lawn restoration

[SequSpur]

good topsoil and fertilizer and water.

easy.

[PM5K]

He doesn't need topsoil, he needs compost, compost tea, or weed and feed.

As for which: I don't think it would ever be wise to do a compost every single season, it's just too much work and even if it is better than weed and feed or a compost tea, it's just not necessary to do yearly.

With Weed and Feed all you need is a spreader. With compost tea all you need is a sprayer like this:



Like I said, no reason to over complicate things. Use one of the two easier options and do a compost once every few years if you'd like (I never have in about six years).

[Mark in Austin]

What type of grass do you have? If it is dormant, following some of the above advice works well. If is is dead St Augustine - I'd start over. The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin has been studying native turfgrass mixes for the past several years. (A mix of several native species that look the same.)

They compared them to bermuda and buffalograss and found that the natives:

established from seed faster
took less water
grew more slowly (don't have to mow as much)
are denser so they are more resistant to weeds, no weed & feed required.

imo it would only take a little compost every other year or so once established, no other fertilizing is needed.

both species in their low-diversity mix are available commercially. I've seen the test plots and sat down in the stuff. It is amazing!

[leemajors]

What type of grass do you have? If it is dormant, following some of the above advice works well. If is is dead St Augustine - I'd start over. The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin has been studying native turfgrass mixes for the past several years. (A mix of several native species that look the same.)

They compared them to bermuda and buffalograss and found that the natives:

established from seed faster
took less water
grew more slowly (don't have to mow as much)
are denser so they are more resistant to weeds, no weed & feed required.

imo it would only take a little compost every other year or so once established, no other fertilizing is needed.

both species in their low-diversity mix are available commercially. I've seen the test plots and sat down in the stuff. It is amazing!

What are they called? I have a few bare spots I from last summer I wouldn't mind trying some out in for kicks. As an aside, I have been using this Terra Tonic on my grass recently, and cut my fertilizer use drastically (not sure about availability outside of Austin though):

http://www.ladybugbrand.com/amendments.htm#amend-1

It's made by the Natural Gardener Nursery.

[Wild Cobra]

dried molasses makes excellent organic fertilizer as well, and will deter fire ants.

Really?

I would have never though that. Know of any links by chance that support it?

[Wild Cobra]

Till the outta the yard then resod that is what I am going to do.

No, No, No...

It's till into the yard...

[leemajors]

Really?

I would have never though that. Know of any links by chance that support it?

I couldn't find any hard scientific studies about it, but here is a link:

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/ga...stion/id/2156/

The dirt doctor guy is on a show on PBS around here called Hill Country Gardener. Dried molasses is also a good feed supplement for livestock. Last time I used it on my yard, I didn't have a single ant bed for about 9 months. Ants typically don't like healthy soil, and the molasses enriches the soil and growth of helpful microorganisms.

[Wild Cobra]

I couldn't find any hard scientific studies about it, but here is a link:

http://www.dirtdoctor.com/organic/ga...stion/id/2156/

The dirt doctor guy is on a show on PBS around here called Hill Country Gardener. Dried molasses is also a good feed supplement for livestock. Last time I used it on my yard, I didn't have a single ant bed for about 9 months. Ants typically don't like healthy soil, and the molasses enriches the soil and growth of helpful microorganisms.

Thanx.

I may just try some.

[Mark in Austin]

What are they called? I have a few bare spots I from last summer I wouldn't mind trying some out in for kicks. As an aside, I have been using this Terra Tonic on my grass recently, and cut my fertilizer use drastically (not sure about availability outside of Austin though):

http://www.ladybugbrand.com/amendments.htm#amend-1

It's made by the Natural Gardener Nursery.

Here's the link:

LBJWFC Native Lawns

[leemajors]

Here's the link:

LBJWFC Native Lawns

Thanks Mark!