Lawn care for a first timer

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Krazy4Real

Krazy4Real

Lifer
Oct 3, 2003
12,221
55
91
We just bought a house last year (October), and I want a nice lawn dammit!

It was new construction, so they put sod in the front and side yards, and seed in the back yard. I watered and mowed several times at the end of the season last year. The grass now is just barely starting to get a little green, so I figure now is the time to get started for this season, but I'm hoping to get a little help.

I'm a complete noob. I've never done this before. I figure I need to put fertilizer down (for the nitrogen), but I don't know if certain brands are better than others. The seed in the backyard kinda grew, but it is still pretty bare. Do I need to put down new seed or will the seed grow now and it was just too cold last year when they put it down?

I plan to keep my grass at around 3 1/2" (the highest setting on my lawn mower). I read that this will help fight off weeds, and I think longer grass looks nicer.

tl;dr
1 - new at lawn care
2 - wtf do i do
 
O

OCGuy

Lifer
Jul 12, 2000
27,224
36
91
How cold was it? The sod/seed used here will be stunted if you try to lay it when it is too cold.

Generally what I like to do for lawn care is a process that has been handed down through my family for multiple generations. You want to get a good handle mentally on your landscape. Make sure you know exactly the result you are looking for, don't be afraid to ask your neighbors for advice. Then, and this is really important, you hire a Mexican.


Good luck!
 
DesiPower

DesiPower

Lifer
Nov 22, 2008
15,299
740
126
Scott or Virgo Weed and feed right now, buy their push spreader too.

Is it St. Augustine (Wide leaf) or Bermuda (narrow/leaf)?

How big is your lawn?
 
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Krazy4Real

Krazy4Real

Lifer
Oct 3, 2003
12,221
55
91
DesiPower said:
Scott or Virgo Weed and feed right now, buy their push spreader too.

Is it St. Augustine (Wide leaf) or Bermuda (narrow/leaf)?

How big is your lawn?
Click to expand...
Blue Grass Blend turf mixes is what they told me.

Lawn is probably around 5,000 sqft or so (all sides totaled).
 
gorcorps

gorcorps

aka Brandon
Jul 18, 2004
30,739
452
126
OCGuy said:
How cold was it? The sod/seed used here will be stunted if you try to lay it when it is too cold.

Generally what I like to do for lawn care is a process that has been handed down through my family for multiple generations. You want to get a good handle mentally on your landscape. Make sure you know exactly the result you are looking for, don't be afraid to ask your neighbors for advice. Then, and this is really important, you hire a Mexican.


Good luck!
Click to expand...

All jokes aside, I just got a brochure for lawn treatments. It comes with 4 seasons of treatment for $250. Given my hatred of yardwork and desire to not want to buy the tools and materials for it, I might actually jump on it. Now all I need to find is somebody to pick all the weeds in my landscaped areas. I don't mind mowing, but I hate picking weeds.
 
Krazy4Real

Krazy4Real

Lifer
Oct 3, 2003
12,221
55
91
OCGuy said:
How cold was it? The sod/seed used here will be stunted if you try to lay it when it is too cold.

Generally what I like to do for lawn care is a process that has been handed down through my family for multiple generations. You want to get a good handle mentally on your landscape. Make sure you know exactly the result you are looking for, don't be afraid to ask your neighbors for advice. Then, and this is really important, you hire a Mexican.


Good luck!
Click to expand...
It was around 50-60 degrees here with a couple of days around 70 in October when we moved in.

I'm Mexican though. I'm supposed to know how to do lawns. I fail at life. :(
 
Krazy4Real

Krazy4Real

Lifer
Oct 3, 2003
12,221
55
91
gorcorps said:
All jokes aside, I just got a brochure for lawn treatments. It comes with 4 seasons of treatment for $250. Given my hatred of yardwork and desire to not want to buy the tools and materials for it, I might actually jump on it. Now all I need to find is somebody to pick all the weeds in my landscaped areas. I don't mind mowing, but I hate picking weeds.
Click to expand...
I may go down this road eventually, but right now I honestly don't mind spending a couple hours outside every weekend doing what I need to do. My lawn is small enough that mowing doesn't take very long at all.
 
T

Tobolo

Diamond Member
Aug 17, 2005
3,697
0
0
What kind of grass do you have? That will make a huge a difference. Don't believe the hype and fertilizer early. It can cause your grass to green up to early and then be killed by the cold. Be sure not to get crazy until after the last frost date.

If in doubt, contact your local extension office. It's their job to help you learn how to care for your lawn and they will be glad to help. Not to mention that they will be able to tell you whats best for your location. Don't just trust people off the internet, EVERY REGION IS DIFFERENT!
 
IndyColtsFan

IndyColtsFan

Lifer
Sep 22, 2007
33,655
687
126
Take my advice -- for a new lawn, have a professional do the treatments for the first season or two. You won't regret it -- they'll do a better job and it is really important for a new lawn to be well established to make it easier to care for in the future.
 
GagHalfrunt

GagHalfrunt

Lifer
Apr 19, 2001
25,284
1,996
126
JEDIYoda said:
I planted crab grass.....low maintenanace...no issues at all.....
Click to expand...

Planting crab grass is a waste of time, it doesn't need your help to get started.


OP, use Scott's Weed & Feed twice a year, once spring and once fall. The thin spots will fill in on their own over time, if the soil is good and the weeds controlled grass spreads out pretty quickly. If you want to speed things along a bag of seed will help, but it's not necessary.
 
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Krazy4Real

Krazy4Real

Lifer
Oct 3, 2003
12,221
55
91
IndyColtsFan said:
Take my advice -- for a new lawn, have a professional do the treatments for the first season or two. You won't regret it -- they'll do a better job and it is really important for a new lawn to be well established to make it easier to care for in the future.
Click to expand...
I thought about that, but I keep seeing terrible reviews for everybody. I figure if somebody is going to do a bad job, it might as well be me.
 
AyashiKaibutsu

AyashiKaibutsu

Diamond Member
Jan 24, 2004
9,306
3
81
I think people only look down on crab grass because of its name really. If it was called like elf grass everyone would be raving for it.
 
R

Rudee

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
11,218
2
76
Cut your grass, wait 24 hours, then apply Scott's Turf Builder (Weed and Feed) to a damp lawn, with assurance that there is no rain in sight for the next 24 hours or so. It will do wonders. Do this in late spring before the weeds/crabgrass etc germinate.
 
Jimzz

Jimzz

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2012
4,399
190
106
AyashiKaibutsu said:
A mix of lye and salt can be used as a cheap replacement fertilizer.
Click to expand...


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