Hi,
I just read your response to Chet Hayes, which I found very useful as I'm in
the same situation. I wondered if you might recommend a seed for an Atlanta
lawn that gets full sun. Thanks in advance,

W.D.

ps - regarding your question about why a novice would undertake a job that
you feel should be done by a professional, some of us would like to learn
about lawn care. Not to save a few bucks (that's not the issue for me) but
to learn about something interesting and perhaps take up lawn
care/landscaping as a hobby -- it's good exercise, as I'm sure you know ;-)

Maybe this analogy will help: I'm also a homebrewer and, although
professionals probably make higher quality beer than I do, and know more
about the chemistry, mine still tastes pretty damned good and I enjoy making
and drinking it. I certainly don't brew to save a few bucks. Same deal with
do it yourself lawncare for some people.

Sorry for rambling, and thanks again for your help...

"Probably" wrote in message
news:QI8Sc.239610$IQ4.41022@attbi_s02...
Did you build your house or did you hire a professional to do it?
Same with the lawn and landscape. Hire a professional!!
Nothing irritates me more to see a new house that is just built, and then
the owners try to scimp and save on their lawn and landscape. They figure
they will "take a stab" at it, how hard could it be they figure, and
they'll save themselves a few bucks. How many times then have I been
called
to fix the job? Too many to count.
You did not say how big the lawn is, do you have proper equipment to
complete this job??
If you insist on doing this yourself, then here's what you do.

You spray roundup on all the weeds NOW, in august. You will NOT be able
to
plant right away after spraying though. This is good, because you were
correct in your statement, fall is the BEST time to plant seed.
When you are ready to plant, I would say roughly about September 10th for
your area, you must till up the whole lawn. Till it up good, seed needs
soil contact to grow and establish. When you purchase your seed, you will
need to ask how many lbs to apply per 1000 sq ft. Apply the seed, and
then
cover. We use a product called Penn Mulch, it works much better than
straw
in my opinion, and it does not blow everywhere. The key is this, WATER,
WATER, WATER. Grass will NOT grow if those seeds are not kept moist at
all
times. Notice I say moist, not drowned, moist. Wait until the grass
starts to come in fairly well, then you will need to apply a starter
fertilizer to it. As with any new germination, there will be some weeds.
(this is from the soil, and especially if the homebuilders just dumped
crappy soil in there, you will have weeds.) Do NOT try to kill those
weeds
until the lawn is nice and established. Like I said, you have a nice
house,
if you don't have time to really maintain this lawn, why not just hire a
professional to do it?
I will not recommend a seed for you to use because I am not that sure of
the
area and climate. I use a grass seed calle Penn State Fine. Very good
grass seed.

"Rick" wrote in message
om...
Hello,
I am building a new home, and it is near completion.
The construction crew leveled off the lot, and then placed existing
black dirt on top.
Over the past month, the entire yard is full of weeds.
Guess there was alot of weeds existing in the black top soil.

Once I move in (in about a month) I want to plant grass seed.
I am a newbie, and need to know what the best course of action is.

1. Should I somehow kill all the weeds first? If so, what is the best
and least expensive way.

2. Should I leave the weeds, plant the grass seeds and then let my
future mowing and composting of grass cure the weed problem?

I live in Chicago, and the weather is really cold in the winter and
really warm in the summer. I have heard that early fall is a good
time to plant a new lawn.

Also, any recommendations on a good grass seed to use for this
climate?

Thanks so much.

Rick