Starting Over

Mark Childers – posted 25 March 2012 17:18

I have been in my home for 8 years. I started with a nice lawn, but now it looks absolutely terrible. There are many weeds as well as bare spots. I must admit that part of the problem is due to the economy, I have not had the money to do the upkeep for the past couple of years.

I live in the foothills of NC. We have very heavy clay soil. One of my big problem areas is on a hillside that is south facing.

The yard is large and I must redo it in a cost effective manner. My first thought is to by lime in bulk and spread it. Then till it in with my father’s tractor. I also want to add vermiculite. I can by it fairly reasonable from a supplier that sales it for insulation in block walls. I wonder if it is very different from agriculutal grade?

I am afraid of all the weed seeds that I will be cultivating. Is my best bet to go ahead with my plan and try to keep the PH in balance to control the weeds?

Also am looking for a good source of organic matter to till into the clay. Does it make much difference what I use, as long as it is organic?

I plan to add a lot of lime, as our soil tends to be acidic. Is it possible to add too much lime?

Do I need to find a seed mix with a little rye in it to hold on the hill until the others take off?

Sorry for the long post. Any help is appreciated.

Mark

tommy – posted 27 March 2012 10:36

Rototilling will do wonders – even if you don’t add organic matter. However, do add lime and a starter fertilizer. For better seeding success, hydroseeding would be a good way to go. You can usually find this service in your local phone book. They will also be able to recommend a good seed mix for your area. After the lawn is 6 weeks old or so, Apply a ‘weed and feed’ product, which will kill the weeds and give the lawn another shot of nutrient.