About Charlotte B Expertise Questions on lawn care and gardening of all types.
I switched to organic gardening 10 years ago, and can answer questions on chemical or organic gardening and lawn care.
Experience I have been gardening for about 60 years, since I was a child.
I have the best lawn and garden in my neighborhood, and grow my own herbs for cooking and aroma therapy, as well as roses and other flowers,indoor plants etc.I can answer questions on safe gardening around children and animals, and for people with allergies.
About 10 years ago, I switched to organic gardening, and get better results with less work, and less money and time spent working, and more time enjoying.
Question I recently had my backyard leveled, built a retaining wall, installed a sprinkler system. The landscaper seeded the lawn when the project was complete, but a heavy rain storm washed most of it away last fall. This year i have little to no grass, compacted soil/sand. I want a beatiful lawn, but I don't know how to proceed at this point. Please provide your expertise in this by including various options and cost associated with each. I'm willing to do the work but I want to make sure my time is not wasted doing the wrong thing. The size of the lawn is about 25000 sq ft. Thank you!
Answer Hi Kenny;
Sorry you had all your seed wash away.
I never liked sowing grass seeds. The birds always ate 90 % of it.
I have mostly St. Augustine grass, and you sod that in, much easier, and quicker results.
I don't understand the compacted soil/sand. Sandy soil does not compact easily.
The main factor in a good lawn is the soil. You want a good balance. Too tight, rots won't grow through the soil easily. Clay soil has to have things tilled into it to loosen it up. Too sandy needs loamy soil tilled into it to tighten it up enough to hold water long enough to do the grass and plants some good.
I don't care for sprinkler systems. It is too hard to water enough, and not too much. I always water to a depth of at least 6 inches, and rewater when the top 2 inches of soil are dry.
It is impossible to get the right amount of water, when needed, and not have too much sometimes, and too little at other times, with an automatic system,
I water until the water starts to run of into the walks and driveways and streets, turn off the water for an hour or so, and let it soak in, then turn it on again. I do this until it is wetted for 6 inshes down. i want ALL the water on my lawn. Water bills are too high here to waste it by runoff.
also, sprinkllers that spray into the air are terrible water wasters. On a day when the temp is in the 80s, a good deal of the water evaporates and does not benefit the grass and plants. On a day when the temp is in the upper 90s and 100, 50 to 80 % of the water can evaporate.
Deep watering is necessary for a deep root system. a deep root system helps protect against heat, cold and drought damage. and prevents thatch buildup. I have not had to thatch since we bought this house, 39 years ago. I dethatched then, and have continued a deep wtering program ever since. No that has occured. that is caused when roots have to come close to the surface to get water, are exposed to too much air, and heat or cold, and die. they trap additional debris and build up a waterproof mat, that will not allow water or nutrients into the soil, so the grass dies.
Check your soil bu putting a shovel into it, and checking to see if it is really hard to spade up, or if it is just compaced on top ( from being bare ) and loose enough underneath.
If the soil is right, I would sod in a lawn, water it well, and grow from that.
If you prefer to seed, and the soil is not too tight,scratch up the soil a little with a rake, sow the seeds and cover with a light layer of straw to keep the birds from eating that seeds, until you see growth begin, then take off the straw.
As for costs, they vary from one area to another. You will have to check that out with a local nurseryman.
Tilling, if the soil is too tight or too loose, will be a problem with that built in sprinkler system.
Wish I could have talked to you before you installed it. I would have advised against it. I have yet to talk to ne person who has ome, that doesn't regret having installed it.
My own personal preffrence is sodding. St. Augusrine likes a lot of water to get started well. I put down the sod plugs ( or slice the 12"X18" [allet into 4 to 6 pieces) lay them uot about 4 inches apart, and water till it is almost a swamy. I go barefoot, and step on each plug, to smash it into the soil. so the roots can get a good hold.
When new growth shows, and the grass is about 3 to 4 inches tall, I put about 1 to 2 inches of good topsoil over it, and water well. that leaves some of the blades sticking about ground to catch the sunlight, and puts the roots a little deeper under ground, so they spread like wildfire.
In just a couple of months, there is a nice thick lawn.
If you don't have to add materials to loosen ot tighten up the soil, the cost of the seed or sod, and the cost of the top soil in a few weeks, should be your only cost.
charlotte
