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Started By
Message
Can I save this yard?
Posted on 4/7/25 at 8:44 am
Posted on 4/7/25 at 8:44 am
Bought a new house and owners before me turned the irrigation system off. We also had to get drain lines replaced in the backyard yard so its pretty much lost. I spent the weekend cleaning out flower beds, and I have all my spray heads marked so i can QAQC the system before laying any new grass. I also think the drain guys may have covered some up.
What is the best path forward to have a quality yard?
Can I save the front with water and weed and feed? If so, what product should I get? Should I patch in sod? Assuming I will have to waer a lot around my big oak.
In the back should I kill it all with Roundup, till/level, and resod? Its probably close to a pallet's worth, so it wouldn't be too bad of a job.
What is the best path forward to have a quality yard?
Can I save the front with water and weed and feed? If so, what product should I get? Should I patch in sod? Assuming I will have to waer a lot around my big oak.
In the back should I kill it all with Roundup, till/level, and resod? Its probably close to a pallet's worth, so it wouldn't be too bad of a job.
This post was edited on 4/7/25 at 8:54 am
7
Posted on 4/7/25 at 8:49 am to JohnDoe00
Posted on 4/7/25 at 9:08 am to JohnDoe00
Turn your camera to the sky so we can see the tree branches....
With hard work and diligence, yes, you can save most of it.
1. Make sure the trees are allowing some light through. Trim as needed. You'll need a minimum of 4 hours of good sunlight.
2. Your soil looks like shite. You need to aerate the ground. If you can't easily stick a screw driver down 4-6" inches then you have compacted soil.
The grass can't root down and expand if your soil is too dry and compacted.
3. Fertilize that St. Aug with 13-13-13 and water as needed.
4. spread out some compost/manure and peat moss.
5. Lastly, mow often to encourage growth. Mow at about 3" consistently
** Some of those areas seem to be impacted by shade from structures. There may not be much you can do for those spots as St. Aug is one of the most shade tolerant warm season grasses.
Extra: You might try Air-8 or RGS from Yard Mastery. This will help improve your soil. LINK
With hard work and diligence, yes, you can save most of it.
1. Make sure the trees are allowing some light through. Trim as needed. You'll need a minimum of 4 hours of good sunlight.
2. Your soil looks like shite. You need to aerate the ground. If you can't easily stick a screw driver down 4-6" inches then you have compacted soil.
The grass can't root down and expand if your soil is too dry and compacted.
3. Fertilize that St. Aug with 13-13-13 and water as needed.
4. spread out some compost/manure and peat moss.
5. Lastly, mow often to encourage growth. Mow at about 3" consistently
** Some of those areas seem to be impacted by shade from structures. There may not be much you can do for those spots as St. Aug is one of the most shade tolerant warm season grasses.
Extra: You might try Air-8 or RGS from Yard Mastery. This will help improve your soil. LINK
This post was edited on 4/7/25 at 9:14 am
Posted on 4/7/25 at 9:12 am to JohnDoe00
quote:Weed and feed really sucks at weeding. It has to be applied heavily in the perfect conditions. Just skip it.
Can I save the front with water and weed and feed? If so, what product should I get? Should I patch in sod? Assuming I will have to waer a lot around my big oak.
Get you some Atrazine, Weed free zone, and surfactant and follow this:
Use this before it warms up next week. It needs to be lower than 85 degrees.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 10:19 am to JohnDoe00
I would soil test, then kill weeds and aerate while waiting on soil test.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 12:28 pm to JohnDoe00
Given the issues with St Aug I'm not sure I'd try to save it. I'd seriously see if switching to zoysia would be in the budget.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 12:34 pm to LEASTBAY
quote:this was recommended to me for my lawn...it is important you get the soil chemistry right or nothing will survive long term...
soil test
Posted on 4/7/25 at 12:41 pm to Chicken
quote:I'd counter by saying that a good dose of 13-13-13 will solve nearly 100% of nutrient issues in neglected lawns.
this was recommended to me for my lawn...it is important you get the soil chemistry right or nothing will survive long term...
I could see wanting to know your soil's ph, but that's about it.
This post was edited on 4/7/25 at 12:45 pm
Posted on 4/7/25 at 2:49 pm to ronk
Thinking budget-friendly on this one. The house is somewhat of a "fixer-upper" so full resodding to zoysia is probably out of question. Spending cash in other areas for now.
This post was edited on 4/7/25 at 2:53 pm
Posted on 4/7/25 at 2:53 pm to bayoubengals88
My path forward seems somewhat simple in below order.
1. Cleggs weed cocktail
2. Level and top dress
3. 13-13-13
4. Aerate
5. Water a lot
1. Cleggs weed cocktail
2. Level and top dress
3. 13-13-13
4. Aerate
5. Water a lot
Posted on 4/7/25 at 3:05 pm to JohnDoe00
quote:Sounds good.
My path forward seems somewhat simple in below order.
1. Cleggs weed cocktail
2. Level and top dress
3. 13-13-13
4. Aerate
5. Water a lot
It may be worth a try adding a few squares of st. aug sod that you may see at Lowe's or HD (in the worst spots).
Best of luck!
Posted on 4/7/25 at 3:09 pm to JohnDoe00
I'd try to open up that canopy as well by thinning some limbs to let more sun in.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 3:25 pm to bayoubengals88
I will plant some squares once I have everything going in the right direction. I don't want to plant too early. Maybe Sunday evening I will have everything done.
And yes. I need to get someone to trim this big oak. It's too large for me to handle.
And yes. I need to get someone to trim this big oak. It's too large for me to handle.
This post was edited on 4/7/25 at 3:27 pm
Posted on 4/7/25 at 3:34 pm to JohnDoe00
quote:Where are you? Looks like New Orleans area...
I need to get someone to trim this big oak. It's too large for me to handle.
I know a guy in Baton Rouge who's reasonable. I plan on using him this year as I just inherited a live oak.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 3:57 pm to bayoubengals88
quote:Kinda looks like a water oak. I have seen many yards look like that under such a tree. Totally agree with trimming and aeration. .
1. Make sure the trees are allowing some light through. Trim as needed. You'll need a minimum of 4 hours of good sunlight.
2. Your soil looks like shite. You need to aerate the ground. If you can't easily stick a screw driver down 4-6" inches then you have compacted soil.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 4:41 pm to bayoubengals88
I'm in Houston.
Posted on 4/7/25 at 11:22 pm to JohnDoe00
Prune your tree to raise the canopy a bit. It will allow more light to your grass.
Posted on 4/8/25 at 12:13 am to JohnDoe00
I would have the soil tested in the area near the big tree. The test kit is free of cost as is the soil test. It takes the guess work out of it. It takes a bit of time;however, you increase your chances of success on your project. Good luck to you.
Posted on 4/8/25 at 12:24 am to JohnDoe00
My yard is shady like that, and it liooks about the same. I don’t think you are going to be able to grow much grass unless you cut down some trees…which I would not do.
Posted on 4/8/25 at 3:03 am to JohnDoe00
Cut the tree down, I bet that ground is hard as concrete, due to all the tree roots, I've got the same issue on 1 side of my yard due to a 60plus yr old oak tree in my neighbors yard, this side of the yard is compacted, the further away from that root system the better the soil and turf is.
That's what I would do
That's what I would do
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