I'd put down mulch this time of year, and decide this summer how much
you want of lawn, whether you intend to install sprinklers, etc. If
you do, do the sprinkler work over the summer. Tree companies can be a source
of cheap mulch... you'll just have to spread the woodchips -- they'll
bring it to you free. The guys trimming branches over power lines usually
have the cleanest chips.

About the first of September, start working up the soil in the areas
you intend for lawn, seed it, and supplement the fall rains as needed.
It'll be looking pretty good by December, and ready to mow next spring.
If you're in the city, consider using a "high endophyte" seed source;
these have fungi in them that make the plants naturally disease resistant.

I concur that water prices and our very dry summers make spring an
incredibly expensive time to start a new lawn out here.

Soils out here tend to be clay, compacted, fairly acidic. So get a soils
test in there, too... you'll probably want to add gypsum and lime as
well as NPK.

Handy reference: Sunset Garden Book; also the garden calendar section
of Sunset Magazine e.g.:
http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden/article/0,20633,1153110,00.html

Kay, S of Portland


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