Planting grass after tilling existing lawn
werc
16 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (12)
dchall_san_antonio
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
killing grass after tilling
Comments (8)I think getting rid of the grass is the worst part of starting a new garden area, and since we like to add on every year we always have to deal with your problem. Hopefully this year will be easier for us though since we will be getting a tiller for our tractor and I figure we will be able to till it a lot more since it will be faster that doing it with a regular tiller. Anyhow I wish I could offer you more advice, but the only thing that I could suggest that works for us is if you do like grandad mentioned and them rake the clumps in your walkway and the good dirt where you will be planting. Good luck and hopefully some others will have more advice....See MoreCan I plant fescue seed over existing centipede grass?
Comments (9)Yes, you can overseed fescue into a centipede lawn, but it is not easy. When we moved into our house (Durham), the builder had layed centipede sod. I went the whole summer with centipede at 2.5" tall, until late August. Over the course of two weeks, I mowed the centipede every 2-3 days, slowly dropping the blade each time, until I had it 1-1.25" tall. The aggressive cutting shocked the growth and since we were headed into a cooler period, it never was able to green back up and stayed short. This allowed me to aerate and top dress with organics, then seed with 5 different TTTF seeds. I let the fescue grow up to 2.5"-3"+ before mowing. Reseeding every year in the fall will be a must. When the spring comes, keep the fescue tall and it will shadow the centipede, not allowing it to green up until much later. By the time the centipede is ready to green up, the fescue will have a good root and be strong. The next thing you need to keep in mind, is to water and feed the yard for fescue and not centipede. Year after year, you will gain some ground. Again, in the fall, cut the grass shorter (maybe 2") and reseed with different fescue. I have found when it gets really hot, the fescue will start to go dormant and the centipede will strengthen up. The main issue I see is the growth rate. The fescue will grow much faster and 3 days after cutting, the grass doesn't look even. But after you cut it, it looks like carpet. Funny note: Every house in my neighborhood has centipede sod. Every year before the centipede has greened up, but the fescue is going strong, someone always walks by and ask why my grass isn't deal dead like theirs. I always play dump and I say, "Im not sure." and smile....See MoreShould I kill my existing lawn or just till?
Comments (10)Use the spring and summer to learn and practice good grass management habits. Sometimes well cared for weeds will look very nice for a season. Basics of Lawn Care After reading numerous books and magazines on lawn care, caring for lawns at seven houses in my life, and reading numerous forums where real people write in to discuss their successes and failures, I have decided to side with the real people and dispense with the book and magazine authors. I don't know what star their planet rotates around but it's not mine. One of their problems is they write for local readers. With that in mind, here is the collected wisdom of the Internet savvy homeowners and lawn care professionals summarized in a few words. This should work for most of the US of A. If you follow the advice here you will have conquered at least 50% of all lawn problems. Once you have these three elements mastered, then you can worry about weeds (if you have any), dog spots, and striping your lawn. But if you are not doing these three things, they will be the first three things suggested for you to correct. Watering Water deeply and infrequently. Deeply means at least an inch in every zone, all at once. Infrequently means monthly during the cool months and no more than weekly during the hottest part of summer. Do not spread this out and water for 10 minutes every day. If your grass looks dry before the month/week is up, water longer next time. If that does not work, then you might have to water more than once per week during the summer's hottest period. Deep watering grows deep, drought resistant roots. Infrequent watering allows the top layer of soil to dry completely which kills off many shallow rooted weeds. You will have to learn to judge when to water your own lawn. If you live in El Paso your watering will be different than if you live in Vermont. Adjust your watering to your type of grass, temperature, humidity, wind, and soil type. It is worth noting that this technique is used successfully by professionals in Phoenix, so...just sayin.' The other factors make a difference. If you normally water 1 inch per week and you get 1/2 inch of rain, then adjust and water only 1/2 inch that week. Mowing Every week mulch mow at the highest setting on your mower. Most grasses are the most dense when mowed tall. However, bermuda, centipede, and bent grasses will become the most dense when they are mowed at the lowest setting