Lawn care?

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by hudson, Apr 17, 2015.

  1. GoodForAnother

    GoodForAnother insubordinate and churlish
    Staff Donor TMB OG
    Kansas State WildcatsKansas City RoyalsKansas City ChiefsSporting Kansas CityTottenham HotspurBig 8 ConferenceBig 12 ConferenceCoors LightFormula 1

    rent a sod cutter, cut it out, flip it upside down in the same spot, it’ll die and then become good nutrients for your new grass. or just do st aug around back (prob what i would do cuz lazy)
     
  2. Lucky24Seven

    Lucky24Seven Ain't nothing slick to a can of oil
    Donor
    Indiana HoosiersNotre Dame Fighting IrishChicago CubsChicago BullsChicago BearsChicago Blackhawks

    I think there is merit to yearly soil sampling. I always tested my greens at the end of year and adjusted my fertility schedule based on plant needs
     
    THF likes this.
  3. NothingIsOT

    NothingIsOT Prom pic
    Donor
    Miami MarlinsMiami DolphinsFlorida PanthersMiami Heat

    No. Once it’s “brown” it’s dead. Dead grass doesn’t regrow. Same thing as your head. New growth comes from the scalp. Once you have split ends, you can’t repair hair, it’s already dead. It’s all cosmetic when you “repair” split ends and any new growth comes from inside your scalp.

    That’s why people usually “scalp” (ie cut) the entire lawn as low as possible, so the sun gets closer to the ground so new growth can come from beneath the surface. Obviously grass needs sun to grow, so dead grass just impedes that process.
     
    Where Eagles Dare likes this.
  4. JacobPalmer

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersGreen Bay Packers

    Last year after the winterkill when I aerated and rented a seeder. (May 19th)
    Screenshot 2023-05-09 at 11.12.12 AM.png
    This morning
    Screenshot 2023-05-09 at 11.12.40 AM.png
     
  5. leroi

    leroi -
    Donor
    South Carolina GamecocksGrateful Dead

    that looks to me like a conifer seedling. maybe a pine tree, juniper, cypress or fir.
     
    Lucky24Seven likes this.
  6. UncleJesse

    UncleJesse Did I invent hip-hop? No, but I was there.
    Donor TMB OG
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesPhoenix SunsDallas Cowboys

    Congrats on your new Christmas Tree farm!
     
    Lucky24Seven likes this.
  7. leroi

    leroi -
    Donor
    South Carolina GamecocksGrateful Dead

    zoysia is not necessarily dead when it turns brown. the roots are still alive, the plant has just gone dormant.
     
    Lucky24Seven and Cabs like this.
  8. NothingIsOT

    NothingIsOT Prom pic
    Donor
    Miami MarlinsMiami DolphinsFlorida PanthersMiami Heat

    Sorry. Think we’re saying the same thing. I’m saying you don’t regrow brown grass. You should get rid of brown grass, it does nothing for you. You replace it with the roots that create new green grass. And roots require sun, so clear out the clutter so more sun can get to the roots.
     
    Where Eagles Dare likes this.
  9. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Texas Tech Red RaidersTexas RangersSan Antonio SpursDallas CowboysKansas City ChiefsAustin FCTexas Tech Red Raiders alt

    I would like to walk barefoot through your yard
     
    RJF-GUMP and JacobPalmer like this.
  10. Lucky24Seven

    Lucky24Seven Ain't nothing slick to a can of oil
    Donor
    Indiana HoosiersNotre Dame Fighting IrishChicago CubsChicago BullsChicago BearsChicago Blackhawks

    FWIW roots do not require sun. Air however is very important and relieving compaction. Brown grass is usually dormant grass that, from the crown, will grown new green leaf tissue. I’ve also never heard of scalping the grass to make it grow better. I would scalp an area if I were going to reseed it so the seed has better soil contact.

    When you have dead grass, you will start to see more weed growth and bare soil in the area.
     
    Lip, leroi and Cabs like this.
  11. Cabs

    Cabs eatin' fried okra with Oprah
    Donor

    Yea, I’ve never heard of scalping grass to make it grow coming out of dormancy.
     
    leroi likes this.
  12. Lucky24Seven

    Lucky24Seven Ain't nothing slick to a can of oil
    Donor
    Indiana HoosiersNotre Dame Fighting IrishChicago CubsChicago BullsChicago BearsChicago Blackhawks

    I think the misconception may come from when people reseed an area and are hesitant to cut early. Then, after their first cut which will be scalped, the grass will be encouraged to send out rhizomes, stolons, or both to recover from the cut. You should cut new seedlings as soon as possible, as long as you’re not pulling them out of the ground as you are mowing.

    And furthermore, you should cut as late into the season as you can to help combat snow mold. Long turf stand are a habitat for them and can help with spring green up.
     
  13. Degausser

    Degausser #NewProfilePic
    Donor
    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta Braves

    I've always heard to scalp your lawn at the beginning of the growing season to get better growth, but I never knew if it was a myth, so I never do it.
     
