- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Grass Issue. Thinking of Aerating my back yard
Posted on 4/3/19 at 9:25 am
Posted on 4/3/19 at 9:25 am
So this past "winter" was rough on my back yard with all the constant rain, and foot traffic from the kids. The grass doesn't seem to be growing hardly at all, and the ground is just hard mud with mostly weed grass and very small spots of actual rooted grass. I normally do the seasonal weed and feed sprinkler thing but I don't find that has really helped all that much. This year I am thinking of renting an Aerator from home depot or somewhere and trying it out on my back yard. Do that and then seed the area with some good grass. Trying to loosen up all this packed, hard ground.
Has anyone done this, if so, did it help?
Has anyone done this, if so, did it help?
6
Posted on 4/3/19 at 10:52 am to Kracka
Aerating- especially core aerating- has many benefits. Loosens compaction, allows nutrient and water penetration to root zone, deposits soil microbes onto thatch layer to help break it down, etc.
Posted on 4/3/19 at 12:17 pm to Kracka
By all means, get that aerator and get busy. The ground being hard packed will not let grass roots take hold or penetrate very easily, plus all the benefits already posted about aerating the ground.
Posted on 4/3/19 at 12:20 pm to Kracka
Aerate, preemerge, and seed
Posted on 4/3/19 at 12:47 pm to TechDawg2007
quote:
Aerate, preemerge, and seed
Should this be done on different days? Or can I do them all same day?
Posted on 4/3/19 at 12:53 pm to Kracka
loosening the soil can also be done with soil conditioners.
If you haven't added any real fertilizer recently, that is always a good idea. The synthetic (scotts and similar) fertilizers are just NPK. Those elements push artificial growth and the grass doesn't grow within a healthy balance. This requires extra water to keep the grass alive and well.
Your soil is probably very low in essential nutrients and microbials to support the whole health of the grass. NPK just isn't enough if you want the grass to really thrive.
If you haven't added any real fertilizer recently, that is always a good idea. The synthetic (scotts and similar) fertilizers are just NPK. Those elements push artificial growth and the grass doesn't grow within a healthy balance. This requires extra water to keep the grass alive and well.
Your soil is probably very low in essential nutrients and microbials to support the whole health of the grass. NPK just isn't enough if you want the grass to really thrive.
Posted on 4/3/19 at 12:54 pm to TechDawg2007
quote:
Aerate, preemerge, and seed
If you are going to seed make sure to not use a pre-emergent that will prevent seed from growing. The standard pre-emergents will prevent your seed from taking.
Posted on 4/3/19 at 2:19 pm to Kracka
I bought a new house last March and the yard was crap. Went over it with an aerator and did some more stuff throughout the year. Aerated again in the Fall and again yesterday. I probably won't do it again this Fall but it helped a TON with my compaction. We noticed results pretty quickly.
Posted on 4/3/19 at 2:20 pm to notsince98
quote:
If you are going to seed make sure to not use a pre-emergent that will prevent seed from growing. The standard pre-emergents will prevent your seed from taking.
Yup. And to your point about the fertilizers you're absolutely correct. A soil test is like $7. Get that done and take the results to a co-op. They'll fix you up.
Posted on 4/3/19 at 2:50 pm to TechDawg2007
quote:
preemerge, and seed
yea this doesn't sound logical lol
Posted on 4/3/19 at 3:06 pm to AU_251
Tenacity(mesotrione)can be used at time of seeding centipede.
Posted on 4/3/19 at 3:11 pm to 2geaux
Will aerating help drainage? Yard does not hold water but do have an area they stays damp. Pretty sure its because my yard is made up of a lot of clay.
Posted on 4/3/19 at 3:16 pm to 2geaux
well that is useful as hell. Thanks 
Posted on 4/3/19 at 10:40 pm to LSU5508
quote:
Will aerating help drainage? Yard does not hold water but do have an area they stays damp. Pretty sure its because my yard is made up of a lot of clay.
Same situation and yes it helps. You need to do more than just aerate but it helped me a ton. My yard is heavy clay so when I aerate I put out some sandy topsoil with some gypsum in it. We've been here just over a year and the difference is incredible.
Posted on 4/3/19 at 10:45 pm to Kracka
Depends on the grass type. Fescue, aerate and seed every fall. St. Augustine, no need. Need more info. You in Louisiana or North Carolina?
Posted on 4/4/19 at 7:43 am to Srbtiger06
quote:
Same situation and yes it helps. You need to do more than just aerate but it helped me a ton. My yard is heavy clay so when I aerate I put out some sandy topsoil with some gypsum in it. We've been here just over a year and the difference is incredible.
There are some soil conditioners out there that when applied yearly or 2 times a year, will breakdown clay over time naturally. It will probably add about $50/yr to your yearly maintenance budget but it does work. It allows the dirt/clay to hold so much more water too before runoff occurs.
Posted on 4/4/19 at 7:48 am to notsince98
Would aerating save this centipede mess?
These pics were about a month ago. It’s gotten worse.
These pics were about a month ago. It’s gotten worse.
Posted on 4/4/19 at 8:17 am to CajunCommander
Posted on 4/4/19 at 9:09 am to CajunCommander
I have the exact same thing going on. Grass was perfect last year.
Posted on 4/4/19 at 9:18 am to tigerj22
From reading some search results, it sounds like soil samples should be taken and analyzed where these declining patches are occurring. Don't throw nitrogen at it!
It sounds like cold snaps and/or really wet springs can cause the issue. Any unusual weather for you this spring/winter?
It sounds like cold snaps and/or really wet springs can cause the issue. Any unusual weather for you this spring/winter?
Page 1 of 2
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News