Help with yard

[carrie30]

Good morning,

This is the first time I've posted on these boards, but I'm hoping that someone might have some advice about our yard. We moved into a new construction home last May. We have 5 acres total, and about an acre and a half to two acres of that has been totally cleared--the rest is woods. Grass does not grow easily in our area (southern part of St. Mary's County, clay soil), and I'm not sure that I want to/can spend thousands of dollars installing a sprinkler system and doing everything else that comes with getting grass to grow. So, I have two questions: (1) can someone recommend an evergreen ground cover that would work well in clay soil that gets a lot of sun? and (2) can someone recommend a landscape designer in our area who might be able to help us design a plan that we can work on over the next couple of years?

Thanks so much in advance!

[Vince]

I can tell you one thing, don't waste your money on a sprinkler system for 1 or 2 acres of grass. Too much money to install and too much money just to use it depending on the water system you're on. If you're on a well..... Sorry, no recommendations for a landscaper. I do my own. I can tell you one thing, with new ground you're going to need lots of lime and some fertilzer. And now is the time to get it down on the ground. When your lawn finally does come in, you'll need a weed and feed. Chickweed takes over everything around here. I fight it every Spring.

[desertrat (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Vince

I can tell you one thing, don't waste your money on a sprinkler system for 1 or 2 acres of grass. Too much money to install and too much money just to use it depending on the water system you're on. If you're on a well..... Sorry, no recommendations for a landscaper. I do my own. I can tell you one thing, with new ground you're going to need lots of lime and some fertilzer. And now is the time to get it down on the ground. When your lawn finally does come in, you'll need a weed and feed. Chickweed takes over everything around here. I fight it every Spring.

That was three things.

Funny, the first few years in my house I had no problem with the chickweed at all. Now it's a constant battle and I think I'm losing.

[latinamomma]

You may want to talk to Richard Wentworth at Wentworth Nursery in Oakville or call the Charlotte Hall office and ask for Sally Oliver...she is the green house manager and is very helpful with knowing what groundcovers would work best for your yard.

[aps45819 (Premo)]

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

[huntr1]

Originally Posted by latinamomma

You may want to talk to Richard Wentworth at Wentworth Nursery in Oakville or call the Charlotte Hall office and ask for Sally Oliver...she is the green house manager and is very helpful with knowing what groundcovers would work best for your yard.

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.

[toppick08 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by carrie30

Good morning,

This is the first time I've posted on these boards, but I'm hoping that someone might have some advice about our yard. We moved into a new construction home last May. We have 5 acres total, and about an acre and a half to two acres of that has been totally cleared--the rest is woods. Grass does not grow easily in our area (southern part of St. Mary's County, clay soil), and I'm not sure that I want to/can spend thousands of dollars installing a sprinkler system and doing everything else that comes with getting grass to grow. So, I have two questions: (1) can someone recommend an evergreen ground cover that would work well in clay soil that gets a lot of sun? and (2) can someone recommend a landscape designer in our area who might be able to help us design a plan that we can work on over the next couple of years?

Thanks so much in advance!

kudzu, but it's not an evergreen......

[kom526]

Spread pelletized lime on your yard to help with the clay/soil. This FALL, get your yard thoroughly aerated and over seed with a quality seed. Apply a winter fertilizer in mid to late November and then make sure you have a decent lawn mower for next year.

You can have a great lawn in southern St. Mary's with a little bit of work.

[Vince]

Originally Posted by huntr1

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.

You have grass now?!

[toppick08 (Premo)]

Originally Posted by kom526

Spread pelletized lime on your yard to help with the clay/soil. This FALL, get your yard thoroughly aerated and over seed with a quality seed. Apply a winter fertilizer in mid to late November and then make sure you have a decent lawn mower for next year.

You can have a great lawn in southern St. Mary's with a little bit of work.

Zoysia.