OK. How 'bout this one.
I live in southern Wisconsin, so now is about right to plant (warm soil, frequent rains, etc.).
My problem: House is new, lawn was seeded in early spring (early April). There is some grass now but lots and lots o’weeds. I’m thinking of aerating and reseeding the whole yard. Will this work, or do I have to go as far as rototilling? What about a weedkiller/fertilizer miz for the new seed?
Thanks for any suggestions
Handy, I read what you said. Let me play the odds in light of not knowing the specifics of the tree mentioned in the OP, okay? Stop “suggesting by exception”…please. Grass can be grown under a vast number of trees with the correct agricultural practices…actually, most trees can be overcome…okay, Handy?
You are not adding value to this thread.
Acid soil and shade are agricultural conditions that can be managed, keeping peace with tree and lawn. Low branches can be pruned, leaves can be raked, and newer varieties of grass will tolerate a broader range of acid and alkaline soils. Especially with the right mowing practices, watering, fertilization, etc…and most of these practices involve LESS work…less watering, less liming, less mowing, less fertilization even.
I can grow grass in dense shade. Most trees can be managed.
If the lawn is more than 50% weeds, the rule of thumb is to start from scratch. If not, you can aerate, de-thatch, and over seed heavily.
You’d want to cut the grass dwon to an inch, aerate and the dethatch the lawn. Then seed, and fertilize with a fertilizer that does not have weed control in it (it will harm new seed)
Look around your area for someone that offers “power seeding” or settle for “slit seeding” if the lawn is bad over a large area. Generally, weeds help hold the soil and prevent erosion, so they can help you get new seed going. You can weed in the spring and let your new lawn choke out weeds by letting it grown tall next year.
Straw will work fine but most is laden with tons of seeds. If you do decide to use straw, there is a type called salt straw which is a strain that grows only near salt water.
So I have faithfully followed your instructions to the best of my abilities. A day passes uneventfully. The next night, there is a torrential downpour. Do I need to worry? Also, I seeded the patches with a tall fescue blend, approximately how long should it take to see some shoots coming up? And in the meantime, should I mow around these areas as best I can, or just go right over them?
I have a challenge for y’all.
Orlando, Florida. My house is on the site of a former citrus grove. The soil is sand … not sandy, but SAND.
The front yard is very shady, but there’s no problem with the St. Augustine turf. The rear yard, on the other hand, is looking a bit challenged, with green and dead patches of St. Augustine mixed in with some weeds.
I’m tempted to pull it all up in the back, and plant a low maintenance, spreading ground cover like jasmine. I heard that you can’t start a new St. Augustine lawn from seed. True? My dog is allergic to Bahia, so that’s not an option. Thoughts? Suggestions?