Repairing our damaged lawn

JJoseph – posted 01 May 2008 19:29

Hi,

Our lawn was damaged by 3 PODS units that were left on our front lawn and a big pile of plastic bagged contents that was left on our back yard. The insurance company proposes to pay to reseed the lawn. Some landscapers recommended that we re-sod the lawn but the cost is greater than what the insurer is willing to pay thus far. We were told that re seeding will take some time for the lawn to reestablish itself, while re soding will put our lawn back to usable condition quickly.

The insurance co says that reseeding will bring the lawn back in a few weeks. The adjuster finally mentioned hydroseeding as an alternative to soding. Is there any online information that I can find to support one position or the other?

We would like to restore our lawn as quickly as possible since we have two small children who have been unable to enjoy their yard for the past year and a half

What do you folks think?

cohiba – posted 02 May 2008 14:54

Where are you located? How much lawn area are we talking about? Do you have irrigation?

Too many ????

JJoseph – posted 02 May 2008 15:21

Hi,

We’re on Long Island, NY. 6100 sq feet approx. there were 3 sixteen foot long pods on the yard for months.

JJoseph – posted 02 May 2008 15:22

I forgot to mention that we do have sprinklers installed.

Would they have to be affected?

Apple – posted 02 May 2008 16:42

Hydroseeding is a excellent option. Pick a decent local company and ask for their previous h.s. jobs and take a look at it. Hydroseed does need some TLC with Water.

cohiba – posted 03 May 2008 07:25

JJoseph,

I would overseed with Perennial Ryegrass now and plan on doing it again around Labor Day with better turf. A mixture of Bluegrass Rye and Fescue. Words of caution: planting Rye now will get your lawn going, plant it heavy now to try to keep out the crabgrass. I would use at least 6 pounds per 1000 sq.ft. Hydroseeding is fine provided there is good seed to soil contact(that is paramount to any successful overseeding) Crabgrass and other undesirable weeds will be a problem this summer. Resign yourself to that now. In late August spray Round Up over the entire area and reseed with better turf.

When doing any overseeding mark out the irrigation heads with anything you can find. Use the irrigation system to it’s fullest.

Good Luck!

JJoseph – posted 03 May 2008 08:32

Hi,

thanks for the reply.

The PODS were removed in December 2006, and the area where they once were are now overrun with crabgrass and other weeds. There is also a sloping area near our driveway that has some erosion. Will hydro seeding work there? Will the contractor need to prepare the lawn in some special way? And does a hydro seeding quote typically include a return visit to reseed in August or will we have to present that to the insurer separately?

cohiba – posted 05 May 2008 13:27

Typically the hydroseed guys are “one and done”. I would have them price out the prep work and the hydroseed together. Submit that to the insurance and then live with whatever you can get out of it. Later in the fall overseed on your own dime and get it done right. Fall overseeding is the best time for cool season turf.

Good Luck…….