Best way to revitalize a completely dead lawn

[Leros]

I live in a rental house and it is the tenant's responsibility to keep the landscaping up to appearances. When I moved in, the front lawn was 90% weeds, which I didn't notice at the time because it was fall and the lawn was covered in leaves.

At the end of this past summer, I got tired of the weeds and sprayed the entire lawn with weed killer. With all the weeds dead, the lawn was too bare and I couldn't keep the soil from drying out in the Texas heat. There are local water restrictions that prevent me from watering more than once a week, so the end result is that the rest of my grass died because the soil was drying out. Ironically it actually looked pretty decent with the weeds (which were mostly some sort clover).

I really don't want to spend the money to re-sod the front lawn considering I'm just renting this house. I'd rather just throw down some seed when it starts warming up in February, but I don't think I'll be able to water enough to get the seeds to germinate. Any thoughts?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

It's really hard to grow a lawn from scratch without water. Even drought-tolerant varieties like Buffalograss and Fescue usually require a lot of watering to germinate and put down roots. Contact your town and see if they have new lawn exceptions to the watering restrictions, some areas will give you a 30 day waiver so that you can get the grass to take.

 

[Leros]

It's really hard to grow a lawn from scratch without water. Even drought-tolerant varieties like Buffalograss and Fescue usually require a lot of watering to germinate and put down roots. Contact your town and see if they have new lawn exceptions to the watering restrictions, some areas will give you a 30 day waiver so that you can get the grass to take.

Interesting, didn't know that.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Clover is much more resilient than a lot of grasses.

I'm not too familiar with the varieties you would be using there (In Ontario we wouldn't even consider buffalograss, but use a lot of Kentucky Blue).

Your basic process is probably aerate, seed (with a machine), fertilize and then babysit with a sprinkler.

When do you get closest to temps of 40-50 overnight, less than 80 in the day, and significant rainfall? That will be the easiest time of year to seed. I'm kind of assuming that 'now' is about right.

 

[dud]

OP, if it ain't broke ... don't fix it. Wait and hope that the weeds come back strong (and you get a LOT of rain) in the spring.

Good luck ...

 

[Leros]

OP, if it ain't broke ... don't fix it. Wait and hope that the weeds come back strong (and you get a LOT of rain) in the spring.

Good luck ...

If we can get a month or two of good rain, I think I can revitalize it enough to reseed without too much trouble, but that doesn't happen most years. We shall see.

 

[ringtail]

``

 

[Newbian]

Just pave it all over and charge extra for more parking space. 😉

 

[Howard]

Best way to revitalize a completely dead kitten

That's what I saw...

 

[JoeyP]

You're trying to grow grass where it is not supposed to grow. What do you expect?

 

[Leros]

You're trying to grow grass where it is not supposed to grow. What do you expect?

If it were up to me, I'd just throw gravel out there or maybe grow native grass, but there are neighborhood codes I have to abide by. Having an attractive green lawn is required. I'm lucky I haven't been fined yet.

 

[JoeyP]

If it were up to me, I'd just throw gravel out there or maybe grow native grass, but there are neighborhood codes I have to abide by. Having an attractive green lawn is required. I'm lucky I haven't been fined yet.

How could a neighborhood code be set up that requires homeowners (or renters) to take extreme measures of trying to make a lawn be green in the middle of a area like Texas? It just doesn't make sense using a valuable resource such as water which is already restricted for use, as well as requiring a sprinkler system or sorts, just to have a green lawn in an area that would not naturally support one. It is absurd wasting water on lawns, and I'm disappointed that communities in areas like this don't take a stand.

 

[Leros]

How could a neighborhood code be set up that requires homeowners (or renters) to take extreme measures of trying to make a lawn be green in the middle of a area like Texas? It just doesn't make sense using a valuable resource such as water which is already restricted for use, as well as requiring a sprinkler system or sorts, just to have a green lawn in an area that would not naturally support one. It is absurd wasting water on lawns, and I'm disappointed that communities in areas like this don't take a stand.

It's not that hard to maintain a lawn even in Texas heat with the right kind of grass. You can have a decent looking lawn and only water once a week. Ideally we would use native grasses and water even less, but people like their lush green lawns too much.

