How to fix my lawn this spring? (1 Viewer)

[E-Z Glider]

I dont know anything about this and dont really have the time/interest in learning. I have $300 in Home Depot cards. Tell me what I need to buy and what I need to do. Here are my requirements...

Id like to have more grass and less weeds

Id like to fill in some bare spots

Id like it to be organic

Isn't there like some 3 step process or something that you start in the spring. Do I need a spreader?

 

[top dog]

I'm also interested.. Have a green yard, but it is mostly clovers, weeds, and some grass. Have some bare spots as well. The dogs make it difficult to make it pristine, but I'd like to cut down on the weeds this year.

 

[lod01]

Zoysiagrass if you are in the south. Although it will grow just about everywhere. Of course, that $300 will only get you plugs and you will be waiting a long time for it to crawl across your lawn choking out every weed in it's path.

 

[Black Box]

If you're going organic, you'll have to be in it for the long haul to get rid of the weeds. Or pull them by hand.

 

[TheIronSheik]

What are the options if you only care about the first two?

 

[E-Z Glider]

Im looking for mild improvements, not the lawn of the year award. Fertilizer, weed-n-feed, or something like that? Thought there was some 3-step process you were supposed to start in the spring or something? Someone just give me an easy answer please.

 

[msommer]

What are the options if you only care about the first two?

I'm in this boat as well. Willing to try anything short of roundup...

 

[D_House]

2 steps are better than one:

1. mow high

2. water deeply (and infrequently)

3. optional: use organic fertilizer or compost

source for more info: http://www.richsoil.com/lawn-care.jsp

 

[Ministry of Pain]

 

[NewlyRetired]

This thread has a ton of good info through out for lawn care

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=464860

 

[NutterButter]

If you're grass is thin, you're going to have a hard time keeping the weeds from filling things in. Crabgrass especially is a brutal weed to try and control in a thin lawn. I haven't found the pre-emergent crab grass control to be that great. I just starting using tenacity last year b/c its the only thing that will kill off nimblewill which was invading my lawn and I found it to be very effective at post-emergent crabgrass killing. I think I'm going to forgo the pre-emergent stuff this year and spot kill any crabgrass I see using tenacity. It just requires you to be on the lookout for it b/c once it matures, it takes multiple treatments to kill.

You'll need to seed at some point to fill the grass in, but fall is really the best time for that. You can do it now, but it won't be as effective. I find aerating and then seeding works best. If you're buying normal grass seed, you'll have to keep it wet for 2+ weeks.

 

[E-Z Glider]

This thread has a ton of good info through out for lawn care

http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=464860

Thanks, but was looking for an easy answer to fixing my lawn (guess there isnt one), not an 18-page thread discussing every topic related to lawncare.

 

[McGarnicle]

Rent a Bobcat and remove the top 4 inches from the entire lawn. Discard. Replace with a premium topsoil, rich in organic matter. Resod with a quality grass suitable for your area. Keep moist until established.

 

[NewlyRetired]

This thread has a ton of good info through out for lawn carehttp://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=464860

Thanks, but was looking for an easy answer to fixing my lawn (guess there isnt one), not an 18-page thread discussing every topic related to lawncare.

Read the very first post in that thread at least. It contains the basics for lawns care.

 

[The Commish]

WARNING: Don't read this if you're wanting to be "organic". It won't be helpful.

This spring and summer you should spend your time killing off the weeds and keeping them gone. Then in the fall you aerate and overseed while feeding it with starter fert. Trying to do it all this spring isn't going to work well mainly because most of the weed blocking ferts also block germination of grass seeds and if you use fert without the weed blocking component, you are just feeding weeds.

We have a thread here...there's a comprehensive post at the very beginning that is probably what you need to hear

 

[tri-man 47]

2 steps are better than one:

1. mow high

2. water deeply (and infrequently)

I've not had much time for lawn care over the past few years, but I noticed that when we get lots of spring rains, the grass grows well and grows thick ...and I get fewer weeds. My wife and I both work to dig out the dandelions that emerge (and it's not too many) by cutting them below surface. So yes - keep the mower set a bit high, and keep the grass well-watered, particularly early in the season.

I haven't found any good solution for getting rid of clover, though I have seen arguments for just letting it grow (it's green, and from a distance looks OK).

 

[NewlyRetired]

2 steps are better than one:

1. mow high

2. water deeply (and infrequently)

I've not had much time for lawn care over the past few years, but I noticed that when we get lots of spring rains, the grass grows well and grows thick ...and I get fewer weeds. My wife and I both work to dig out the dandelions that emerge (and it's not too many) by cutting them below surface. So yes - keep the mower set a bit high, and keep the grass well-watered, particularly early in the season.

I haven't found any good solution for getting rid of clover, though I have seen arguments for just letting it grow (it's green, and from a distance looks OK).

We talked about clover removal in the lawn care thread. It is a pain but people recommended a product that worked great. It took two apps but it shriveled and died.

 

[The Commish]

2 steps are better than one:

1. mow high

2. water deeply (and infrequently)

I've not had much time for lawn care over the past few years, but I noticed that when we get lots of spring rains, the grass grows well and grows thick ...and I get fewer weeds. My wife and I both work to dig out the dandelions that emerge (and it's not too many) by cutting them below surface. So yes - keep the mower set a bit high, and keep the grass well-watered, particularly early in the season.

I haven't found any good solution for getting rid of clover, though I have seen arguments for just letting it grow (it's green, and from a distance looks OK).

We talked about clover removal in the lawn care thread.It is a pain but people recommended a product that worked great. It took two apps but it shriveled and died.

