Laying Loam/Growing Grass

[reelecstasy]

12 hrs light on, 12 hrs light off until desired height approx 2 months, then switch to 18hrs on and 6hrs off...
Use worm castings and bat guano, high nitrogen content.....

[ProfessorM]

If the ground is hard you should dump and spread the loam, even a few bags of peat too, and then rototill the whole thing so it is nice and loose down to about 5 inches. That way the roots, when they grow, will penetrate the soil much easier. Pretty hard to grow grass on hard pan soil. Needs to be loose. You can top dress the existing grass with the loam but you cannot smother it or it will die. If I was doing it I would rototill the whole thing. Don't forget the water. My buddy the landscaper will not guarentee a lawn unless the owner hooks up a timer on the water faucet so they don't forget to water. Good luck. Paul

[spence]

At the very least I'd get a de-thatching rake and rip it up really well...

-spence

[BrianS]

ill have to see if i can find a tiller.

will make life easier it seems

[reelecstasy]

you can rent them very cheap, I rented one last year and it saved soooo much time and work...

[Gloucester2]

More help

Ditto on the Rototill and peat moss (airates and holds moisture),

Buy Scotts seed approriate for the area (Sun/Shade, etc) do not try to skimp with the cheap stuff. Read the label and buy twice as much seed as indicated. Put down 75% of that on the first attempt - reserve the remainder to overseed when (not IF) some spots come in "light".

Fertilize with Starter Fertilizer.

Lightly rage the seed/fertilizer into the soil and roll (some just water it in I prefer to roll).

And lastly for the tip most people have to pay for . . . . buy a few cheap mylar balloons and "spike" them within the seeded area ("float" them about 4' off the ground). The movement and flash from the mylar will keep the birds away

Water the snot out of it daily.

There are many things in life I can't do . . . I could grow grass on the Moon

[Flaptail]

G2 and the professor have it nailed, especially the peat and loam mix. It's called top dressing but in your case it may be that you need to add a little sand as well and you definetly need to rototill the stuff in. When you choose a seed mix go for a compromise seed mix that does well in sun and shade and is "penkoted". That's a process that adds fertilizer direxctly to seed and also a bird "repellent" that keeps birds from eating it. the ballon thing is a great idea and the watering thing is a must. You have to do it now or you will miss the spring palnting season which is over by June 1st. then you will have to wait until after Labor Day. Fall is actually the best time to grow grass. Spring grass has it harder than fall planted grass as the new turf needs to establish a root zone on at least one and a half inches before the July/August hot dry weather comes in. That period is responsible for more lawns failing than winter. Snow coating the ground is actually good for a developing lawn. Good luck and hopefully we won't have any water usage bans this summer after last winters snows.