Help…new gardener here

rainmomtx – posted 21 July 2002 17:02

Hello everyone, I am so glad I found this message board. I no NOTHING about gardening, lawn care, etc. I am trying to get a lawn started, but having trouble. I had my 3000 sq foot lawn tilled up two weeks ago.I had a lot of wood chips that had been placed on the lot before I moved here. All of that was tilled under, but there are some areas that still have a lot of wood chips. Anyway, I then went down to walmart and bought some bermuda seed (4lbs). Well, I went out and tossed the seeds out, with my son raking behind me. Now it is 11 days later, and the results are less then pleasing. I have a few patches coming in here and there, but overall, it is less then expected. I have watered twice a day, leaving the sprinkler in one spot for 15 min at a time. What did I do wrong? Should I have fertilized? I don’t even know what kind of fertilizer to buy. Should I re-seed? Why did it come up in patches? I know i should have professional equipment, but you are talking to someone on a tight budget who just wants a decent lawn. I am thinking it is my soil, which is mostly clay in some areas, but since i had all the wood chips tilled under, it has a better color then other areas that were not tilled. What should I do?

wdrake – posted 21 July 2002 19:18

Take a look at this section of the Florida Lawn Handbook. It has guidlines to follow in preparing the soil and caring for the new grass.

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MENU_LHEST