 

[KidNiki1]

if you put down seed or plant new plants, they usually give you leniency on the watering.

for me in florida it is like this:

For new plant material including turfgrass:
On days 1-30, beginning on the day of installation, new plant material including turfgrass may be watered any day of the week. On days 31-60, new plant material including turfgrass may be watered as follows: Even-numbered addresses may only water on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday; Odd-numbered addresses, common areas, mixed even/odd addresses, and locations with no address may only water on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday. Following this period all new plant material is considered established and must follow the two day per week restriction outlined above.

NOTE: All new plant material (new or replacement turfgrass or new plants/shrubs) must cover at least 50% of an irrigation zone in order to water with an in-ground sprinkler system during the establishment period. If not, the new plant material must be hand watered following the same time of day and day of week restrictions for new plant establishment. (Ex: If you purchased one flat of grass plugs to place throughout your front yard to fill in bare spots, this would not cover 50% of an irrigation zone. Hand watering would be required.) Also, only those zones containing 50% new plant material may be watered, not the entire yard. (Ex: If you had your entire front yard re-sodded, but not your backyard, only those zones covering the front yard could be run during the establishment period. The back yard zones would have to remain on the regular watering schedule. Most irrigation timers have an A & B program. Program A can be set for the regular watering. Program B can be programmed for multiple days to only water those zones containing the new plant material during the establishment period.)

 

[Leros]

I couldn't find any information online about watering leniences, so I had to call and ask. Apparently there is no leniency for watering new sod or seed, but there is a general exception in that you can water as much as you want by hand.

However, they also said that the watering restrictions right now are voluntary and that I can't be fined for breaking them. Apparently they become involuntarily at times when we move to a higher stage of conservation.

 

[marvdmartian]

Yup. Even where I live, in Texas, we're in stage 2 water restrictions, but can still hand water any day of the week. You can also use soaker hoses any day of the week, so that's an option, if you want to spend a little money on splitters and soaker hoses (though it'd probably be better to do a section at a time, over a series of days, to keep from getting TOO expensive!).

Also, if you're watering by hand, once it gets hot again, do so either late in the evening, after the heat has broken, or first thing in the morning, before it builds. Otherwise, you're going to end up sending most of the water you're using right back up into the atmosphere, as evaporation.

If you're using sprinklers (as you can, once a week, during water restrictions), place a pie plate out in the yard. It's about an inch deep. Once it's full, kill the sprinklers. Anything more than that, you're just going to have it run off, and waste that expensive water!

If you're willing to spend a little bit more on the grass, you should also check out Zoysia. Supposedly more drought resistant, but you have to grow it from plugs, not seed, I believe.

 

[Ronstang]

You are not going to grow grass in Texas without lots of water, and you are not going to grow the traditional varieties of grass common to Texas this time of year. This is the time of year most grasses go dormant. They simply do not grow. You can keep them sort of green with decent amount of water but they do not grow. I water at least 4 times a week and in the summer I had to cut the grass every 5 days. I have not cut the grass in several weeks.

Your only real option this time of year Leros is to put down some winter rye grass. It does not require tons of water and it will give you a green looking lawn even though it may not be very thick.

You learned a very important lesson. In Texas if your HOA does not complain about your weed lawn....THEN LEAVE IT. Weeds in Texas are the kind that grow on very little water and when kept cut they look like a lawn. I have this type of lawn at my lake house. I don't have to water it and if I don't mow it for a couple of weeks it doesn't grow that fast.

It sucks that you are in an area that does not let you water properly but unfortunately they have simply ruined the Austin area. I used to live there but would not these days. I can water as much as I want but it cost me about $10 a day when I do. That is why I am putting in a well in the next few months. If you decide to stay in Austin and you decide to buy a house make sure you do in an area where you can install a well or the powers that be will destroy the value of your house by ruining your lawn.

 

[lxskllr]

It sucks that you are in an area that does not let you water properly but unfortunately they have simply ruined the Austin area. I used to live there but would not these days. I can water as much as I want but it cost me about $10 a day when I do. That is why I am putting in a well in the next few months. If you decide to stay in Austin and you decide to buy a house make sure you do in an area where you can install a well or the powers that be will destroy the value of your house by ruining your lawn.

Fuck your lawn. It's faux libertarian outrage like that which is ruining the country. Money above all else, and fuck your neighbor as long as you get yours. There's water shortages all over the country, even in my wet state of MD, and there certainly isn't enough water to frivolously spray it on the ground for plants that contribute nothing. The one thing you did get right was the "weeds" should have been left alone. You can't ask for anything better than a varied, native ground cover. That usually keeps something growing year round, and it's talier made for local conditions.

