thanks (was: I've killed my lawn - what's next?)

[W.D.]

Hey all,
Thanks a bunch to all who provided suggestions on my previous post. I
basically dethatched, left most of the dead grass there as Chet suggested,
put down some lime & fertilizer, seeded with a slice-seeder (rye grass), and
covered with straw. It's a week later and I actually have a green lawn!

About how long should I wait before:

1. applying more starter fertilizer?
2. mowing (some of the seedlings are already 3-4 inches)?

Anything else I need to do at this point other than keep the ground moist?
Again, thanks to all who helped!

W.D.

[Chet Hayes]

"W.D." <wdanis at NO SPAM yahoo dot com> wrote in message >...
> Hey all,
> Thanks a bunch to all who provided suggestions on my previous post. I
> basically dethatched, left most of the dead grass there as Chet suggested,
> put down some lime & fertilizer, seeded with a slice-seeder (rye grass), and
> covered with straw. It's a week later and I actually have a green lawn!
>
> About how long should I wait before:
>
> 1. applying more starter fertilizer?
> 2. mowing (some of the seedlings are already 3-4 inches)?
>
> Anything else I need to do at this point other than keep the ground moist?
> Again, thanks to all who helped!
>
> W.D.


I'd mow it when it gets to 4 inchs, cutting it back to 3. Removing
part of the blade sends a message to the grass to grow faster and
spread out by removing a hormone that grows in the blades. At about
4 weeks, I'd follow up with either a std or fall type fertilizer, as
by then most of the nitrogen from the starter fertilizer will be gone.