chestercheeto48

So three years ago when the wife and I purchased our home we inherited a yard that was in pretty sorry shape after being neglicted for 8 months or so. We had your typical weeds, broad leaf grasses and other issues. After battling hard for the last three years I think the tide has started to turn to my favor. I hardly have a dandelion in the yard. My grass is growing in thicker and greener. Here is what I do:

-Mow every 4-7 days with a sharp blade depending on how much rain we have, if I have fertilized, etc. I try to mow often as it helps to grow a deeper root system. When I mow I have the blades raised a little higher (like 3"). Yeah the grass looks a little longer but from what I have read it helps in times of less rain and helps to choke out other weeds.

-April (during my spring break) I spread a pre-emergent weed and feed on the lawn. I have tried both the cheap store brands and the more well known (Scotts) and they both work as fertilizer but the Scotts brand kicks ass in the 'Weed" part of the weed and feed.

-Two-three weeks later I spray down the yard with the Weed'B'Gone yard spray to get any of those dandelions that survived. I also water periodically during the summer using a timer to control the amount I am putting down. I try to aim for a half inch a week.

-Memorial Day Weekend I hit it with Scotts fertilizer with weed control.

-4th of July I hit it with a regular fertilzer

-Middle/Late September I overseed the yard and water when needed.

-Late October I start to mow the lawn every other day or so when the leaves start to fall. I have three huge trees on my property two maple and some other species which sucks ass for leaves. The first year I was in the house I had 40 - 50gallon bags of leaves on the curb from the trees and I decided never again. So last year I decided to mulch them on the yard. I simply raised up the mower deck and ran around the yard twice in opposing directions. Once the leaves really started to fall I went around a third time with the bag on and the deck all the way up. I only had two bags of leaves on the curb this year. My neighbor was pissed that I spent like 2 hours total this year to his entire weekend raking and sucking up the leaves with a leaf blower.

- After the last time mulching I spread winterizer on the lawn. Apparently Nitrogen helps to jump start the micro organisms that break down the mulched leaves. When spring hit I had very little left over leaves from last fall. The key is to multch when it is dry and to get the pieces very small and don't cover up all of your lawn. You should be able to see the grass through the multched leaves.


Some other things I am looking into:

-I want to Aerate the yard at some point.

-I need to de-thatch the lawn this next spring

-I want to roll the lawn to help flatten out the bumps and ant hills that I have decimated

-I need to burn out a stump in the back yard - going to try that this weekend.


So what do you guys do if anything for your lawn?

briansol

My lawn is a total disaster. If i had money, I would dig it all up and lay down sod. lol. I have grubs like crazy, more weeds than grass. I all but gave up on it last year. This year isn't looking much better.

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1997 2050sqft Split Level

chestercheeto48

LOL - I hear you. You just have to start small like I did. It doesn't cost that much if you do it yourself and don't expect immediate results. It has taken me three summers to get where I am at now.

briansol

I'm at the point where i have more weeds/crabgrass than grass in my yard. the grass dies, the weeds are green.... so it still looks ok from the road. but up close, the lawn sucks

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1997 2050sqft Split Level