Growing grass

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by The Gaijin
I figured it was still snowing up there. Global warming, I guess.

Actually we were supposed to get snow on Wednesday, but it rained. Pretty rare for us to get snow after early May

[masraum]

3yards or even 5 yards is not as much as you would expect it to be when it's dumped in a pile, but when you are shoveling it into a wheel barrow and walking it around to the back yard it seems like a lot of dirt.

[notfarnow]

Originally posted by masraum
3yards or even 5 yards is not as much as you would expect it to be when it's dumped in a pile, but when you are shoveling it into a wheel barrow and walking it around to the back yard it seems like a lot of dirt.

So true. Luckily I'll be using most of it right where they dumped it. I should've gotten more though, now I'll need to use that fill I have.

4-5" should be enough for a healthy lawn, eh?

[Drago]

4-5" is just enough, IMO. Wood chips or saw dust in top soil mix tends to fix the available nitrogen in the soil making it unavailable for the new grass, so it's a good thing you didn't use it.

Rent a roller.

Peat moss, plenty of dolomite lime and granular gypsum will help with clay soil. Too much organic material in the soil and it'll retain water like my sisters...well, nevermind.

I've got a black thumb when it comes to growing that other grass.

[notfarnow]

Funny how stuff works

Yesterday I get the fill down and levelled, and a good 6" of topsoil over the whole area (thanks for the advice, Drago). I'm just getting ready to go out and buy some seed.

I get a phone call from a friend at about noon.He's putting in long a half-circle driveway and is has tons of sod he's pulling up. He was going to give it to a neighbor who needs clean fill. I told him I'll load it ALL up for him, but I'm taking it home. Can't beat that!

Downside: I had 6th row seats for BB King, but if I wanted the sod I had to get it out of there yesterday. Gave the BB King tickets to my uncle, and worked until 10PM, in the rain.

Instant lawn, I'm pleased as punch. Sore though, hoo-boy

[notfarnow]

Update
The grass is getting green instead of brown, so that's a good sign. Heck, the dandylions are even popping up!

All the grass on the left is new:


This area was already really thin. I still intend to aerate, then put some seed & compost. That should help it fill in nicely


Ever since we bought the house, Mrs Notfarnow has wanted a pathway going down to the sidewalk. So I dug all the "fill" from the far side of the yard and got 80% of the path cut out. Just need to put down some wood chips and rocks to pretty it up.


Not bad for a weekend's work, but I'm still a bit sore 4 days later.

Thanks again to those who offered advice here and by PM; I got some great tips.