Grass

[dhyatt]

...not the kind you smoke! I need suggestions for how to deal with a yard that's full of weeds (not the kind you smoke) and has lost most of its topsoil in large portions of the back. I don't really like fescue because it's too costly to maintain properly and most of the other grasses I've seen around here either look like crap or feel harsher than the weeds that would be there otherwise. Anybody have a suggestion fo an affordable solution?

[kellyc]

Im in the same boat as you are Hyatt..and talked to one of my farmer friends here at work...We are going to probably be re tilling our front yard this fall. The key (he told me) is to work on killing the weeds now and in the summer so that they are dead in the fall. Once you till it, he suggested mixing the top soil with peat moss...which holds water better than just top soil. You are kind of bordering on too late in the year to get a grass to grab hold and stay if you use fescue. You might could try bermuda grass.

[Brent]

Green paint? :lol:

[Wuptdo]

AdminHyatt & Kelly:

Come over to Wup's place and check out my yard. For a beer, I will come over and give you a consult on what to do with your yard. Just remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and it can take up to 5 years to get your yard the way you want it.

Wuptdo B-)

[dhyatt]

AdminHyatt & Kelly:

Come over to Wup's place and check out my yard. For a beer, I will come over and give you a consult on what to do with your yard. Just remember, Rome wasn't built in a day, and it can take up to 5 years to get your yard the way you want it.

Wuptdo B-)

Do you have any credentials to go with this offer or are you just looking for a free beer (not that there's anything wrong with that) :-)

[Wuptdo]

AdminHyatt - the proof is in the pudding. That's why I invited you to come on over (and I will give you a beer). Check out the yard, and see what I have done with the place. When we bought it seven years ago, it was covered in weeds. Though no formal study in "grass & yards" it has been a hobby of mind for about 32 years. :D

Kelly - also, I have a special surprise for you and your kids, if you decide to drop by in the da'hood.

Wuptdo B-)

[kellyc]

Uh Wup it tends to concern me when someone has a surprise for me and my kids...but cool..I'll ping you offline and try to stop by.

[Don]

If the yard gets full sun, and I mean full sun, try bermuda - but be warned, it may creep into areas you don't want it to also. The stuff grows like mad. Plus you'll end up with a great yard to practice that golf swing!....just watch out for the neighbors windows though :wink:

[johnb]

DonF is right.

Bermuda is a great solution for a lot of laws. As for the topsoil, come by my place. I implemented a solution you may find interesting. I terraced the yard with field stone. I hauled it in myself and backfilled it myself so the cost was next to zero. Lots of hard labor though.

I had no topsoil in most parts of the yard when I started because of the hill and tremendous hive of English Ivy covering most of the back and side yard. More exposed tree roots than I could count and several lawnmowers quickly had the shaft bent from hitting them. I believe most of the original top soil had been evacuated by the hurricanes and rains of the past 30 years to Onslow county courtesy of the stream that is underground in front of my house and open between Brookgreen and Lake Pine.

Be warned about Bermuda though, it is very peristant and does not like borders to it's meandering. It also doesn't like shade at all.

The first question you need to establish is what is your end goal?