ericgautier
Member
Anyone maintain their own lawn? Wondering what products you have success with? Planning on aerating and overseeding the lawn soon and wanted to see what "brand" to go with. 😕
Lawn Maintenance
- Thread starter ericgautier
- Start date
Arwen's Mom
Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains
Let the grass die and plant a ground cover. No weeding, no spraying, no mowing, some even flower, most stay green all year, no need to water, and people tend to not let their dogs poop on it.
ericgautier
Member
ericgautier
Member
rick81721
Lothar
My son does ours (advantage of having a teenager) - but if you saw our "lawn" you wouldn't be impressed. I'm like AM - as long as it's green I don't care that it's half weeds
Ian F
Well-Known Member
Ditto. Lawn care takes away from riding time.
Of course, it helps that everyone on my street has a similar lawn-care mentality. This Summer has been brutal with the rain and the resulting frequency of mowing. 😡
ericgautier
Member
First year home owner here and I do want to maintain a healthy lawn. My neighbors hire a service that I cannot afford unfortunately (LOL). I don't want the best looking lawn but I do want a nice green lawn. I've been putting some work into maintaining the lawn and honestly feels good to see it look nice. But I have plenty to learn, because it is not looking at nice as it did a few month back. So, the plan is to aerate and overseed soon to fill it in and make it thicker to help block out weeds.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ni2bnn8xblncux/lawn2.jpg (April)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vqlvtwim6zpc8z9/lawn1.jpg (Before / After)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ni2bnn8xblncux/lawn2.jpg (April)
https://www.dropbox.com/s/vqlvtwim6zpc8z9/lawn1.jpg (Before / After)
Grass is a ground cover that has been proven to be a best management practices to control soil erosion and at the same time provide an aesthetically pleasing compliment to the home landscape.
Eric, here is a useful link from the Rutgers Turfgrass Station. Also if you google Middlesex County Ag agent you can find some useful guidence regarding home lawns.
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=FS684
Selecting the right seed is key for a successful lawn, plus there are so many improved varieties on the market today that require less water and tolerate wear better.
Aeration is a good idea, rent a machine and go over your lawn in multiple directions once a year to promote healty roots. If you rent a seeder you have to make sure you have good seed to soil contact. If the seed does not come into contact with the soil and lays on top of the ground it will do nothing. Cutting seed into an existing lawn should be done in multiple directions and then water the shit out of it. Keep it moist, don't flood it but don't let it dry out.
Eric, here is a useful link from the Rutgers Turfgrass Station. Also if you google Middlesex County Ag agent you can find some useful guidence regarding home lawns.
http://njaes.rutgers.edu/pubs/publication.asp?pid=FS684
Selecting the right seed is key for a successful lawn, plus there are so many improved varieties on the market today that require less water and tolerate wear better.
Aeration is a good idea, rent a machine and go over your lawn in multiple directions once a year to promote healty roots. If you rent a seeder you have to make sure you have good seed to soil contact. If the seed does not come into contact with the soil and lays on top of the ground it will do nothing. Cutting seed into an existing lawn should be done in multiple directions and then water the shit out of it. Keep it moist, don't flood it but don't let it dry out.
I Ride Bikes
Well-Known Member
I was actually just thinking about this same thing today. First time homeowner myself. My lawn is decent right now and im not looking for a perfect lawn. I just want to keep it where its at now. I really dont have any tips for you but just wanted to say Im in the same boat. Having a well maintained home and lawn is something to be proud of.
rick81721
Lothar
Rule one of new home ownership - don't worry about what the neighbors think. Most of our neighbors have pro lawn services and underground sprinkler systems - their lawns are perfect. I think it's a waste of water, pollutes nearby streams with runoff and a waste of money - if they don't like my crappy lawn.. too bad!
Couldn't have said it better myself.
Just be aware of the temperatures when applying any turf program. You could quickly turn your nice green lawn into a straw wasteland.
Arwen's Mom
Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains
The chemicals used are terrible for the environment.
BTW, my variegated vinca with powder blue flowers is quite beautiful. Grows thick enough to choke out even dandelions, (which I miss) and the root system is so tough, well, need I go on? The cats like hiding in it too.
True story: before I let the vinca choke away all the grass, I allowed the dandelions to grow in my yard, myself, my sugar gliders, rabbit, and guinea pig all eat them. A neighbor told me I should spray and kill them all like he was doing in his yard, as we talk about it his wife pulls up from grocery shopping and is all happy she was able to buy dandelion leaves at the store to put in their salad. :hmmm:
another neighbor was trying to kill all the wild pansies (violets) in his yard. Another edible and nutritious "weed" and Lambs quarters too.
I am currently allowing english variegated ivy take over the back lawn as I am tired of cutting it.
For growing good grass, use a manure based fertilizer, and remember to water deeply occasionally as opposed to light watering constantly. Deep infrequent watering will encourage a deeper and stronger root system.
Rusty
Well-Known Member
keep it simple...do the aeration and overseed, spend good money on seed and do the scotts 4 or 5 step program (buy at walmart or home depot) at the right times of year (actually do it a couple weeks earlier than indicated for each step) and thats all you gotta do...2 seasons on the scotts plan and you will have a better lawn than the neighbors who pay someone....
ericgautier
Member
Thanks for the info! 🙂 I'm definitely planning on aerating and overseeding. I tried the Scotts program and didn't like the results. Last season (when we first moved in) I had a lawn service take care of the lawn (didn't have time to buy mower, etc..). The lawn turned out ok, but I guess.. I got what I paid for. Anyway, what I took away from his service is a fertilizing "schedule". Basically, he told me to follow the major holiday as a guideline for when to fertilize which consisted of:
Step 1: Around Easter - Crabgrass Preventer
Step 2: Around Memorial Day - Weed Control
Step 3: Around July 4th - Summerguard
Step 4: Around Labor Day - Winterguard plus weed control
Step 1 & 2 were good from my experience this year. But, Step 3 did me wrong. I followed directions exactly and even picked up a broadcast spreader (had a drop spreader before) to make sure I don't burn the lawn out. Anyway, long story short.. summerguard wasn't that impressive as say Step 1 & 2 at least from my experience.
I'm now coming up to Step 4.. and I am rethinking the whole Scott's program. Party because I have a little one and a dog and they like to play in the yard. I've been researching "organic" alternatives but most organic fertilizer do not have weed prevention. But, I think if I do the aeration/overseed and put down another round of fertilizer it'll give the grass a chance to grow thicker and crowd out any weeds come spring time.
Again, I'm new to this.. but looking/researching for alternative ways to keep/grow a health lawn w/o the chemicals from say a Scotts type of fertilizer.
Thanks again for the info everyone!!!
ericgautier
Member
This is why I'm looking for alternatives. Scotts and other "big" brands have good marketing and they can suck you in. I bought into the hype as well... but more research has lead me to an organic fertilizer Milorganite (http://milorganite.com/). I'm giving this a shot along with aerating/overseeding this fall. I'll report progress if any. 😉