Hello! I recently purchased a home. Just prior to buying the
previous owner had a new septic system installed. By doing so a large
area (~1000 Sq feet) of the what was once lawn, was unscreened loam at
the time of our purchase. Unfortunately it was not high on the
priority list at the with a baby on the way.

It had become over run with weeds from knee to shoulder height. I
have gone through and chopped down all the weeds by hand with a "Sling
blade". What remains now is thick ankle high weeds and lots of
small-medium rocks typical of unscreened loam.

I want to plant some type of grass this fall, if at all possible? I
am figuring I have to get rid of all the weeds and crab grass, then
rake them out as well as rake out the rocks... then I can plant grass
sees, right?

Please advise regarding the best course of action to accomplish my
goal. I imagine it will be quite labor intensive, but such is life.
I Greatly appreciate the help.

Rudy

Please, somebody advise or re-direct me to a more appropriate source.


(Rudy) wrote in message . com...
Hello! I recently purchased a home. Just prior to buying the
previous owner had a new septic system installed. By doing so a large
area (~1000 Sq feet) of the what was once lawn, was unscreened loam at
the time of our purchase. Unfortunately it was not high on the
priority list at the with a baby on the way.

It had become over run with weeds from knee to shoulder height. I
have gone through and chopped down all the weeds by hand with a "Sling
blade". What remains now is thick ankle high weeds and lots of
small-medium rocks typical of unscreened loam.

I want to plant some type of grass this fall, if at all possible? I
am figuring I have to get rid of all the weeds and crab grass, then
rake them out as well as rake out the rocks... then I can plant grass
sees, right?

Please advise regarding the best course of action to accomplish my
goal. I imagine it will be quite labor intensive, but such is life.
I Greatly appreciate the help.

Rudy

On 18 Aug 2003 06:19:09 -0700, (Rudy) wrote:

Please, somebody advise or re-direct me to a more appropriate source.


(Rudy) wrote
Hello! I recently purchased a home....
It had become over run with weeds from knee to shoulder height. I
have gone through and chopped down all the weeds by hand with a "Sling
blade". What remains now is thick ankle high weeds and lots of
small-medium rocks typical of unscreened loam.

I want to plant some type of grass this fall, if at all possible? I
am figuring I have to get rid of all the weeds and crab grass, then
rake them out as well as rake out the rocks... then I can plant grass
sees, right?

Please advise regarding the best course of action to accomplish my
goal. I imagine it will be quite labor intensive, but such is life.

More appropriate than what?

"Chopping down" weeds will keep you on the good side of municipal Weed
Police, but most weeds regenerate quite happily from roots, seeds, and
just plain cussedness. You will have to either pull or 'solarize'
(bake) a weed patch (organic solutions), or spray with herbicide. If
you have a lot of rocks, you will need to clear out the rocks.
Labor-intensive, as you say. I'm not a lawn expert, but I'm guessing
that seeding without clearing weeds is likely to be disappointing.

Fall is, in much of the US, the best time to establish a lawn.
Spring-seeding in many places tends to put new grass in hot-weather
stress shortly thereafter. YMMV. Consult your local extension service,
etc., etc.