Before we can idiot proof a reply, it really helps to know more specifically where you live. Texas zone 7 is not that helpful. Naming the town or nearest big town is most helpful. For example if you are in Buda or Wimberly, just say Austin. Sometimes that does not work but in Texas it does. If you can post a picture that would really help. Close ups taken with a real camera on a cloudy day are best. Here is the basics of lawn care as gleaned from these forums over the years. 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. With that in mind, here is the collected wisdom of the Internet savvy homeowners and lawn care professionals summarized in a few words. 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 hour 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 Las Vegas your watering will be different than if you live in Vermont. Adjust your watering to your type of grass, 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 little is better than too much. 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.

I am planning to! It's just the 6 tomatoes, but might plant the peppers this weekend. Would 5 gallon buckets placed over the tomatoes and peppers work for frost protection? If not I have a huge tarp to cover the fenced in garden with, and old sheets that could cover the tomatoes.... Another question, I bought peppers plants yesterday, do you plant them with stems 80% in the ground like tomatoes, or not?

What's up Bill! Been on Contractor talk lately? Tile rep is a lady named Linda at Avalon in South Philly... Brutuses - NO I am not "selling stuff" my motives are just as I stated - I'm not a spammer by any means, but seeing as I'm self-employed, you'll probably see my website's link in my posts!

If you say nothing is growing or germinating there I am wondering if the soil needs to be loosened up or something. Sometimes if the soil is compacted together and you don't loosen it up a bit the seeds have a difficult time germinating. But as you said you did put down some top soil so not sure. 15 mins 3x a day is probably enough. One of the most important things when germinating seeds is keeping them watered. Just make sure the soil and seeds are fully moist but with no puddling or wash out. Having said all this there are lots of other people on here who know lots more than I do so maybe post some pics of the area if you can and others can give you some more advice.