  14. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
    Donor
    South Carolina GamecocksAtlanta BravesCarolina PanthersTottenham Hotspur

    Anybody understand what I can rotate Strobe Pro G with to prevent resistance this summer?
     
  15. Lucky24Seven

    Lucky24Seven Ain't nothing slick to a can of oil
    Donor
    Indiana HoosiersNotre Dame Fighting IrishChicago CubsChicago BullsChicago BearsChicago Blackhawks

    It is a myth.
     
    Cabs and Degausser like this.
  16. Lucky24Seven

    Lucky24Seven Ain't nothing slick to a can of oil
    Donor
    Indiana HoosiersNotre Dame Fighting IrishChicago CubsChicago BullsChicago BearsChicago Blackhawks

    What are you trying to target? Azoxystrobin and Propiconizloe are good systemic fungicides. Clorothalonil is a good, low resistance contact fungicide that covers a wide range of stuff. Allows you to hit both contact and systemic modes of action. Good idea in mixing something else with a DMI fungicide to not promote fungicide resistance.
     
  17. Degausser

    Degausser #NewProfilePic
    Donor
    Georgia BulldogsAtlanta Braves

    These are popping up in my yard now too. Never seen them before.
     
    Baseballman86 likes this.
  18. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
    Donor
    South Carolina GamecocksAtlanta BravesCarolina PanthersTottenham Hotspur

    Last summer I just had a fungus issue in my backyard that killed a lot of my fescue. Trying to prevent that in the warm and moist summer.
     
    Lucky24Seven likes this.
  19. Baseballman86

    Baseballman86 Well-Known Member
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta BravesAtlanta Falcons

    My lawn guy said it's germinating pine trees and happening all over town currently. He sprayed something to allegedly take care of them so we'll see how it responds
     
    Lucky24Seven likes this.
  20. Tommy Jefferson

    Tommy Jefferson Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersKansas JayhawksKansas City RoyalsKansas City Chiefs

    I have two issues in my yard which made things not level. One is a rut on our property line from a skid steer and the other is a bumpy spot in our front yard, I think from how the sod was installed. Is the solution the same for both? Seems to be a lot of controversy everywhere in reading if leveling with sand or topsoils is better
     
  21. leroi

    leroi -
    Donor
    South Carolina GamecocksGrateful Dead

    if i need to drain a low spot in the lawn, i prefer grassy swales. find the direction the water should go, direct it there by digging a very shallow swale and reseeding it with grass.

    deliberately detaining the water and turning it into a rain garden is another option. I use super thirsty plants like bald cypress, buttonbush and swamp milkweed to dry out muddy areas.

    mosquitos love to breed in wet sand, so that would be my rationale for avoiding that. i would think topsoil would be the better choice for a lawn, but idk, maybe it depends on the type of soil that is already there.

    i have also noticed that core aeration improves my lawn drainage, which might help if the problem is really subtle
     
    #2471 leroi, May 17, 2023
    Last edited: May 17, 2023
    arrdub and Tommy Jefferson like this.
  22. The Hebrew Husker

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersSeattle MarinersColorado AvalanceWWENebraska Cornhuskers alt

    I think it might depend on the type of grass too. If it’s a cool season like KBG or fescue, it seems like top soil is what I’ve always seen used when I see YouTube videos (also what I’ve used anytime I have some low spots to fill). Then I just overseed it after it’s leveled out.
     
    Lip and Tommy Jefferson like this.
  23. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsDetroit Red WingsGeorge Washington Colonials

    Anybody fuck with microclover seed? Been seeing a lot of talk about it on NextDoor by the neighborhood folk
     
  24. The Hebrew Husker

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersSeattle MarinersColorado AvalanceWWENebraska Cornhuskers alt

    It stayed fairly cold here through April, then in May we had record low rainfall of 0.17 inches combined with temps in the 90s. I think my lawn looked good for about 2 weeks.

    Starting off June with about 0.02 inches this morning though!
     
  25. LetItSoak

    LetItSoak Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Our lawn company out down preemergent in mid-April. Can I seed some bare spots yet or do I need to wait until fall?
     
  26. The Hebrew Husker

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersSeattle MarinersColorado AvalanceWWENebraska Cornhuskers alt

    I think I’ve typically seen it’s “active” for 6-8 weeks so you should be close unless they plan to do a 2nd application.

    Only concern might be the heat depending on where you’re at if it’s a cool season grass.
     
    LetItSoak likes this.
  27. LetItSoak

    LetItSoak Well-Known Member
    Donor

    It's zoysia in Atlanta so I think I'll be alright but we'll see
     
  28. The Hebrew Husker

    Donor
    Nebraska CornhuskersSeattle MarinersColorado AvalanceWWENebraska Cornhuskers alt

    Another thing you can do is put down some fresh soil on the bare spot to act as a barrier between the seed and preemergent. Then add a little more on top of the seed.

