Help with yard

[crabcake]

Originally Posted by aps45819

The concept is that you are supposed to buy the topsoil that the builder removed.

They sell it to someone who comes in and trucks it off, so that when you move in, you get to buy it back ... instead of piling it up in a corner to do the construction and respreading it once they're done. Bastards!

Originally Posted by toppick08

Zoysia.

Even zoysia needs a good topsoil base to grow. I had zoysia sod laid in my front yard a year and a half ago, and I brought in a truck load of top soil to give it a good base for the same reasons (clay and rock).

One thing I've learned about landscaping -- if you're going to spend the money to make your yard beautiful, spend the money to make it last. It will cost more, but the results are worth it. There's nothing more frustrating than dumping money into something that looks great for a couple months, then dies, only to need to be replaced/redone.

[carrie30]

Thanks to everyone for the good advice. I still feel overwhelmed with the whole process but at least have some good information to start from!

[toppick08 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by carrie30

Thanks to everyone for the good advice. I still feel overwhelmed with the whole process but at least have some good information to start from!

bermuda grass does well too, in any soil, if you don't mind the brown look in winter.....

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by toppick08

bermuda grass does well too, in any soil, if you don't mind the brown look in winter.....

You can't get the seed in MD, it will have to be sprigged in.

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by kom526

You should do your over seeding and lime in the late fall to early winter.
We are considered "Northeast" at this website:Yardcare.com • all that your yard can be

You shouln't wait that long...you really want to do it between August 10th and September 10th. That is the optimum time to make sure your grass has enough reserves to last through winter. Grass seeded later than that will probably survive, but it will not be nearly as hardy in the spring.

[toppick08 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

You can't get the seed in MD, it will have to be sprigged in.

I can get all the bermuda seed she needs..........:Yay:

[Chain729 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by huntr1

Sally has been very helpful to me with my yard/plants.

As for grass, WalMart sells a proprietary brand of seed, "Perfect Seed". This stuff is GREAT. Darn near idiot proof (in other words, I can grow it). For the completely bare area, get some builder grade seed. It'll be a combination of annual rye and fescue seed. The annual rye will come in fast and get some grass growing to keep your dirt in place and provide some "cover" for the fescue while waiting for the fescue to come in and get established. This is generally a relatively inexpensive seed. Put it down and then put a good tall fescue down over it. Use a starter fertilizer when you do the seeding. Grass is not a quick fix when dealing with 2 acres. It's going to take time to get it like you want it. I seed my entire yard every year and then focus on a particular area for extra attention each year. I now have grass over most of my yard, but it has taken 5 years to get there. My problem is I have to deal with hills, and the water runoff washed away the seed until the grass could fill in and hold it further and further up the hill.

Tall fescue can and will grow in clay. I bought a bag of the turf type and a bag of "starter fertilizer." Threw both in the back yard without using straw or a spreader, or bothering to water it, and sure enough the crap grew without a problem.

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by Chain729

Tall fescue can and will grow in clay. I bought a bag of the turf type and a bag of "starter fertilizer." Threw both in the back yard without using straw or a spreader, or bothering to water it, and sure enough the crap grew without a problem.

The Perfect Seed he's talking about is tall fescue, creeping red fescue, and Kentucky bluegrass. Something for sun, shade, and to fill in the gaps. And it has a special coating on it.

[greenman]

Just stay away from Wentworth Nursery- a total rip off, high prices, poor employees, crappy dirty stores........ There are many others to choose from that are way better.