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Started By
Message
Help me save my yard (Before/Current pics included)
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:43 am
Posted on 9/25/24 at 9:43 am
Not sure what happened, but my back yard is destroyed. Front yard is becoming a problem under the oak tree starting to thin out as well. First pics are from November of ‘21. After pics are this week. We have two large dogs plus a 7 year old. Previous owner’s second home so they were never here. Live in South Louisiana so the drought last summer definitely took a toll. What can I do? The back yard ground is hard as rock now and rocks are literally coming up everywhere.
Close up of rocks coming up:
Front yard:
Current pic of section not under oak is what whole front yard looked like:
Close up of rocks coming up:
Front yard:
Current pic of section not under oak is what whole front yard looked like:
3
Posted on 9/25/24 at 10:13 am to HermanBoone
That oak is going to take a lot of the water rest of your lawn needs. Have you done any pruning to the tree? Getting water and sunlight into it is vital and the tree is going to drain your turf of that.
Also please send an up close shot of the grass. It looks like St. Aug from what I can see. I think the time for hitting it with nitrogen has passed and we're getting closer to hitting winter weed season, but I could be wrong. If it is St. Aug, you will probably have to wait until the next growing season before you can make any major changes.
Also please send an up close shot of the grass. It looks like St. Aug from what I can see. I think the time for hitting it with nitrogen has passed and we're getting closer to hitting winter weed season, but I could be wrong. If it is St. Aug, you will probably have to wait until the next growing season before you can make any major changes.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 10:20 am to BilbeauTBaggins
I’ve been watering the front oak a good bit last couple weeks. Back tree not at all. Have not done any pruning. Didn’t know that would make a difference. I have zero knowledge of basic lawn/tree maintenance besides cutting grass lol, hence, why I came here.
Grass is St Aug.
Grass is St Aug.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 10:36 am to HermanBoone
It looks like it would be too much work to save. You are about to be bombarded with winter weeds unless you put down a pre emergent or go heavy on perennial rye seed.
Kill it all twice over and get Empire Zoysia sod if you are willing to spend the money. You won’t regret it.
Kill it all twice over and get Empire Zoysia sod if you are willing to spend the money. You won’t regret it.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 10:43 am to bayoubengals88
I’ve thought about doing Rye. As hard and rocky as the soil is now, would I have to till it first? It’s really impacted.
And if I do Rye, would I have to kill it in spring to replant something else?
And if I do Rye, would I have to kill it in spring to replant something else?
Posted on 9/25/24 at 11:13 am to HermanBoone
Let's get those sidewalks and driveway pressure washed and it will look like a million bucks.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 11:15 am to HermanBoone
During growing season the rye will compete with St. Aug for the same nutrients. If you really want green over the winter, go with rye but IMO it's not that important.
Others have asked recently and rye looks good but is a pain to maintain because winter should be a time where you barely cut your grass. It's up to you. I wouldn't worry about the grass now. Wait until spring.
Others have asked recently and rye looks good but is a pain to maintain because winter should be a time where you barely cut your grass. It's up to you. I wouldn't worry about the grass now. Wait until spring.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 12:18 pm to HermanBoone
I would put down rye so the dogs don't get muddy. In the spring do it the cheap way-round up the yard twice and drop zoysia or the expensive way-hire someone to do it. As far as zoysia goes I like palisades.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 12:47 pm to HermanBoone
quote:It would help. Just give it a good watering and a moderate raking. That's all you really need.
I’ve thought about doing Rye. As hard and rocky as the soil is now, would I have to till it first? It’s really impacted.
quote:Bermuda is the easiest warm season grass to grow from seed, and it's still not very easy. And with as much shade as you have it's not a viable option.
And if I do Rye, would I have to kill it in spring to replant something else?
Yes, kill the Perennial Rye from March to May (whenever you prefer), and then sod with Zoysia or St. Aug. Zoysia is much nicer (and a bit more expensive). Image is cheap and will kill it. You can even glyphosate it since you won't have much of any dormant turf underneath it.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 1:01 pm to bayoubengals88
Thanks for all the responses. Could the lack of water and being beat down by dogs/kids be the reason it’s deteriorated so much? Obviously leaves fall in winter but I wouldn’t think they’d do that much damage. I rake and bag at least once sometimes twice a winter.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 1:31 pm to HermanBoone
I wouldn't even want to guess.
How old is the St. Aug sod?
How old is the St. Aug sod?
Posted on 9/25/24 at 1:36 pm to bayoubengals88
No clue. First pics are from November of 21 when we moved in. Like I said, it was an older couple's second home. They lived out of state, so idk how much maintenance he was doing. A neighbor was cutting the yard.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 1:39 pm to HermanBoone
quote:I ask because there is so much shade in some areas. If there's too much, year by year, there will just be less grass.
No clue. First pics are from November of 21 when we moved in. Like I said, it was an older couple's second home. They lived out of state, so idk how much maintenance he was doing. A neighbor was cutting the yard.
So if someone put down sod, it'll look great for a year, then it'll just disappear.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 1:40 pm to HermanBoone
During next growing season, I would suggest getting St. Aug plugs and placing them around, seeing what happens.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 1:42 pm to bayoubengals88
Makes sense. Thanks.
Posted on 9/25/24 at 2:06 pm to HermanBoone
Could the lack of water and being beat down by dogs/kids be the reason it’s deteriorated so much
---
Yes.
It would have probably been ok if you kept it watered. It's been dry the last two years.
---
Yes.
It would have probably been ok if you kept it watered. It's been dry the last two years.
This post was edited on 9/25/24 at 2:09 pm
Posted on 9/25/24 at 3:09 pm to ItzMe1972
Two things:
1. Kids and a dog are very hard on lawns, so lower your grass expectations some and enjoy family life. Worry about the grass when the kids grow up and stop playing outside.
2. Until then focus on the soil condition. Rocks in the soil aren't a common south La. combination. Parts of your yard may have had a gravel drive, or you have rocky fill in the yard. Either way you need to break up the compacted soil and work in a fibrous composted organic, Minimize coring and tilling under trees.
1. Kids and a dog are very hard on lawns, so lower your grass expectations some and enjoy family life. Worry about the grass when the kids grow up and stop playing outside.
2. Until then focus on the soil condition. Rocks in the soil aren't a common south La. combination. Parts of your yard may have had a gravel drive, or you have rocky fill in the yard. Either way you need to break up the compacted soil and work in a fibrous composted organic, Minimize coring and tilling under trees.
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