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#1
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Cheap man's lawn care
Just bought a house for the first time. My small lawn has the following
problems Moss to the max Broad leaf weeds Dandilions a small amount Weed grass a small amount New home owner on a budget...what should I do the first year, to have a decent lawn? Thinking power racking with a thatch attachment on the my lawnmower, then moss kill and repeat. Question. When do I go at the broad leaf weeds with local spray, before or after thatching? Weed grass, just dig out? Dandilions, just dig out? Thanks bill |
#2
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Cheap man's lawn care
I use Scotts brand products, and my lawn is great. If you kill the weeds
and fertilize (and keep it watered) you will be amazed at how in a few weeks your lawn will be super green and thick. Seeding in the Spring and Fall is a great way to thicken it up too. Scotts has a "fungus control" product. After that I'd go with the 4 step program suggested for you area. (Be aware that if you use the crabgrass preventer you can't seed for about 8 weeks.) As for the dandelions...I hand spray those with weed-b-gone for broadleaf weeds. You may have to do it a couple of times a week for a few weeks...but it is worth it. They wont come back. If you dig out the dandelions it leaves some of the root and it will grow back again and again. As far as dethatching you could do that and then spread some seed to fill it in. Dethaching is is pretty tough on the lawn, so I usually wait until early fall to do that, though. That is the best planting time too. Link: http://www.scotts.com/ Don't worry, I'm not some Scotts rep or something I just like the stuff. "bill cameron" wrote in message ... Just bought a house for the first time. My small lawn has the following problems Moss to the max Broad leaf weeds Dandilions a small amount Weed grass a small amount New home owner on a budget...what should I do the first year, to have a decent lawn? Thinking power racking with a thatch attachment on the my lawnmower, then moss kill and repeat. Question. When do I go at the broad leaf weeds with local spray, before or after thatching? Weed grass, just dig out? Dandilions, just dig out? Thanks bill |
#3
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Cheap man's lawn care
"irrat8ed1" wrote:
I use Scotts brand products, and my lawn is great. If you kill the weeds and fertilize (and keep it watered) you will be amazed at how in a few weeks your lawn will be super green and thick. Seeding in the Spring and Fall is a great way to thicken it up too. Scotts has a "fungus control" product. After that I'd go with the 4 step program suggested for you area. (Be aware that if you use the crabgrass preventer you can't seed for about 8 weeks.) As for the dandelions...I hand spray those with weed-b-gone for broadleaf weeds. You may have to do it a couple of times a week for a few weeks...but it is worth it. They wont come back. If you dig out the dandelions it leaves some of the root and it will grow back again and again. As far as dethatching you could do that and then spread some seed to fill it in. Dethaching is is pretty tough on the lawn, so I usually wait until early fall to do that, though. That is the best planting time too. Link: http://www.scotts.com/ Don't worry, I'm not some Scotts rep or something I just like the stuff. You mentioned lots of moss,your soil may be acidic. A soil sample would be the best place to start. If you find your soil to be acidic then limestone is needed. Rule of thumb..50 lbs/1000 sg ft. The granulated lime is the easiest to spread,use a spreader that is set about 3/4 open. Go over the lawn as many times as it takes to use up the pr-determined amount of lime.(you'll need to measure lenght x width)The measurement will also help you determine how much seed you'll need. (5 to 8 lbs/1000sg ft is a good starting point) Also,as mentioned don't use any crabgrass preventer until your new seed has germinated,and has been mowed at least three times. Use a seed starter fertilizer at the time you sow. Stay away from ANY weed control products until you have established your new seedlings. (at least three mowings. HTH -- Go#40 42 12 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://NewsReader.Com/ 50 GB/Month |
