Spring Seeding ---- My trial at an organic approach to the Lawn

DH and I spent the day raking, dethatching, mowing, aerating, seeding and then ..... laying down a nice layer of compost & manure with a bed of peat moss over it. We're hoping within the next 6 weeks or so the lawn will look thick and lush without the use of chemicals. Say a prayer, LOL.

Message edited 4/12/2010 7:45:54 PM.

Re: Spring Seeding ---- My trial at an organic approach to the Lawn

OUCH!!!! Don't expect the result of "regular" products to be as "fast" if you just started organic.

It will take 2-3 years for it to work. I started last year. It is usually corn based and mutch slower to work. You will need to renew at least 3 times by the fall.

But I think EVERYONE should switch to organic and stop polluting all the underground waters.

So "thank you" for starting organic.

Re: Spring Seeding ---- My trial at an organic approach to the Lawn

I've been online researching a ton but am not coming up with a lot of consistent information.

Do I have to use liquid fertilizer also? Now or next month? I do not want to redo the manure/compost until late fall because DS plays out there.
Thoughts?

Re: Spring Seeding ---- My trial at an organic approach to the Lawn

We did a complete scrape and clear of our back yard, put down top soil and seeded. The first year it looked good and we decided we'd go organic which we did for the next several years. Our landscaper was doing various organic weed and feed treatments 5 times a year. Each year it looked worse and worse - weeds and crab grass appeared, then finally a huge problem with grubs. Our lawn looked like total crap after about 5 years so last year we said screw the organic and had him use his regular treatments. It's a little better, but still not great. I'd rather use organic but I can tell you from our experience, it was a waste of hundreds of dollars over the years.

Re: Spring Seeding ---- My trial at an organic approach to the Lawn

I have to go back and look at my notes on organic turf management from a class I took at the Cornell Cooperative out in Riverhead but from what I remember, there weren't huge amounts of treatments needed. From what I recall they recommended spring and fall applications of balanced fertilizer/compost. Water only when it was really dry. Mow high, 3 inches. Keep your blades sharp. Don't bag the clippings, put them back into the lawn.

I think it's worth it to completely depart from landscaper recommendations and do your own research from sources that don't stand to profit from constant maintenance. There are tons of reasons why grass doesn't do well but the first place to start is probably by figuring out what kind of grass you have and having soil samples analyzed.

As for new grass seed, there's a lot of choices depending on the site, water/sun requirements, etc. What seed did you choose? I've been mixing Scotts Sun/Shade and Shade mix for the backyard and it's working well so far. I'm going to overspread some new seed to fill it in too.

Re: Spring Seeding ---- My trial at an organic approach to the Lawn

I chose Scotts Heat-Tolerant Blue Mix (3 different Fescues and Kentury Bluegrass). I actually chose that one over the others because two men were in the aisle with me talking about their lawns and they both agreed that mix worked better than the others. Who knows if they were right but I stayed a good 10 minutes listening to them talk while inconspicuously listening, LOL.

I already have an established lawn, one that has not been loved in a long time, so I am hoping that overseeding with this mix will help out. It is a very active area with DS's toys and little feet everywhere, so I am hoping this pans out. I have very little clover and dandilions (I pulled out all the roots today), but I do have one area of moss that I need to work on separately.

Eventually we need to rip out all the bushes and dead trees in the backyard and hopefully will have more sun to grow grass (the moss is in a very shady area w/ lots of moisture and english ivy so I'm not sure if it's worth even trying to dig up & grow seed right now)

Can you recommend an organic liquid fertilizer?


ETA: I am bringing my mower in for service next week. I want them to sharpen the blades and give a tune up.

Message edited 4/12/2010 8:47:48 PM.

Re: Spring Seeding ---- My trial at an organic approach to the Lawn

I hear ya. It's mind boggling, weighing all the different kinds. High traffic grasses may not be suitable for shade. Shade grasses may not be suitable for water retention. Etc.

I have a little insight on the no light/moss situation. Moss is definitely attracted to shade but also to damp situations. I have moss growing in full sun, because the ground used to be so compacted and wet. I also have mushrooms growing in the same area! So I would wait until you are able to remove the shrubs, since the moss and ivy are serving a purpose. The ivy will be hard to get rid of though. I wouldn't put down grass seed until you're sure it's eradicated.

I actually have done no research on fertilizer since that class. I don't do much to my lawn and because of the type in my front yard (zoysia), it's fairly maintenance free. I think I watered it three times last summer and it still was lush. I started 2 compost bins last summer and I think I might be ready to take some of the finished product and spread it around. I won't have enough for the whole yard, so I might wind up buying compost for it. So I may not even fertilize at all!

Re: Spring Seeding ---- My trial at an organic approach to the Lawn

I am not sure I will ever get rid of the Ivy. But I am going to try. I have a planting bed around the permiter of my yard. It is covered in Ivy and Vines. It had killed 5 trees (Hemlocks) and is taking over the rest of the trees & shrubs. The prior owners (we closed 1 year ago this week!) NEVER trimmed a bush ever. We have juniper and cedar bushes that are over 9' tall. The look like dilapidated trees. I have a holly bush about 12' tall and about 5' wide.
Anyway, off on a tangent. I'd like to get rid of the ivy, but if I can't I'd like to at least beat it back behind the planting bed line as it's encroaching on the grass.

I have to read more about fertilizer and what I need to do in the upcoming months.

I have zoyza in the front, on the patch between the sidewalk and the street. It's a pretty easy low maintenence grass to have out there. Our front yard is rocks . We're working on pulling them up to plant or sod so I may change the zoyza out to match the front lawn.

I should post pictures. This place is screaming for a makeover from one of the DIY shows, LOL. Maybe they can do a double feature - Curb Appeal and Yard Crashers, One Hour Special!