 

[Ronstang]

Fuck your lawn. It's faux libertarian outrage like that which is ruining the country. Money above all else, and fuck your neighbor as long as you get yours. There's water shortages all over the country, even in my wet state of MD, and there certainly isn't enough water to frivolously spray it on the ground for plants that contribute nothing. The one thing you did get right was the "weeds" should have been left alone. You can't ask for anything better than a varied, native ground cover. That usually keeps something growing year round, and it's talier made for local conditions.

I'm sorry your little life is so miserable and useless but go fuck off little boy. The grown ups are having a discussion. I'll put as much water on my lawn as I want as it is not a problem where I live. In the summer I use about 16K gallons a month minimum. I think I will out to the garage right now and manually run the program on my sprinkler system just in your honor.

 

[lxskllr]

I'm sorry your little life is so miserable and useless but go fuck off little boy. The grown ups are having a discussion. I'll put as much water on my lawn as I want as it is not a problem where I live. In the summer I use about 16K gallons a month minimum. I think I will out to the garage right now and manually run the program on my sprinkler system just in your honor.

Lets hear that outrage! Theyz takin ma water!!!11!!!

:^D

Piece of shit. I guess you think that when water comes out of your tap, everything's grand, right?

 

[BUTCH1]

Fuck your lawn. It's faux libertarian outrage like that which is ruining the country. Money above all else, and fuck your neighbor as long as you get yours. There's water shortages all over the country, even in my wet state of MD, and there certainly isn't enough water to frivolously spray it on the ground for plants that contribute nothing. The one thing you did get right was the "weeds" should have been left alone. You can't ask for anything better than a varied, native ground cover. That usually keeps something growing year round, and it's talier made for local conditions.

If he's in a HOA area he HAS to keep the lawn decent, any plant uses C02 and emits oxygen so it does contribute something and watering at the right time minimizes evaporation. OP, re-seeding is a lot cheaper than re-sodding but it's trickier, I tried to re-seed a section but found the birds feasting on the seeds the next day. Went to store and bought inflatable rattlesnake which was working OK until the neighborhood kids stole it..

 

[Ronstang]

Lets hear that outrage! Theyz takin ma water!!!11!!!

:^D

Piece of shit. I guess you think that when water comes out of your tap, everything's grand, right?

In the next couple of months the water will be coming out of my well you stupid hippie douche. I use what comes out of the tap because it is not an issue here and there are no restrictions. Hell, the city loves to overcharge for the water so they love it too. I guess you are just dense. Go have sex with your blow up Obama doll, maybe it will calm you down.

 

[lxskllr]

In the next couple of months the water will be coming out of my well you stupid hippie douche. I use what comes out of the tap because it is not an issue here and there are no restrictions. Hell, the city loves to overcharge for the water so they love it too. I guess you are just dense. Go have sex with your blow up Obama doll, maybe it will calm you down.

I see you've paid close attention to my posts here. I know I can be a bit subtle sometimes, but you've picked up that I am indeed a Democratic Obama supporter. Your observation skills are stellar :^D

That magic hole in the ground that produces water for you is pretty awesome. Maybe you should export that amazing technology to other parts of the country, so they can have water too :^D

 

[BUTCH1]

In the next couple of months the water will be coming out of my well you stupid hippie douche. I use what comes out of the tap because it is not an issue here and there are no restrictions. Hell, the city loves to overcharge for the water so they love it too. I guess you are just dense. Go have sex with your blow up Obama doll, maybe it will calm you down.

Are you having a well drilled? I have a shallow well for lawn watering needs, one of my co-workers was unfortunate enough to buy a house with a complete, functioning sprinkler system that is hooked up to city water, despite my warning him not to use it only in desperation he did and got a $285 water bill, yikes..

 

[Ronstang]

Are you having a well drilled? I have a shallow well for lawn watering needs, one of my co-workers was unfortunate enough to buy a house with a complete, functioning sprinkler system that is hooked up to city water, despite my warning him not to use it only in desperation he did and got a $285 water bill, yikes..

I was going to drill the well myself since I don't have to go far to get to irrigation quality water but I am having it drilled as I am going to go far enough to get potable water since it will only cost a bit more. That gives me more options.

I use city water with my sprinklers and the ~16K gallons a month I use costs me $175. Not bad but at that rate the well pays for itself in less than 2 years.