sparce lawn

20 years ago

We live in the country on a 2 1/2 acre lot which was billion seeded 5 years ago in late August (previously a corn field)with a mixture of Blue Grass, fescue and perennial rye. It is in zone 5 Ann Arbor MI, with no irrigation (on a well). We have it sprayed 2x a year, 1) late May for fertilizer, weed killer and crab grass control. And 2) sprayed again in late fall. Our JD tractor mows it at 3 1/2". The front yard has clay soil and has filled in nicely. The back yard is the problem since the soil is all sand, especially where the soil was sloped for the walk out basement. I reapplied some tall fescue only on the slope for erosion control (now patches of lighter green, which I dislike) because I read it tolerates dry soil. But I can see alot of sand everywhere between the 1" tufts of grass in the rest of the back yard. How can I have the grass fill in, what seed do I buy, how much for about 1 acre? Other than watering, any other suggestions?

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yarddoctor
20 years ago
Dear Chris

Thank you very much for your inquiry. Tall fescue is a good grass for droughty soils such as yours, the establishment is the issue. First, tillering of plants is promoted by mowing and fertility (the watering in Michigan this year by Mother nature has been just fine). Therefore, I am suggesting that you continue to fertilize this grass on a 4-5 week schedule until it has filled in. Use a soluble nitrogen carrier, even a starter fertilizer if you have any left over.

If you want to overseed, keep using the tall fescue (assuming that it is a turf type here), and mix Kentucky bluegrass in as well. See the tall fescue at a 5 lb/1000 ft2 and the KBG at 1.0 lb/1000ft2. Keep the fertility up during this time frame.

Mowing will increase density and should be done as frequently as possible to promote tillering. Twice a week would be a good start.

Again, thanks for the question and let me know if you have more.

Respectfully

Trey Rogers
The Yard Doctor
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sparce lawn

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yarddoctor

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