First house - Keeping the grass alive?

[wankel7]

And maybe even green?

So, what do I need to do to make sure the lawn doesn't die on me?

How often do I have to water?

Is that aerating stuff worth the money?

I have some bare spots under a huge tree. Will the grass ever grow there?

James

[Devaclis]

Ask anyone who has been to our house. I KNOW how to keep a yard lookin good!! It is tough to explain on the internet tho. You would have to see my yard, and my techniques, in person.

[wankel7]

Ask anyone who has been to our house. I KNOW how to keep a yard lookin good!! It is tough to explain on the internet tho. You would have to see my yard, and my techniques, in person.

You make it sounds like there is more to it than...watering?

[salsashark]

1. fertilize on major holiday
2. Aerate in the spring - yes it's worth it
3. Water on whatever days your water district allows

4. When you get sick of fussing with it, rip it out or hire professionals.

[wankel7]

I got a pamphlet for aerating. They charge $30...is that about right? The lot is about 10k sqft.

James

[asp_125]

If your soil has high clay content (most soils around here), then aeration is pretty well a given. Water whenever it's your watering day, but it's better to water in the early morning so the grass doesn't soak overnight and get mildew. Use a sharp mower blade, to cut the grass rather than ripping at it. Automatic in-ground sprinklers..FTW

[wankel7]

I have an irrigation system but I haven't started it yet. Some of the sprinkler heads look jacked.

James

[bulldog]

1. fertilize on major holiday
2. Aerate in the spring - yes it's worth it
3. Water on whatever days your water district allows

4. When you get sick of fussing with it, rip it out or hire professionals. I've always fertilized after aerating. Is that ok?

And is there anything better to use than the manual four plug tool that you have to step on each time without spending over $100 dollars for a self propelled. I've seen the shoe aerating tool, but it looks like it just pokes holes and does not pull the plug up.

This is the manual one I am talking about http://www.cleanairgardening.com/laaeto.html

and these are the shoe ones
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/aeratorshoes.html

[salsashark]

I got a pamphlet for aerating. They charge $30...is that about right? The lot is about 10k sqft.

James

yep - 30 to 40 bucks is typical. It will cost you 50 to rent the aerator from Home Depot for four hours and do it yourself.


I have an irrigation system but I haven't started it yet. Some of the sprinkler heads look jacked.

James

Get used to working on it. Once you get the proper tools, it's easy... just frustrating. I bought my house a couple of years ago and am still working on the sprinkler system.


I've always fertilized after aerating. Is that ok?

And is there anything better to use than the manual four plug tool that you have to step on each time without spending over $100 dollars for a self propelled. I've seen the shoe aerating tool, but it looks like it just pokes holes and does not pull the plug up.

This is the manual one I am talking about http://www.cleanairgardening.com/laaeto.html

and these are the shoe ones
http://www.cleanairgardening.com/aeratorshoes.html

Anything to get the fertilizer down into the soil is beneficial. The hand tool is the best, but if you have a huge yard, it's a ton of work. I wouldn't waste my time with the shoes because they don't penetrate deep enough or large enough... no comments Sully! :lol:

[~Barn~]

Here's an article from Colorado State Extention. They've been offering up handy lawn-care advise for a longtime now.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/garden/07202.html

[asp_125]

Those shoes are useless unless you use them after a good soaking rain, or right after snowmelt. I have them and they either get clogged with clay mud or you trip on rocky ground. Never again, pay someone to do it right.

Sprinkler heads are easy to replace, they screw in. Just unscrew the old one and take it to Home Depot etc to match.

[dchd1130]

the shoes are worthless all you are doing is compacting the dirt. You need something that pulls a plug. $30 is avg. 10,000 sq ft is above avg size, so thats a deal.

[Flip]

REVIVE- The stuff smells, but I think it works. And aerating.

[Jim_Vess]

+1 for REVIVE (the granular, not the liquid)

It's great stuff and non-toxic for pets. Although, if you have dogs they will roll around in it.

[I`m Batman]

I use Scotts Turf Builder with weed control and water smart technology. No weeds and my lawn is much greener and thicker than my neighbors.

[dapper]

Anything to get the fertilizer down into the soil is beneficial. The hand tool is the best, but if you have a huge yard, it's a ton of work. I wouldn't waste my time with the shoes because they don't penetrate deep enough or large enough... no comments Sully! :lol:

Urine is a liquid waste product of the body secreted by the kidneys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kidney) by a process of filtration from blood (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood) called urination (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urination) and excreted (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excreted) through the urethra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urethra). Cellular metabolism generates numerous waste compounds, many rich in nitrogen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitrogen), that require elimination from the bloodstream (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodstream). This waste is eventually expelled from the body in a process known as micturition (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Micturition), the primary method for excreting water-soluble chemicals from the body. These chemicals can be detected and analyzed by urinalysis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urinalysis). In pregnant women, amniotic fluid (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniotic_fluid) is closely related to urine, and can be analyzed by amniocentesis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amniocentesis).
The pH (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH) of urine is close to neutral (7) but can normally vary between 4.5 and 8.Have a beer & fertilize your yard with your own nitrogen processor. You should see my yard :lol: ;)

Here's an article from Colorado State Extention. They've been offering up handy lawn-care advise for a longtime now.

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/Pubs/garden/07202.html
Well done Brandon!