Any tips for a better lawn?

[mick67]

My lawn looks like garbage. It's generally green, but there's nothing that resembles grass. There's some stuff that looks like it's in the moss family.

Does anyone have any ideas for what I can do? I'd prefer not to till the whole thing up, remove all remnants of the trash that's there, and lay sod.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[grinningghost]

Lawn service.

Ours looked like crap when we first bought our house. We broke down and hired a lawn spraying service and within one summer, it started to look much better and now we have one of the best lawns on the street.

Some people don't care for the chemicals though - depends on what you're willing to do. So far I'm just as screwy as I've always been, the lawn chemicals haven't helped or hurt me.

 

[Patch'sD]

Scotts and Water.

 

[ChrisnSteph]

I'm lazy. I'd go for the sod! Or like Patch said, seed, Scotts and plenty of water can do wonders. Scotts Weed and Feed and Miracle Gro will work miracles on ugly grass.

 

[Christine]

We have been having the same problem and it gets worse every year. Many of our neighbors have the problem too. We've had a lawn service off and on for several years. We keep hoping one will work but they don't.

Recently a few of our neighbors have put in sprinkler systems and, VIOLA, their problems are solved. It seems that the grass needs a LOT of water. If not, it does not thrive and the weeds (moss stuff you are describing) takes over. We've tried watering ourselves but it is just not as good as the sprinkler system. Unfortunately, I don't have the $$$$ to get one but after seeing 3 of my neighbors lawns THRIVE this year, I'm convinced it is a water issue.

 

[msdznyduck]

WHen we first moved into our house, the grass was 'okay' but not great looking. Since we had a 21 mo. old boy, and were expecting a baby 3 weeks after moving in, I told DH, that the yard was for the kids playing, not chemicals. He did the 'Jerry Baker' thing with baby shampoo, mouthwash, tobacco tea, and other stuff, but can't remember now........we now have the greenest, lushest, lawn, that is the first to green up in the spring, and the last to go in the winter. Of course, being a fellow NJ'er, our grass was not the best this year, because of lack of rain (I think we made up for it the past 4 days!), but we hardly watered, and it was still really nice. Just didn't grow much, so DH didn't have to mow so much this year.

 

[Patch'sD]

I put in my own Sprinkling system in quite a few years ago. Not very hard, Maybe about a $500 investment or $ 750 if your town requires a triple check Valve. Since your lawn is not looking good it won't be that bad when you trench. Check out Home Depot they do have a manual for doing it yourself.

 

[suzannews]

He did the 'Jerry Baker' thing with baby shampoo, mouthwash, tobacco tea, and other stuff, but can't remember now........we now have the greenest, lushest, lawn, that is the first to green up in the spring, and the last to go in the winter.

Whats the Jerry Baker thing?

 

[mick67]

So even if I till it up and sod, I'm still gonna have crappy grass if I don't soak it regularly? I'm no rabid conservationist, but I hate to constantly water just to have green grass. My backyard is all crab grass and I love it...it's green and it's grass like. I wish it would spread.

 

[Christine]

So even if I till it up and sod, I'm still gonna have crappy grass if I don't soak it regularly? I'm no rabid conservationist, but I hate to constantly water just to have green grass. My backyard is all crab grass and I love it...it's green and it's grass like. I wish it would spread.

It just depends where you live and exactly what the problem is.

After 9 years of lawn services, chemicals, all the stuff mentioned above, it seems it is the soaking water issue that solves it in our area.

In fact, in my backyard I have an area of lawn where, whenever it rains, the water absolutely soaks it in a long swath. This part of my lawn is BEAUTIFUL, lush, soft, and green. The rest of it looks like it's been set on fire.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

So even if I till it up and sod, I'm still gonna have crappy grass if I don't soak it regularly? I'm no rabid conservationist, but I hate to constantly water just to have green grass. My backyard is all crab grass and I love it...it's green and it's grass like. I wish it would spread.

Grass needs regular watering, fertilizer, grub control, and crabgrass preventer in the spring, before the Forsythia's bloom (rule of thumb).
Yes, you have to take care of it properly in order to have a nice lawn. Timing is everything.
Just use the Scotts chart and regular watering and you will be fine. Just DO NOT forget to put down the grub control in the spring! Esp. with sod.

 

[Frantasmic]

Follow the local gardening report for your area. Do the crabgrass, broadleaf prevention, and fertilize schedule recommended for your area.

You might try overseeding with rye grass this winter. You would have to continue to mow and water your yard; however, having an established grass will thwart weed development.

The mossy plant you have is probably splurge. Make sure and put out betasan in Feb, Mar, April next spring (depending on your area of the country).

When it is warm next spring/summer, overseed with bermuda and maybe it will fill in.

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

Get the sod and hire someone to take care of it!!