I am planning on overseeding a backyard that hasn't been maintained
in
over 5 years. Lots of weeds, brush, and some 5-9 ft tall sapling,
thin
trees sprung up. I'll use a machete or briar axe to chop down the
brush and weeds. Then I will mow the grass very short, and use a
thatching rake to scrub the lawn of thatch and the mulch leftover by
the lawnmower. Afterward, I will apply 1/4 inch of topsoil, rake in
the topsoil, add seeds, and rake in the seeds. Then of course water a
couple of time a day. Does this sound correct?

I need advice on what to use for uprooting the woody weeds and the
sapling trees. I assume I take a hand held spade and just dig in and
uproot. Or do I have to go deeper? Do I have to take out the entire
root, or will it just die if I take out the large , main roots?

And should I wait til it rains before I do any of this work? Been dry
the past week, but there will be 3 consecutive days of rain starting
Wednesday. I thought of doing the brush and weed cutting/chopping
today and tomorrow and wait til Sunday for the uprooting of the woody
weeds and trees after the rain has stopped. Might be difficult to
uproot with dry, hard soil.

Can I also put down the topsoil and seeds while the ground is wet? i
am still in the planning stages, and don't actually have any of the
equipment( spreader, thatching rake, machete, soil, seed, spade or
uprooting tool), which will all be manual. I received an estimate for
5 thousand dollars for plowing and reseeding....seed cost not
included. But if I overseed myself, this could cost me a couple
hundred dollars and lots of burned calories.

Also, should I use a drop or spread seeder( Scotts)?

Thanks

In article ,
Doe John wrote:

I am planning on overseeding a backyard that hasn't been maintained
in
over 5 years. Lots of weeds, brush, and some 5-9 ft tall sapling,
thin
trees sprung up. I'll use a machete or briar axe to chop down the
brush and weeds. Then I will mow the grass very short, and use a
thatching rake to scrub the lawn of thatch and the mulch leftover by
the lawnmower. Afterward, I will apply 1/4 inch of topsoil, rake in
the topsoil, add seeds, and rake in the seeds. Then of course water a
couple of time a day. Does this sound correct?

I need advice on what to use for uprooting the woody weeds and the
sapling trees. I assume I take a hand held spade and just dig in and
uproot. Or do I have to go deeper? Do I have to take out the entire
root, or will it just die if I take out the large , main roots?


.................................................. ........................
I'll use a machete or briar axe to chop down the
brush and weeds.

You must be under 30! Go for it!

I rented a fancy belt drive mower 20 years ago to do wild blueberries
and brush up to about an inch. Was worth the rental.

Then unless you are in a hurry mulch the cut area with newspaper and
hand kill anything that makes it way out.

Afterward, I will apply 1/4 inch of topsoil, rake in
the topsoil, add seeds, and rake in the seeds.
Does this sound correct?

Not to me. I'd till the whole area and plant annual rye for a few
years. Build the soil or pay for the fertilizer later etc.
Your choice.

PS My lawn is 15 X 75. and making mistakes is part of the learning
equation. Hope your mistakes are small not all mine were/Are.

Bill

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