From Scratch

New_Yard – posted 22 September 2005 00:22

Hello all. I just purchased a home in Dallas, TX. The previous owners left is empty for quite a long time and the backyard has had little to no care. There is some monkey grass sprigs in a few areas and the rest is dirt and patches of a short weed grass. I want to put in a lawn and have a few hurdles:

1. I have several mature trees and wonder if I will have tilling problems.

2. Getting rid of the monkey grass and other non-lawn grass.

3. How much and what kind of soil to add so sod has correct nutrients and healthy soil to grow into.

4. Leveling lawn.

5. I also have bamboo around the perimeter.

I want to sod everywhere and need to know how I get rid of what is there, how much soil to add once tilled and cleaned, and if this is the best time to do it. Also, am I doing anythign wrong or in the wrong order with my plans. What else am I missing?

Thanks,

New_Yard

QWERTY – posted 22 September 2005 15:11

Why would you want to sod everywhere? One mistake I made was not leaving some area to be used for flower beds. I’d reduce lawn area and build some nice flower beds around the foundation and fence perimeter leaving the lawn in the middle. It’d look way better than just all grasses.

New_Yard – posted 22 September 2005 18:28

I have 3 dogs (1 of them is a puppy) so I need to get a good foundation for my backyard land scaping. Any moistire outside and they are muddy and then the inside is muddy. With a lawn I will not have to worry about that and need to walk them after a rain on the sidewalk. There is bamboo around the perimeter and I have several other plans in store. My wife and I just moved in under 2 months ago, so I have to do what I can when I can, if you know what I mean.

New_Yard – posted 29 September 2005 12:19

I would still love some recomendations reagrding the questions I have laid out. So far I have been asked to consider changing my plans, but not been assisted.

Are there any suggestions regarding steps before sodding:

1. I have several mature trees and wonder if I will have tilling problems.

2. Getting rid of the monkey grass and other non-lawn grass.

3. How much and what kind of soil to add so sod has correct nutrients and healthy soil to grow into.

4. Leveling lawn.

5. I also have bamboo around the perimeter.

Thanks,

N_Y

AMCalla – posted 29 September 2005 19:44

Well, here is the answer to your questions.

1. Yes, you are going to have tilling problems if you have mature trees. If you tear up too many roots or the wrong roots, you will kill the tree.

2. Getting rid of Monkey Grass will be a problem unless you want to dig it up. You can use Round-Up that is made for Poison Ivy and other shrub because I don’t think regular Round-up will kill it without many treatments.

3. Adding stuff to soil to make it prime for grass can only be determined by a soil test that is done by your local County Extension office. Get a soil test done and that will tell you exactly what you need to add to your soil for the type of grass you want to lay. You can take a chance and just put down starter fertilizer and you might be ok.

4. Leveling the yard. It depends on how much leveling you have to do. If a little, then compost is the best, but that won’t work if you have a lot to do.

5.Bamboo? Not sure about your question on this one.

Aaron

New_Yard – posted 29 September 2005 22:04

Aaron thanks for the heads-up. I guess my specific bamboo question is if anyone has ever planted and succesfully grown gras up to bamboo.

One last questions guys (for now :-> ): How late can I plant St Augustine grass? I live in Dallas TX, so the climate is mild as are the winters?

Thanks,

Michael