The Bayer line of products cleared up a 5 foot by 6 foot area in my yard that was all clover in one pass. Worked awesome.

 

[Jayrok]

Have another man mow it.

 

[NewlyRetired]

2 steps are better than one:

1. mow high

2. water deeply (and infrequently)

I've not had much time for lawn care over the past few years, but I noticed that when we get lots of spring rains, the grass grows well and grows thick ...and I get fewer weeds. My wife and I both work to dig out the dandelions that emerge (and it's not too many) by cutting them below surface. So yes - keep the mower set a bit high, and keep the grass well-watered, particularly early in the season.

I haven't found any good solution for getting rid of clover, though I have seen arguments for just letting it grow (it's green, and from a distance looks OK).

We talked about clover removal in the lawn care thread.It is a pain but people recommended a product that worked great. It took two apps but it shriveled and died.

The Bayer line of products cleared up a 5 foot by 6 foot area in my yard that was all clover in one pass. Worked awesome.

Yup, Bayer was the product recommended. It worked great for me too. And they did not come back the next season. Important to kill them before they seed obviously.

 

[offdee]

Move into a condo or pour cement.

 

[General Malaise]

My front yard was overrun by moss, which happens a lot in wet Portland, OR. I borrowed a neighbors thatching rake and after I mowed the yard very short, I thatched the whole yard by hand. You want a good work out? I suggest trying this out. I bagged up a LOT of dead grass, moss, weeds, etc. Then I mowed again to suck up anything I couldn't rake.

Next I sprayed some Moss Out on the lawn, which I hope killed any remaining moss left on the grass. Gave it a few days to marinate.

Then I used Urth Organic on my lawn. My CFO is a partner in this, so he gave me some product for free. I used it last summer and my vegetable garden thrived. So I'm going to use it on my lawn this spring to see how it does. I'm scared of fertilizers with my kids playing on the yard, especially my daughter who can't keep things out of her mouth.

A few days later, on a nice, rainy day, I over-seeded the lawn and raked the seeds in with the topsoil. Then I applied a layer of peat moss to the lawn to help cover the seeds.

We'll see how it goes. I probably should have aerated (sp?) too, but I didn't want to pay for it.

 

[NutterButter]

2 steps are better than one:

1. mow high

2. water deeply (and infrequently)

I've not had much time for lawn care over the past few years, but I noticed that when we get lots of spring rains, the grass grows well and grows thick ...and I get fewer weeds. My wife and I both work to dig out the dandelions that emerge (and it's not too many) by cutting them below surface. So yes - keep the mower set a bit high, and keep the grass well-watered, particularly early in the season.

I haven't found any good solution for getting rid of clover, though I have seen arguments for just letting it grow (it's green, and from a distance looks OK).

We talked about clover removal in the lawn care thread.It is a pain but people recommended a product that worked great. It took two apps but it shriveled and died.

The Bayer line of products cleared up a 5 foot by 6 foot area in my yard that was all clover in one pass. Worked awesome.

Yeah, I've had a lot of success with the dedicated clover removal products.

 

[Henry Ford]

I'm actually considering scrapping my lawn and going with a clover lawn. I love the feeling of walking on clover.

 

[The Commish]

2 steps are better than one:

1. mow high

2. water deeply (and infrequently)

I've not had much time for lawn care over the past few years, but I noticed that when we get lots of spring rains, the grass grows well and grows thick ...and I get fewer weeds. My wife and I both work to dig out the dandelions that emerge (and it's not too many) by cutting them below surface. So yes - keep the mower set a bit high, and keep the grass well-watered, particularly early in the season.

I haven't found any good solution for getting rid of clover, though I have seen arguments for just letting it grow (it's green, and from a distance looks OK).

We talked about clover removal in the lawn care thread.It is a pain but people recommended a product that worked great. It took two apps but it shriveled and died.

The Bayer line of products cleared up a 5 foot by 6 foot area in my yard that was all clover in one pass. Worked awesome.

Yeah, I've had a lot of success with the dedicated clover removal products.

I just used the basic weed killer....I know they have one specific for clover as well, but the general use mix worked fine.

 

[E-Z Glider]

I'm actually considering scrapping my lawn and going with a clover lawn. I love the feeling of walking on clover.

Ive got patches of wild strawberry in my lawn. Its nice and soft and green and doesnt grow high. Id love to have a whole yard of this.

 

[General Malaise]

Next year, I'm going with astroturf.

 

[simsarge]

.

 

[shuke]

2 steps are better than one:

1. mow high

2. water deeply (and infrequently)

I've not had much time for lawn care over the past few years, but I noticed that when we get lots of spring rains, the grass grows well and grows thick ...and I get fewer weeds. My wife and I both work to dig out the dandelions that emerge (and it's not too many) by cutting them below surface. So yes - keep the mower set a bit high, and keep the grass well-watered, particularly early in the season.

I haven't found any good solution for getting rid of clover, though I have seen arguments for just letting it grow (it's green, and from a distance looks OK).

We talked about clover removal in the lawn care thread.It is a pain but people recommended a product that worked great. It took two apps but it shriveled and died.

The Bayer line of products cleared up a 5 foot by 6 foot area in my yard that was all clover in one pass. Worked awesome.

Yup, Bayer was the product recommended. It worked great for me too. And they did not come back the next season. Important to kill them before they seed obviously.

I have been a big Bayer proponent for a few years now, but I'm worried about what it's doing to my grass. I've a pretty bad couple of years now with clover and other weeds (I'm surrounded by it on 3 sides).

Take this #### to the ***OFFICIAL*** lawn care thread.

 

[eoMMan]

You guys throw aspirin on your lawn? Wierd,