Gardening stuff-landscaping help

[note235]

So the front lawn of my house is filled with some weeds and overgrown grass.
Now I would like to transform all of this into a nice lawn with a just grass.
How would I go about doing this?
Kill the grass and weed (how?) or just cut them up and remove them?
Thank you very much.
__________________
Hi.

 

[Jugernot]

Weed and feed is your friend

 

[0roo0roo]

complicated, go to the library or buy a gardening book. depends on the condition of your soil amoung other things. if that needs rehab as well theres no point just tossing weed and feed in.

 

[archiloco]

easiest thing..... (most expensive)

spray roundup on the entire lawn area...wait 2 weeks

till soil and lay down new sod on entire lawn area

harder way......selectively roundup areas affected with weeks, cut them out till soil add patches of sod here and there and manecure your lawn for the next few years.

 

[runzwithsizorz]

What Arch said,+ the soil should be amended while being tilled. The roundup, using this method isn't really nessessary,(wouldn't hurt either). Roundup only kills what is growing, there would still be about 800 billion weed seeds, but the SOD would prohibit most from germinating. For seeding you would want to sterilize.

 

[BigJ]

RoundUp isn't going to do crap to keep his new sod healthy if his soil is garbage. He's got to get a soil test kit and see what his pH balance is along with a few other things.

http://www.yardcare.com/expert...glawn/preparation.html

That website has a very good explanation on what to do when you're preparing an existing lawn for your new lawn.

That specific page is destroying your old lawn and prepping it. In the top right, you can go to pages detailing putting in your new lawn and keeping it healthy.

 

[gsellis]

What kind of grass?

There are weed and feeds based on variety and season, and even some products like Image that work depending on the season and the grass. I think it is too late for a pre-emergant in your area.

Add another No to RoundUp. That is a "start over" solution and it will not actually solve the problem with weed seed cropping up as you move forward. You would still probably need to weed and feed (Roundup kills active plants, not seed or dormant plants).

 

[edro]

Easiest and probably Best: Hire TruGreen, Scotts Lawn, etc. to take care of everything, for $40 * 7 applications = $280 a year.

Cheaper, almost as good way:
Buy your own Scotts Lawn bags and spread it yourself. They also have a seasonal arsenal. Check out the bags of fertilizer. They have a seasonal rotation of what to lay and when.
To get rid of most of your weeds, you will want a pre-emergent that will prevent crabgrass and other difficult weeds from germinating at all. Once they have germinated, it is too late to treat them. They are very hard to get rid of, even using Roundup.
BTW, you need to do that in early spring, so you better do it tomorrow, but it could already be too late.

To keep your current grass healthy, you will need to water it during the summer. Even being in Washington (not DC, right?), you will have to water it.

A nice lawn is not easy.

 

[conehead433]

So you do actually have grass? Try mowing it regularly. Regular mowing will eliminate most winter weeds after a few mows. For persistent weeds you could try the weed & feed approach or use either atrazine or 24D on the lawn. Either of these will kill weeds and act as a pre-emergent weed killer for about 6 months. Neither will kill grass but make sure you don't get any in any flower beds.

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: Jugernot
Weed and feed is your friend

If the weeds in question are affected by atrazine.

Sometimes it takes a re-sod.

OP, you may need to wait to next growing season to see the results you do this one.

My yard was a wreck last June when I moved in...now the swale is 90% great along with the side of the drive that was almost all weed and dirt. Had to adjust my irrigation but that last 10% should fill in now (there were dry spots the sprinklers weren't covering).

My backyard has a 15' circle where an above ground pool was...it was weeds and bark chips...once I raked it all out it's now very lush. The biggest problem I have with it is the entire circle is below grade now...I would rather fill it than lower the rest of my property.

I am still dealing with a couple problem areas due to carpet grass...(baking soda kills this well)

 

[imported_Imp]

If you're this far gone already, ever though of using native plants? Save a crap load on fertilizer and water.

You're not in the South West so it won't be as effective, but worth a thought.

 

[note235]

in Washington state is correct.
Its not that bad and yes I do have grass growing.
I will take pics tomorrow and put them up

 

[Orsorum]

Soouuttthhhhsssiiiiddddeeeeee.



(I grew up in Kent...since became a yuppie and moved to Bellevue)

 

[xavier es]

look up your local county Agricultural Agent (sometimes connected with a local university) and get some literature or advice on whats best for your local area. those guys are a wealth of info.

 

[silverpig]

Post some pics. Re-sodding/seeding might be necessary if it's REALLY bad, but you can also grow now grass right over top. The nice thing is you picked a good time of year to start this project.

You can get rid of the weeds by basically just making your grass stronger. Strong grass will choke out the weeds, and grass grows best in conditions that aren't favourable to weeds.

My recommendation is the following:

1. Cut the lawn down fairly short and pick out the very worst of the weeds.
2. Spread some new grass seed.
3. Spread some fertilizer (ask for the best type... generally you want something with a high middle number (13-26-6 is good) for starting grass, but weeds usually mean the nitrogen (first number) in your soil is low and so getting something with a high first number will help that).
4. Spread a thin layer of sand on top and sweep/brush/rake it in.
5. Water it well.
6. Repeat every few weeks.

 

[note235]

A band teacher I know,lives in Bellevue.

 

[Tobolo]

The first thing you should do, is to contact your local county extension agent. This is usually a free service provided by your states primary land grant university.

They will give you a professional analysis and general recommendations based upon your yards specific needs. If you will check your PM's I have included a link to Washington State's cooperative extension website.

If you have any questions about your lawn/landscaping always have some look at your yard before you listen to someone. That is the fastest way to waste money and ruin your yard.

~Tob
Georgia Cooperative Extension