The Lawn Care Thread

[Gustavus Adolphus]

Do we have one of these already? I thought maybe we did, probably created by X. If we do, please merge. If not, use this for advice, tips, questions, bragging or what not.

For my part so far, I was very stupid and just replaced my mower blade after a couple. I also had a really bad case of dandelions and other wees in the yard. Today, I threw down this product from Bayer (https://www.bayeradvanced.com/find-a-product/lawn-care/season-long-weed-control-for-lawns), which is supposed to last all season. If it works, not bad for two bottles for $15.

Here's the first question I'd like to throw out for advice....what is the simplest way to tear up old/dead grass to lay new sod?

 

[Monster]

Do we have one of these already? I thought maybe we did, probably created by X. If we do, please merge. If not, use this for advice, tips, questions, bragging or what not.

For my part so far, I was very stupid and just replaced my mower blade after a couple. I also had a really bad case of dandelions and other wees in the yard. Today, I threw down this product from Bayer (https://www.bayeradvanced.com/find-a-product/lawn-care/season-long-weed-control-for-lawns), which is supposed to last all season. If it works, not bad for two bottles for $15.

Here's the first question I'd like to throw out for advice....what is the simplest way to tear up old/dead grass to lay new sod?

I believe it's called a sod cutter... should be able to rent.
Don't use a square shovel... you'll fucking die.

 

[Monster]

http://www.homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/mobile/Sod-Cutter/SC-18HD/

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

It's a small enough area, probably 12x20, sod cutter would seem too much.

I've been looking at some of the roundup vegetation killer to help a bit.

 

[Xuder O'Clam]

No need for chemicals. It won't eliminate the need to actually remove the area. Stripping an area that size by hand is not such a hard job, or you can rent one of these below for about $10. Just kick and go.

 

[Spunky Porkstacker]

 

[AussieBear]

pluck weeds by hand using a weed tool.. or flathead screwdriver.. but get dem roots mane

and just aerate da lawn... add thin layer of top dressing.... spread it evenly wiff a soil spreader... work into da grass mane.... or use flat side of a rake if u aint got one of them soil spreadas....... drop some seed... add mo top dressing to cova to seeds required depth... keep areas moist.. dont cut for long time.. den go back and pluck more rogue weeds....keep pluckin til dey be gone for good...unless you just wanna cut up old sod and lay new sod then pick those weeds....

 

[AussieBear]

this be a very similar method.. but he be dethatching and be adding a dressing/fert one time

[video=youtube;ui2qnOUj6Ec]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui2qnOUj6Ec[/video]

 

[Monster]

It's a small enough area, probably 12x20, sod cutter would seem too much.

I've been looking at some of the roundup vegetation killer to help a bit.

Fair enough.
Sounds small but an hour into it you'll be going to Home Depot! ��
Work smarter not harder...
Best wishes on the project...

 

[Crystallas]

this be a very similar method.. but he be dethatching and be adding a dressing/fert one time

[video=youtube;ui2qnOUj6Ec]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui2qnOUj6Ec[/video]

QFT ^^^^^^^^^^

I was going to post this same video when I read Propes post. Then you beat me to it. LOL Roger is the best This Old House expert, and he doesn't contradict himself across episodes like the other contractors (even Silva does from time to time). I would take whatever Roger says as Gospel for *most things* because he is very environmentally considerate and mixes a lot of old and new, not just one school of thought.


Re-sodding is a waste of time IMO. Core aerators are the fucking bomb. They will fix any lawn that isn't destroyed by a super invasive species (like ivy) and unfortunately wont fix bad soil. But other than that, it's a worthwhile $20 rental, and you can even get in on it with neighbors if your laws are small. Then everyone will have better grass, and maybe new friends.

 

[AussieBear]

QFT ^^^^^^^^^^

I was going to post this same video when I read Propes post. Then you beat me to it. LOL Roger is the best This Old House expert, and he doesn't contradict himself across episodes like the other contractors (even Silva does from time to time). I would take whatever Roger says as Gospel for *most things* because he is very environmentally considerate and mixes a lot of old and new, not just one school of thought.


Re-sodding is a waste of time IMO. Core aerators are the fucking bomb. They will fix any lawn that isn't destroyed by a super invasive species (like ivy) and unfortunately wont fix bad soil. But other than that, it's a worthwhile $20 rental, and you can even get in on it with neighbors if your laws are small. Then everyone will have better grass, and maybe new friends.

yeah.. he seems to know his shat...

here is a before and afta of dude using basically what i was shown to do.. well no core aerator in this vid.. just similar steps to reviving da brown grass.

[video=youtube;GOgBQHzR4pk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOgBQHzR4pk[/video]

 

[Hawkeye OG]

My lawn fucking blowssssss. I built a house and moved in last year and had the builder put sod down. He was suppose to put it down the day we closed, instead he put it down a week before we closed. So it sat for a whole week without water. I fought it all summer, but got it back to respectability. This spring, I'd say 75% of it has came back, but it's real patchy in places and dead in others. I'm having it aerated, but can't overseed because of pre emergent that has been put down. I'll have to wait until fall and aerate and overseed again then and hope it comes back next spring looking nice.

 

[Xuder O'Clam]

Gotta love how Gus's original question was, "what is the simplest way to tear up old/dead grass to lay new sod?

And people patting themselves on the back for posting a video of how to aerate, top dress, and over seed a lawn. As though that was rocket science. lol

 

[Crystallas]

We're not teraforming Mars here. If your grass is dead, the soil under it is problematic, too hard, or too thin. Re-sod it all you want, nothing is going to grow for long.

Simplest way to actually accomplish the end result. Having a green lawn. ⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓⇓

+ seed it.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

That New England accent is tough to get through....


The other issue is re-grading the area. I want to build it up to where water isn't flowing towards my garage or my neighbor's house. Kind of like funneling the water down to another area of the lawn. That was my point in resodding/dirting the ground. Area cleanup starts tomorrow.

 

[brett05]

I'd use a roto tiler to get that soil turned up and over. then add in dirt to regrade. it's going to be hard work for a 12x20 area. That's about the size of my garden today and it was a few hours of roto tiling then some time to let what little growth was there to die then a couple of hours of adding dirt and leveling. You can do it, but I would strongly recommend some gas powered tools before sodding.

 

[winos5]

Round up and similar vegetation killer persists for awhile. If you use that you would have to wait a bit before laying down new sod. Agree with the thatch, seed and top dress crowd. Then water regularly and mow regularly.

 

[Hawkeye OG]

My lawn care company that I use to treat my yard wanted to charge me $200 to aerate. Wtf. Is it that expensive most places?

 

[Crystallas]

My lawn care company that I use to treat my yard wanted to charge me $200 to aerate. Wtf. Is it that expensive most places?

It's hard work, even with a machine. Depending on your lawn size, I'd say that is on the cheap end for a contractor estimate.

 

[Gustavus Adolphus]

My lawn care company that I use to treat my yard wanted to charge me $200 to aerate. Wtf. Is it that expensive most places?

How big is your yard? Mine is a decent size (I have a corner lot), but whenever I've gotten it aerated I've never paid more than $150, and that was with seeding.