on your mower. In fact there are special mowers that can mow these grasses down to 1/16 inch. Dense grass shades out weeds, keeps the soil cooler, and uses less water than thin grass. Tall grass can feed the deep roots you developed in #1 above. Tall grass does not grow faster than short grass nor does it look shaggy sooner. Once all your grass is at the same height, tall grass just looks plush. Fertilizing Fertilize regularly. I fertilize 5 times per year using organic fertilizer. Which fertilizer you use is much less important than numbers 1 and 2 above. Follow the directions on the bag and do not overdo it. Too much is better than too little*. At this point you do not have to worry about weed and feed products - remember at this point you are just trying to grow grass, not perfect it. Besides once you are doing these three things correctly, your weed problems should go away without herbicide. * This used to read, "Too little is better than too much." Recent test results show that you cannot get too much organic fertilizer unless you bury the grass in it.</i>...See MoreNeed help with starting a new lawn from grass seeds (Till or No-Till)
Comments (8)I am not familiar with your area and what types of grass is grown and readily available, so I will let someone else comment on that. I seeded Bermuda, im in texas, about 2 years ago when my house was built. I started off with rye grass during the winter, but since it did not take everywhere, it resulted in areas where there were washouts. I did not level my lawn again before planting Bermuda, wish I would have, but it is not all that bad for me. I am currently taking my time in leveling the lawn now with a very good amount of grass. I am doing it in small sections as I have over 3/4 of an acre to maintain. So back to your situation and what I would do. If you think you have bad soil, maybe consider doing a soil test. While the soil test is being done, spray the area with round-up if you are trying to get rid of whatever you currently have. If you do not want to do that, then bring in topsoil, and then get someone to use a box blade to smooth the area and then seed whatever and whenever is recommended. I will strongly recommend not tilling. I have tilled in certain areas, where I though the ground was too hard to seed and it did result in a bumpy yard. Tilling also roots up new weeds that you currently do not have. If you do some searching here and other sites, you will see some good posts on leveling, prepping and seeding your yard. Hope that helps as a start for you. To keep this post short, I will try to answer anything else if you have specific questions....See Moredchall_san_antonio
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agophiles21
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agowerc
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agodchall_san_antonio
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agophiles21
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agowerc
16 years agolast modified: 9 years agoeddie_il
15 years agolast modified: 9 years agoleAnn Robinson Johnson
2 years agoleAnn Robinson Johnson
2 years agodchall_san_antonio
2 years ago
Related Stories
FRONT YARD IDEASBefore and After: Front Lawn to Prairie Garden
How they did it: Homeowners create a plan, stick to it and keep the neighbors (and wildlife) in mind
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN7 Low-Maintenance Lawn Alternatives
Turf isn't the only ground cover in town. Get a lush no-grass lawn with clover, moss and other easy-care plants
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESGreat Design Plant: Purple Needle Grass, California’s State Grass
The long-lived, drought-tolerant Stipa pulchra is as admired for its benefits as for its good looks
Full StoryLANDSCAPE DESIGN15 Great Ideas for a Lawn-Free Yard
End the turf war for good with hardscaping, native grasses and ground covers that save water and are easier to maintain
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESSmall Gem Lawns: More Impact From Less Grass
Instead of letting the lawn sprawl, make it a shapely design element in your yard. You’ll reap benefits both practical and aesthetic
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDES5 Great Grasses for a New Lawn
Learn about maintenance, wear tolerance, ideal climate and more for these top turf choices to pick the right one for you
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Plant a New Lawn From Sod
Take the quick-start route to turf with sod; these installation guidelines will help ensure a healthy and long-lasting lawn
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHow to Plant a New Lawn From Seed
Choose from more grass varieties and save money over sod by starting your lawn from seed
Full StoryLAWN ALTERNATIVESStop Fighting the Patchy Lawn!
Here are 3 situations where a garden may be a better idea than more turfgrass
Full StoryMOST POPULARMeet a Lawn Alternative That Works Wonders
Carex can replace turfgrass in any spot, is low maintenance and adjusts easily. Add its good looks and you’ve got a ground cover winner
Full Story
philes21