressing the seed into the dirt.

I am currently re-seeding my lawn. Last year when we moved in it was late spring before I could put seed down and with the drought it just did not make it. Plus I still had some trees to take down.

This year I am doing the lawn in sections. I was able to seed the front "good grass" yard. I tilled; back drag with scrape blade to remove clumps and level; pulled chain link fence over ground; seeded; limed; fertilized; put straw down; then rolled with heavy roller. Seed, fertilizer, and lime spread separately.

The reason I said "'good grass" is I used the 4 blend grass seed for this area. The rest of the front yard with be Kentucky fescue. There is also one section in the back that will be seeded with the 4 blend "good grass".

I don't use an aerator I always use a plugger. If you look at golf courses you will notice they always use pluggers not aerators.

Don't know about the blankets. I have a couple of places I may need to use them if I can't get the seed started without washing away.

David

LBrown59 · Mar 30, 2009

RadarTech said:
To that end, I have posted a couple questions about this, and asked about using hay for seed cover and got real good feedback. no hay for me..
J

$ 5.00 bales of straw haven't worked any better than 50 cent hay bales for me.

MarkV · Mar 30, 2009

I'll throw my two cents in. The first thing I would do is a soil test through the county extension agent. It is also a great source to find out what types of grass grow best in your environment. Here in N. Georgia,and much of the south, it is almost a guaranteed that you will have acidic soil and need lime to balance the PH. Without a good PH level the new grass cannot absorb the nutrients from that expensive fertilizer to develop the all important early root structure to survive our southern summers.

Soil prep and planting times depend somewhat on the type of grass you are planting. My place is wooded and shaded so I grow fescue which likes to be planted in the fall or early spring. Bermuda is also a often used seed in this area and it likes to be planted when it is hot, June or July. Both like the soil loosened for drainage but firm for planting with about a 1/4 of soil cover. Soil to seed contact is important so rolling after covering the seed, I use a simple drag, is often done.

KEEP IT DAMP. You have to keep new germinating seed damp. Watering lightly 3 or 4 times a day is often recommended. Let it dry out too much one time and it greatly reduces your germination rate.

MarkV

laen64 · Mar 30, 2009

I'm finding out about the germination and the need to keep it moist, as I prep my current lawn for resale. I will take all this thread has and will offer as I prep my 5 acre for as much lawn as the swmbo wants to have.

JMER817 · Mar 31, 2009

A link to some very good information....

http://www.turf.msu.edu/lawn.htm

RadarTech · Apr 1, 2009

thanks guys...
I have a neighbor whose house is his "summer" home. he was up a few days ago and his lawn guy told me what grass to use.

for the lime, he told me not to use now.. but wait a few weeks then add it and water a little..

he said with the way my drainage was it would just wsh the lime away and not absorb it..
Once the grass takes a little, the lime would stay put...

Hopefully we will have a few dry days and then try to go after it...

J