    I’ve done this before when my spreader accidentally spilled and burned a small spot in my yard.
     
    LetItSoak likes this.
  29. Stone Cold Steve Austin

    Stone Cold Steve Austin Tickler Extraordinaire
    Donor
    Alabama Crimson TideAtlanta Braves

    Have you tried more Quikrete?
     
    Louis Holth and LetItSoak like this.
  30. Louis Holth

    Louis Holth but we also just might be those motherfuckers
    Donor
    South Carolina GamecocksAtlanta BravesCarolina PanthersTottenham Hotspur

    I did! Fungus problems no more!
     
  31. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington CommandersAtlanta United

    I'm hoping this works, but I can't find Zeon Zoysia "plugs" anywhere so I'm just going to make my own out of sod. I bought a 3" bulb cutter and picking up 80 sqft of sod (8 Rolls).

    I believe this gives 160 "plugs" per roll so I'm planting 1040 holes this weekend. Seems excessive
     
  32. LetItSoak

    LetItSoak Well-Known Member
    Donor

    Supersod up in Cartersville sells the sod only but you could probably buy some and make your own if they will sell individual pieces
     
  33. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington CommandersAtlanta United

    Yeah, just ordered from them. Picking up tomorrow down by the airport. Buy 3 rolls get one 1 free for Father's day!
     
    LetItSoak and bigred77 like this.
  34. LetItSoak

    LetItSoak Well-Known Member
    Donor

    How much was it and how many sq ft does that cover? I've got a few bare spots that will probably fill in but I'd rather plug
     
  35. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington CommandersAtlanta United

    It was $15 for a roll that is 2'x5' or 10sqft. I've got a couple bare spots where contractors stomped it down dead this winter working through the rain.
     
    One Two, LetItSoak and bigred77 like this.
  36. LetItSoak

    LetItSoak Well-Known Member
    Donor

    That's perfect, I figured they'd have some ridiculous minimum purchase
     
  37. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington CommandersAtlanta United

    With pick up they don't. Seems day availability is wonky. I can't pick up Saturday. I have to pick up tomorrow.
     
  38. ramszoolander

    ramszoolander Guess what? Vulcan butt!
    Donor
    West Virginia MountaineersBirmingham LegionUnited States Men's National Soccer Team

    Hold on, BHM or airport up there? I might jump at this if it's down here.
     
  39. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington CommandersAtlanta United

    One Two, ramszoolander and LetItSoak like this.
  40. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington CommandersAtlanta United

    Cutting plugs out of sod is much harder than I expected
     
    One Two, LetItSoak and bigred77 like this.
  41. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington CommandersAtlanta United

    One roll took me 90 minutes. I have 8.

    Time to pivot
     
    One Two likes this.
  42. Where Eagles Dare

    Where Eagles Dare The Specialist Show On Earth
    Donor
    Auburn TigersAtlanta BravesWashington CommandersAtlanta United

    I al.ost bought a 3" drill for the holes, but cutting the grass would have still been a massive bitch
     
  43. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsDetroit Red WingsGeorge Washington Colonials

    Anyone use a gardening/landscaping service for things other than mowing? Trying to get an idea of pricing. Folks I spoke with today said it’s a 3 man crew and each of them are $75/hour.

    Seems high to be paying $225/hour, but I don’t know shit.
     
  44. infected donkey

    infected donkey Arkansas Razorbacks
    Donor
    Arkansas RazorbacksChicago CubsAvengersBarAndGrillSoutheastern Conference

    My guy charged $25/hr for each of his minions to do some work.
     
  45. Cabs

    Cabs eatin' fried okra with Oprah
    Donor

    Wit
    without knowing the size of your yard that seems hella steep
     
  46. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsDetroit Red WingsGeorge Washington Colonials

    The lot is only .3 acres, but it doesn’t matter the size of the yard - that is their hourly rate for small or big jobs.

    the ugly part is he estimated the initial clean up visit would be at least an 11 hour day for 3 of them, so you’re looking at like $2500. Seems insane to me
     
    gilstein21 likes this.
  47. gilstein21

    gilstein21 Tight Rip 26 Seal Right
    Donor
    Auburn TigersSt. Louis CardinalsGreen Bay PackersWyoming Cowboys

    How many dead bodies and rusted out cars you got on the lot?
     
  48. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Texas Tech Red RaidersTexas RangersSan Antonio SpursDallas CowboysKansas City ChiefsAustin FCTexas Tech Red Raiders alt

    $75 an hour per person is like paying for a supervisor/foreman for every guy they have on site
     
  49. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsDetroit Red WingsGeorge Washington Colonials

    this is useful info
     
  50. Lip

    Lip Well-Known Member
    Donor
    Michigan State SpartansDetroit LionsDetroit Red WingsGeorge Washington Colonials

    Haven’t found the bodies yet. Probably hidden by the overgrowth
     
    One Two likes this.