Now that I know how to install sprinkers, how do I plant grass?

EdT82SC · 09-27-2005, 04:52 PM

The sprinker thread was great. It has plenty of good tips. So now I wonder how do I plant a new lawn. My old one died when I was remodeling the house, and it's time for a new one. Any good tips for preparing the earth? Is it better to use sod or seed? Any help would be appreciated.

vash · vash's Garage

here is what my landscaping neighbor told me.

spray entire lawn with roundup. .kill everything. once it is good and brown, till it. rake up dead stuff. put in soil admendments. manure and peat is a good start. till it in, rake it flat, roll it firm with water thingie. lay down a starter fert, lay out sod, roll it to get roots to contact soil, water like a fool for three weeks. mow it tall, and enjoy. again, rental tillers are your friend.

Steeve · 09-27-2005, 07:43 PM

Don't forget to grade the yard properly too. You don't want the water all rolling in and being stored next to your house when it rains.

Wait, you're in CA. Nevermind.

Don Ro · 09-27-2005, 11:05 PM

Ed T.,
.
Call around to rent one of these Professional rigs - the Ryan Mataway:
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http://www.edmdistributors.com/mataway.jpg
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http://www.edmdistributors.com/ryan_mataway_overseeder.htm
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...or bring your truck up north 'n buy mine for $2,500 - mint condition/stored in the shop, I paid $4,700 years ago.
Plus, I'll give you a free crash course in Pro lawn renovation.

.
As someone said, kill off what's there w/Round-up, mow (scalp) right down to the dirt.
Stage your irrigation system, IOW's, make sure you have good coverage. Oops, that's done...sorry.
Using my ex-Mataway's thatching reel, strip the crap that's sitting on top after the mow.
Either rake up what my ex-Mataway/thatcher reel digs up, or use your mower to pick it up.
Using my ex-Mataway's seeding reel, lay down your seed. Starter fert. Water. Enjoy.
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If you're anal, prior to first mowing, water profusely for a few weeks to germinate broadleaf weed and alien grass seeds, then kill that off w/Round-up. Proceed w/remainder of the process.
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Easy, eh?

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You may hate your mother if you do the tilling/raking/rolling/laying (or seeding) dealio.
Good luck.

tabs · 09-27-2005, 11:17 PM

LOL

Yeah use the Roundup and KILL off all the dead stuff, turn the soil over with a shovel and rake the dead stuff out...and some fertalizer etc and mix in..

Get a Grade Rake...they are Aluminum and 3 feet wide to give yourself a nice flat lawn surface

And HYDROSEED the Lawn....it's about $0.03 a sq ft to do vs.. $0.30 a sq ft for Sod ++++ Labor to install....

They come out with a machine and spray the seed, mulch and fertalizer onto the ground and in 2 weeks you have a lawn coming up ....and if there are any bare spots they give you seed to fill in....

The advantage is thats it's easy and cheap...U just keep it watered....for large lawn areas this is the way to go...for small areas I would SOD cause it's instant lawn...

targa911S · 09-28-2005, 05:33 AM

Sod...and the green side goes UP.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Here's how I did a sizeable part of my side yard after a tree was cut.

I rototilled the entire area, raked the crap off the top and graded. I then used a broadcast spreader to lay mucho seed.

This is where many people stop....mistake. It's imperative that you lay a medium density layer of bleached straw (not hay) over the entire area. This will keep birds out, prevent heavy or prolonged rain from washing the seed away, retain the water that you apply 2-3 times a day and protect from overexposure to the sun.

Sod is great as well. Instant gratification...can't beat that.

EdT82SC · 09-28-2005, 07:13 AM

Thanks for all the info. I'll be doing the sprinklers and then lawn in a couple weeks when the big crunch here at work ends.

Quote:

Originally posted by targa911S
Sod...and the green side goes UP.

That reminds me of a joke from years ago.

A woman is getting a few rooms in her house painted. She's taking the painter through the house. They step into the first room to be painted, and she tells him, "I'd like this room painted yellow."

The painter writes something down in a notepad, and then walks over to the window, opens it up, sticks his head out, and yells, "Green side up!"

The woman is perplexed, but doesn't say anything, the painter smiles at her, and they move on to the next room. The woman shows the painter to the next room where she says, "This is my daughters room, and she wants it painted pink."

The painter again writes in his notepad, and again walks over to the window, opens it up, sticks his head out, and yells, "Green side up!"

The woman is thinking this guy is REALLY weird, but again doesn't say anything, and they move on to the third room. She tells him, "I'd like this room painted blue."

The painter again writes in his notepad, and again walks over to the window, opens it up, sticks his head out, and yells, "Green side up!"

So the woman asks the painter, "I'm curious, why do you keep yelling 'green side up'? What does green have to do with yellow or pink or blue?"

The painter replies, "Nothing, but I have a crew of blondes across the street laying sod."

targa911S · 09-28-2005, 07:29 AM

yep that's where I got it from.

pwd72s · 09-28-2005, 10:06 AM

I have always used seed. But then, I know how to do it, and Oregon's Willamette Valley is the grass seed growing capitol of the world. Home Depot book racks should be full of "how to grow a lawn" info. My thought? Much of the problem of growing from seed is in not letting it dry out until roots are established. You already have the sprinkler system, so what's the problem with seed? BTW, 1/3 acre of lawn here...come by & mow anytime!