Lawn From Hell … looking for advice

BrownThumb – posted 11 October 2003 17:04

Here’s the story … I live on one of the barrier islands that make up the southern Pinellas (Florida) Gulf beaches. I have merely kept my “lawn” green while I fixed up the house and landscaping. Now I am to the point that next spring I want to put in a real lawn … now I need a plan of attack.

Here are the circumstances: small lawn with only two real areas of grass (less than 1000 sq feet total) but much of that is along a property line with a vacant lot full of weeds of questionable lineage. I also have a senile neighbor on the other side that feeds birds … so that side of the house (mostly planted beds, some isolated grass) has a severe weed problem with no real hope … well, she is in her 80s …

To this point I have only used a couple of hose-end weed killers and Scotts Weed and Feed (yellow bag, no atrazine — because I was considering SeaIsle plugs) last spring to try to control the most unweildy weeds … I kinda like the thought of Seashore Papsalum (How does that do in sand and marl? … Reclaimed water okay?) but I am open to suggestions. (However I’m not fond of Floratam/St. Augustine.)

I have a few other questions (pardon my ignorance)• Is there an aggressive grass that has generally favorable traits that might not yield to the weeds encroaching from the lot next door?• What’s the best way to remove my current lawn?• Is there any advantage to overseeding my lawn this fall, or should I just focus on the spring?• I have some minor grade issues, should I just till, regrade and then sod? If so, do I (try to) kill everything first?

Please assume I am an idiot when responding.

[This message has been edited by BrownThumb (edited 11 October 2003).]

seed – posted 11 October 2003 21:48

BrownThumb, definitely kill everything off by spraying with Roundup first. Depending on whether you have noxious perennial grasses like bermudagrass, you may need multiple applications, with not tillage or disturbance between applications. (In fact, the main really serious weeds are going to be grass weeds, anyway, not the weeds affected by 2,4-D).

Next, deal with grade issues and installation of a sprinkler system, or retrofitting an existing system to provide excellent uniform coverage. There is no need to rototill, or at least not too deeply, as that will bring up a lot of problems and require resettling. But it is good to start with a clean surface, because once the existing vegetation is dead and coming up by the roots, it can be raked and the leveling begun. As much time is allowed between spraying and raking, the less there will be there to rake off.

I think there is no point in winter overseeding, in fact, I see no reason to delay replanting until spring.

Seashore Paspalum is a gorgeous grass, but it can require frequent cutting, and does poorly in the shade. There are also sometimes serious establishment problems, especially in the summer. It is not drought resistant the way it has been touted. It does appear to grow well in a variety of soils.

Also take a look at Palmetto and Seville St. Augustinegrasses.

Phil

BrownThumb – posted 11 October 2003 21:56

Thanks for the insight.

… one thing I found interesting in your post is the Seashore Pap not being “drought resistant.” At least in my case, if a drought manages to dry my supply of salt water (Gulf of Mexico), I will have much bigger problems than my lawn!

Other than that, your post makes a lot of sense to me.