weeds

[Gaspar]

I'm going to do one application of weed & feed on the front yard, then over-seed with Bermuda on the sunny areas in a few weeks and fertilize the crap out of it from now on.  I managed to choke out crab grass at the first house I ever owned by simply feeding and watering the existing Bermuda.

Now that I'm in the same place most weekends and nights, I actually have time to properly take care of a lawn.  My fescue over-seeding in the back yard last fall was a success.  I just did my spring over-seed in the remaining bare areas and can't wait to see a full lawn front and back now.

Oh, and also kudos to Recyclemichael:  the Garden Gourmet composter works like a charm.  I thought I'd ignored it too much last year and it didn't get enough sunlight for heat.  Turns out, I got around 50-70 pounds of really rich soil out of it which came in really handy for some garden top soil, potting soil for herbs and a little extra to mix in with fescue seed.  MC and I moved it to a sunnier spot last night, I'm anxious to see how much quicker we get good soil out of it now.

A couple things to note.  Bermuda does not seed very well.  That is why people prefer to sod over seed with a bermuda lawn.  Also, germination with most grass seeds takes place with cooler temperatures at night.  Fescue needs night time temps in the 50s, and bermuda in the low 60s.  If you are going to weed & feed wait at least six weeks after your seed germinates.  Most broadleaf weed killers will not kill grass, but will stunt what is called "adventurous root growth."  If you expose newly germinated grass to the chemical, it will stunt the root growth resulting in die-out during the warm season.

[Conan71]

Bermuda does not seed very well. 

Then how do they make sod? 

[Gaspar]

Then how do they make sod? 

Well, there's a mommy sod and a daddy sod. . .actually they use plugs, or more recently, companies are actually spraying a mix of paper or peat pulp and bermuda rhizomes. 

It just takes so long for Bermuda to build a root base from seed that the purchase of bermuda seed is really a waste.  If you have just a few bare spots, you can buy a single roll of bermuda at Steve's and break it apart in a wheelbarrow, then rake the area, sprinkle with the cut-up rhizomes and establish a rather large area without investing in much sod.  That will produce a more reliable result than seed!

[RecycleMichael]

Spraying pulp mixed with bermuda seed has proven very successful on highway easements, especially on severe slopes. 

[Conan71]

That's the problem, I have a few spots in various places around the front yard that were under the shade of the river birch I had removed last fall.  I'd thought about the sod route, but didn't want uneven spots from it.  If I "plug" it using a few strips of sod, how far should I space the plugs?

[Gaspar]

That's the problem, I have a few spots in various places around the front yard that were under the shade of the river birch I had removed last fall.  I'd thought about the sod route, but didn't want uneven spots from it.  If I "plug" it using a few strips of sod, how far should I space the plugs?

Depends on how fast you want it to fill.  If you do every 8" in a grid it will fill very quickly.  If you just tear apart a square of bermuda, spread it evenly and cover with a little peat, it will cover even faster.  Bermuda is so invasive!

Is there any shade in that area now?

[RecycleMichael]

I have a front yard of zoysia and a back yard of bermuda and fescue mixed. I love the zoysia the most. If I were to ever sod a large new lot, I would pick it.

[Conan71]

Depends on how fast you want it to fill.  If you do every 8" in a grid it will fill very quickly.  If you just tear apart a square of bermuda, spread it evenly and cover with a little peat, it will cover even faster.  Bermuda is so invasive!

Is there any shade in that area now?

There is some shade from the remaining oak tree in the front yard, but not near enough to get away with a fescue or rye.  Bermuda should be really happy there.

[Gaspar]

There is some shade from the remaining oak tree in the front yard, but not near enough to get away with a fescue or rye.  Bermuda should be really happy there.

I would defiantly go the Plug/rhizome avenue.  If you do seed, you may see cute little sproutlings in 10 days, but the heat of the summer will zap them.  If you have some good bermuda in the back yard or on a side yard, you can also dig some of it up and shred it to save even more money.  Buying bermuda in Oklahoma is like buying canned air.  It's everywhere and spreads so quickly.

[Conan71]

I would defiantly go the Plug/rhizome avenue.  If you do seed, you may see cute little sproutlings in 10 days, but the heat of the summer will zap them.  If you have some good bermuda in the back yard or on a side yard, you can also dig some of it up and shred it to save even more money.  Buying bermuda in Oklahoma is like buying canned air.  It's everywhere and spreads so quickly.

I appreciate the tip, you probably just saved me from a frustrating mistake.  I'll get a couple of rolls of Bermuda sod and plug it.

Many thanks!

[Gaspar]

I appreciate the tip, you probably just saved me from a frustrating mistake.  I'll get a couple of rolls of Bermuda sod and plug it.

Many thanks!

You're welcome.  I used to be a grass expert back in college.

[Conan71]

You're welcome.  I used to be a grass expert back in college.

I was a weed expert.  Same difference, I suspect.

[Red Arrow]

I would defiantly go the Plug/rhizome avenue.  If you do seed, you may see cute little sproutlings in 10 days, but the heat of the summer will zap them.  If you have some good bermuda in the back yard or on a side yard, you can also dig some of it up and shred it to save even more money.  Buying bermuda in Oklahoma is like buying canned air.  It's everywhere and spreads so quickly.

In my pepper garden, in the (gravel) driveway, in the cracks between blocks in the sidewalk to the front door....   Everywhere but the lawn.

[heironymouspasparagus]

That's the problem, I have a few spots in various places around the front yard that were under the shade of the river birch I had removed last fall.  I'd thought about the sod route, but didn't want uneven spots from it.  If I "plug" it using a few strips of sod, how far should I space the plugs?

I didn't see a mention of what type grass is around the spots from the river birch.  If bermuda is there, the new stuff should do well, but if it won't grow right next to the bare spot, you may still have too much shade.


Zoysia is great!  Does well in the shady spots I put it in, but takes a  LONG time to fill in if use plugs.  Even sod seems to take more than expected time to become established.  I have about 1,000 sq feet in two sections now that are doing well even with fairly heavy shade - and it really isn't rated as a "shade" grass!