Not sure if this is the place to ask, but I was looking for advice to get this lawn back to normal by next spring.
I know experts suggest seeding in the fall, but I feel this may take more than that.
Combination of two dogs and poor maintenance led to this.
Any advice would be appreciated or if theres content/other communities to look into.
Thanks!
by greypreddit
9 Comments
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The ground looks very hard and will wash away any seed you throw down. I’d rent a tiller and rip up the top couple inches. Then rake out the weeds it ripped up. You now can use a leveling rake to spread the loose soil around.
Now it’s seeding and fertilizer time. I’d get a shade mix for sure because that whole area looks like it doesn’t get much sun. Don’t skimp on the seed. Make sure you get low weed seed content and I would avoid any annual seed mixed in. Fertilize it with a higher phosphorus content to help root growth. Then finally cover with a thin layer of straw.
Water it several times a day for the first week or two but only for maybe 5-10 minutes at a time.
I’d go full renovation if I had this.
Nothing wrong with slowly chipping away at the beginning stages now. But probably want to wait for the end of the month to seed
You probably want about 8 weeks from your first expecting frost.
Follow the cool season guide in this thread.
I’d just till or aerate the grass at this point since it might be too late to put down weed killer and still seed.
If aerating, you can just put some shade resistant Turf type tall fescue down early September and water regularly for the rest of the month. Adding some top soil and straw to the bare patches would also be highly recommended.
Make sure to put some starter fertilizer down at seeding and 4-5 weeks after.
That’ll put you in a good spot to fertilize and nurture it in the spring. You could take care of the weed problem with selective herbicides around then and overseed next fall. Springtime, you’ll have a nice yard, and next fall, it’ll be lush.
Twin cities seed is where I order mine. If you buy somewhere local, just make sure whatever you get doesn’t have noxious weeds and has a high germination rate. Scotts seeds (rapid growth stuff, etc,) is usually trash, and you’ll regret putting it down.
Sounds good! I look into when that is expected in Iowa.
Dogs and tree will magenta difficult to maintain especially in stree time of summer.
Start by spraying an herbicide to control broadleaf weeds and berate and seed from now til end of September. More aeration holes better seed germination.
Will have to do this every year due to dogs wearing out path along.fence.line and tree taking water in Summer.
Start a fertilizer program and spot treat for weeds during Spring and Summer
You also need to spread lime. The acid from the leaves will do that to the grass.
The trees are competing for the same resources as the grass. This is an issue. Having said that aerate, top dress with sand and seed, and water. Good luck!
I dont mess with box stores however Scott’s 4 step is very good. Liquid herbicide look for a broadleaf weed control three way to be able.to.control clover and 80 other weeds. Just follow directions on bottle. If you follow directions it will work fine and be OK to keep dogs off for about 2 hours after spraying g