#4
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Cheap man's lawn care
"bill cameron" wrote in message
... Just bought a house for the first time. My small lawn has the following problems Where are you located? -Tim |
#5
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Cheap man's lawn care
On Sun, 09 Mar 2003 20:57:39 +0000, bill cameron wrote:
Just bought a house for the first time. My small lawn has the following problems Moss to the max Broad leaf weeds Dandilions a small amount Weed grass a small amount New home owner on a budget...what should I do the first year, to have a decent lawn? Thinking power racking with a thatch attachment on the my lawnmower, then moss kill and repeat. Question. When do I go at the broad leaf weeds with local spray, before or after thatching? Weed grass, just dig out? Dandilions, just dig out? Moss: 2 reasons for moss. Reason 1 is due to soil ph and reason 2 is due to enviroment. With heavy moss infestations, I would suspect the lawn's enviroment. If the lawn doesn't drain well, the moss will grow. To correct this problem, you'll have to fix the drainage on the property. Broad leaf weeds, weed grass and dandilions: This is generally caused by neglect and or mowing too short. When the lawn is not fertilized on a regular basis, the grass gets weaker and thinner which allows more light to the lawn's surface which inturn sprouts more weed seeds. Also when you mow too short, the same thing happens. What I would recommend.... Test the lawn's ph. Adjust the lawn's ph if needed. I would thatch the lawn using a 'real' thatching machine. You can rent one for the day. When you thatch the lawn, you will be left with mostly dirt area where your lawn was. Call a couple of friends to come over and help rake up the lawn. You can compost the moss/grass or run it to the dump. (expect alot of moss/grass to get rid of) Reseed the lawn with a good grass seed that's right for your area/zone. Call your county's ag extenion office for the correct grass. After reseeding, it's best to cover your grass seed with peat moss. 1 large bail will cover 200 square feet of lawn. This will help with the seed germenation and help to keep the birds out of it also. After the seed sprouts, wait 2 to 4 weeks before you mow it. I tend to fertilize the lawn at this time with 21-3-7. DONOT use weed and feed type fertilizer untill the lawn's at least 4 months old. You will damage the new seedlings. If the lawn looks thin in the fall, reseed it again. With proper fertilization, watering and mowing, your lawn will look great at little cost to maintain. Contact your local master gardeners. This is the address to the one I belong to and it should work for your area. http://gardening.wsu.edu/ |
#6
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Cheap man's lawn care
On Mon, 10 Mar 2003 05:46:16 +0000, irrat8ed1 wrote:
I use Scotts brand products, and my lawn is great. If you kill the weeds and fertilize (and keep it watered) you will be amazed at how in a few weeks your lawn will be super green and thick. Seeding in the Spring and Fall is a great way to thicken it up too. Scotts has a "fungus control" product. After that I'd go with the 4 step program suggested for you area. (Be aware that if you use the crabgrass preventer you can't seed for about 8 weeks.) As for the dandelions...I hand spray those with weed-b-gone for broadleaf weeds. You may have to do it a couple of times a week for a few weeks...but it is worth it. They wont come back. If you dig out the dandelions it leaves some of the root and it will grow back again and again. As far as dethatching you could do that and then spread some seed to fill it in. Dethaching is is pretty tough on the lawn, so I usually wait until early fall to do that, though. That is the best planting time too. Link: http://www.scotts.com/ Don't worry, I'm not some Scotts rep or something I just like the stuff. You would be shocked nearly to death if you got your carpet analised for heavy metals and chemicals. Everytime you walk on your grass, you track more of it into your house and embed it into your carpet. My city had a testing program for a while... my test came back with really bad numbers and I ripped out the capet and installed pergo floors. |
#7
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Cheap man's lawn care
Thanks for all your responses...
