Location: Walnut Creek California 94598
I moved into a cosmetic fixer upper 2 years ago and haven't taken of the front lawn due to many reasons. It was already in a bad state when when I moved in. I got time now to bring the lawn back to life.
Attached pictures.
More information-
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I got 360 degree sprinklers at the corners of the lawn and also have. a mantis tiller with aeration attachment.
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I got a cut tree removed 2 years so you can the big bare spot.
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I just mowed the lawn.
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Not sure when the lawn was laid down. The house was built in 1970.
Need some help how to revive lawn. Here are my questions-
1. What is my current grass type?
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Is it better to nuke the lawn and start from scratch? If yes, what are steps.
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I think the lawn doesn't have to be nuked as the grass comes back after months of neglect. In my opinion, need to get rid of weeds with herbicide, add a inch of a top soil and over seed. It is a cheaper and easier open.
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When should I do 2 or 3?
Thank you all for your help.
by Ok-Seaworthiness8619
1 Comment
Walnut Creek gets blisteringly hot in July so you are working against the clock here. That grass looks like a standard Tall Fescue blend which is the go-to for Northern California durability. It is a bunching grass, not a creeper, which is why those bare spots are sitting there rather than filling in. Don’t nuke it. You have about 60% viable turf which is plenty to work with, and nuking usually just churns up dormant weed seeds anyway. If you seed right now, the roots will likely fry the second you hit 95 degrees in June. Instead, spend the spring focusing on soil structure. Use that Mantis to aerate the heck out of the compacted clay, especially where that tree used to be. Old tree roots steal nitrogen from the soil as they decompose, so you need to hit that bare spot with extra organic matter or the grass will always struggle there. Kill the weeds now, keep it mowed high to shade the soil, and wait until late September to actually drop your seed.