Laying Loam/Growing Grass

[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.

[BrianS]

Its gotta happen this weekend or not at all...

Im just hoping to hell I get the loam and a few hours before any showers on Saturday...

I really appreciate all the insight... First house, first project like this...

Sounds like it will be fun!

[Goose]

I do this for a living, sad I know but somebody's gota do it. This is how I would do it. Rent dethatcher, they are used to get up dead grass and debre but in this case your going to cultivate the soil.

First cut the exsisting grass as low as you can with a mower.

Rack it clean.

Lower the dethatcher as low as it'll go, you will feel it want take off on you HOLD IT and it cultivates. If you are going over an area that has good grass simply raise the machine so it doesn't rip it out.

Again rake it, you want to get up all the dead roots and grass.

Spread your loam, 2" is fine.

Grade it

Seed Lime/ starter Fertizer...

With the (back) of your leaf rake, gently pass over all the area , do it as though you are raking leaves.

Useing a roller is best, don't fill it, just fill 1/4 of it. just enough weight to press the seed to the soil.

Water when nessesary and let Mother nature do the rest.

Useing tiller much more work ect.. I've done countless jobs that you have
described. Fall is the best time to reseed....no weeds. If you do it now expect to see some weeds.

[justplugit]

You really got some good advice from alot of knowledgeable people.One last thing that will make the difference between so so, and full germination. Don't let the seed bed dry out.The first week is critical. Each day water until it starts to puddle up. Do that 3-4 times a day until it's up 1in or so. From that point on deep water 3x a week to get the roots to grow deep. If you have any sloping areas where run off could be a problem you can put a covering of Penn Mulch on top to hold the seed. Hope that helps.