I live in North Vancouver Canada, just north of Seattle. Lawn drains really well into niebours' that doesn't. Lots of sun, and as you can imagine A TON of rain each and EVERY year. I mean a TON of rain. As it turns out from talking to neibours, the previous owner never did anything with this lawn, escept mow it. Never reallly watered... never fertilzed and Never limed. From what I have hear from others, it would be impossible to over lime in this part of the world. I look forward to the power rake, moss kiss and seeding, Great ideas from all of you, and I thank you all. I have printed all your posts and have proudly placed them in my "house book" that I have started. Happy gardening Bill |
#9
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Cheap man's lawn care
"bill cameron" wrote in message ... Thanks for all your responses... I live in North Vancouver Canada, just north of Seattle. Lawn drains really well into niebours' that doesn't. Is Vancover really ready for lawn care already? We still have quite a bit of snow in MN... -Tim |
#10
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Cheap man's lawn care
"Tim Fischer" wrote:
"bill cameron" wrote in message ... Thanks for all your responses... I live in North Vancouver Canada, just north of Seattle. Lawn drains really well into niebours' that doesn't. Is Vancover really ready for lawn care already? We still have quite a bit of snow in MN... -Tim The ground is frozen in northern Ohio,but it's never too early to plan. -- Go#40 42 12 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://NewsReader.Com/ 50 GB/Month |
#11
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Cheap man's lawn care
wrote in message
... The ground is frozen in northern Ohio,but it's never too early to plan. Oh I agree, but if, as he said, he "*just* bought the house" how could he know all these problems already? -Tim |
#12
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Cheap man's lawn care
"Tim Fischer" wrote:
wrote in message ... The ground is frozen in northern Ohio,but it's never too early to plan. Oh I agree, but if, as he said, he "*just* bought the house" how could he know all these problems already? -Tim He mentioned talking to the neighbor,and it sounds like you could see those problems. I have to put price tags on those repairs. -- Go#40 42 12 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- http://NewsReader.Com/ 50 GB/Month |
#13
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Cheap man's lawn care
On Fri, 14 Mar 2003 02:45:20 +0000, Moparholi wrote:
"Tim Fischer" wrote: wrote in message ... The ground is frozen in northern Ohio,but it's never too early to plan. Oh I agree, but if, as he said, he "*just* bought the house" how could he know all these problems already? -Tim He mentioned talking to the neighbor,and it sounds like you could see those problems. I have to put price tags on those repairs. I live 40 miles south of Vancouver and own my own gardening compainy. I've already mowed some of my customers twice this year. I would gander that Bill has already mowed or is about to mow it and he can see the problems quite clearly. I do about 10 lawn repairs per season and it's right on time for Bill to be getting his supplies together for a thatch job. Depending on temperatures and the like, Bil will be able to thatch and reseed from last week in march to mid may. After that he should wait untill fall......... |
#14
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Cheap man's lawn care
I have lived in the same place for 12 yrs. The smartest thing I ever did was
letting a lawn care agency take over for a year. 1 yr! Thats it. Why try & fugre out this & that & buy this & get that?? I added it all up. Fertilizer, weed killer etc. It was cheaper to let them come in & get the grass on track. They do the work, there stuff there time. Now my yard is great & if i see a something out of place its an easy peasy fix in one tinky winky spot. Not the huge mess I started with befor ethey got it. -- Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at: http://bookcrossing.com/friend/2batgirl "bill cameron" wrote in message ... Just bought a house for the first time. My small lawn has the following problems Moss to the max Broad leaf weeds Dandilions a small amount Weed grass a small amount New home owner on a budget...what should I do the first year, to have a decent lawn? Thinking power racking with a thatch attachment on the my lawnmower, then moss kill and repeat. Question. When do I go at the broad leaf weeds with local spray, before or after thatching? Weed grass, just dig out? Dandilions, just dig out? Thanks bill |
#15
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Cheap man's lawn care
On 17/03/03 14:23, in article
ers.com, "2batgirl" wrote:17/03/03 14:23 I have lived in the same place for 12 yrs. The smartest thing I ever did was letting a lawn care agency take over for a year. 1 yr! Thats it. Why try & fugre out this & that & buy this & get that?? I added it all up. Fertilizer, weed killer etc. It was cheaper to let them come in & get the grass on track. They do the work, there stuff there time. Now my yard is great & if i see a something out of place its an easy peasy fix in one tinky winky spot. Not the huge mess I started with befor ethey got it. -- Books just wanna be FREE! See what I mean at: http://bookcrossing.com/friend/2batgirl "bill cameron" wrote in message ... Just bought a house for the first time. My small lawn has the following problems Moss to the max Broad leaf weeds Dandilions a small amount Weed grass a small amount New home owner on a budget...what should I do the first year, to have a decent lawn? Thinking power racking with a thatch attachment on the my lawnmower, then moss kill and repeat. Question. When do I go at the broad leaf weeds with local spray, before or after thatching? Weed grass, just Let me see...3 full years with Chemlawn and my yard so far looks no better than it did before I signed up. No Thanks... I have decided to do it on my own, even if it costs me more money, I cannot do any worse. If you ever do signup, you will have many pleading phone calls asking you to give them another try - even after telling them no way. My yard currently looks like crap. The only thing that I can recommend Chemlawn for is the lack of those yellow pests - everything else is a great let down. My two cents... |
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