Your Questions About Sprinklers

John asks…

Lawn sprinklers are are placed in the soccer field. Two are located at the center of the semicircles.?

They are set to spray over a distance of 175 ft. Will the water be sprayed on the walking track?

lawngrassseed.net answers:

It all depends upon the distance between the soccer field and the walking track and the size of the soccer field. Basically if the distance between the edge of the soccer field and the walking track plus half the width of the field is less than 175 feet, then there will be water on the track, neglecting wind of course. Also, the distance between the track and the sprinkler on the "back" end, going back through the goal, should probably be taken into account. Without actual numbers to crunch, I can't help you any further.

 

Ruth asks…

My kitchen faucet drips when the lawn sprinklers are running. Whats the problem?

I have 6 valves in the backyard and the dripping only happens during the cycle of 2 of the valves.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Not good, the water is returning to the domestic side under pressure from the sprinklers, should be a back flow preventer on the system if not add one, if so rebuild it. All commercial systems must have these to prevent water coming back to the lines, call a irrigation tech and check it out. Good luck

 

Donna asks…

lawn sprinklers turn on when valves are shut?

I just moved into a house and don't know how the sprinkler system works. when i turned on the main valve all the sprinklers turned on even though the individual valves for each zone are turned to the off position. help meeeee.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Check to make sure the solenoids and bleeders are tight on the valves. Check programming on timer to make sure that multiple start times are not making the water cycle keep cycling through. Unplug the timer and see if they keep running. ( sometimes timers do get damaged to where they are constantly sending out power to the valves at once) if you check through all of this then you need to take apart the valves and see if anything is clogging them. I.e. Rocks, debris, etc, and you may need to replace the valves.


Your Questions About Seeds Southern California

Donald asks…

its august in southern california and my new house has no lawn?

how do i get grass to grow. i thought spring was the time to seed and fertilize i just bought the place and want the neighbors to think im a good homeowner. i have fixed up the inside but it looks bad cause the patchy brown lawn

lawngrassseed.net answers:

This is the best time to axe the turf. We replanted our front lawn with natives and drought tolerant plants last August and I don't miss it a bit.It is also the best looking yard in the neighborhood. We still have a section in the center of the yard that I call the meadow that has native grasses, yarrow and low growing annuals. You'd be surprised how green you can keep the drought tolerant grasses with just a bit of water every week or two. The rest looks great with some water no more than once a month. Try theodore payne for natives http://www.theodorepayne.org/ and las pilitas http://www.laspilitas.com/ for information. Fall is the perfect time to plant natives here in SoCal.Here's a link to a LA Times, Emily Green article in today's paper if you need more convincing. Http://www.latimes.com/la-oe-green17-2009aug17,0,2020812.story

 

John asks…

What is a good, hardy outdoor plant for Southern California?

I'd like to add some vegetation to the field next to my house. The soil there is very poor, but a lot of green grass grows in it nonetheless. Since I'm planting it now or soon, it'll have to survive this summer on little water. It might have to be a pretty hardy plant also, as people often walk their dogs or run over the field. I don't particularly care about the type of plant, so I'd settle even for a field of cacti if that is what it takes to grow in that environment. I'd also prefer it to be a seed plant. What suggestions do you have for the plant and do you have any advice about how to plant it?

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Marijuana, sage or tumbleweed.

 

Mark asks…

When is the best time to plant grass from seeds? Anybody knows what is pelt grass?

I live in Southern California. I plan to replace my grass with finer leaves so that it will be easier to mow. When is the best time to this?

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Could you be meaning "creeping bent grass" or a fake grass I've heard of called "pelt grass?" Creeping bentgrass is a cool-season specialty grass primarily used for golf course putting greens, lawn bowling greens, and lawn tennis facilities. It requires cool, humid environments. I don't think this is the best choice for your lawn. Your CA University Extension System has a good web site on seeding grasses: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/TURF/SITEPREP/purchseed.html The best time to seed your lawn is right at the beginning of your rainy season, so you can spare yourself some of the job of watering. Quick and often watering is the key to establishing a new lawn. I would look into Fescue grasses appropriate for CA. This is what I have and I am very comfortable with it…very rugged turf grass. Here are links for three CA companies that advocate fescue grasses: www.bluestem.ca/enviroturf.htm https://www.outsidepride.com/store/ www.larnerseeds.com/ Hope this helps! Have fun and don't forget to water!

 

Lizzie asks…

Best type of lawn for Southern California?

I'm going to plant seed in my backyard over the next couple of weeks and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for types of grass to use. The yard is is in direct sunlight for the ifrst half of the day and then in shade from about noon on. Traffic wont be too high bit intend on being out there on the weekends and will have a dog running around. Any advice if greatly appreciated. Thanks!

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Bermuda


Your Questions About Lawn Seed Types

Sharon asks…

My lawn has 2 types of grass growing together – how do I fix it?

Someone *accidentally* seeded the grass with the wrong seed…now it is St. Augustine & Bermuda grass growing together. Can I overseed with one grass, or do I have to re-sod the entire lawn. It is a huge lawn and looks terribly unsightly up-close.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

I hope you want the Bermuda grass, because once you have it, it is hell(o) to get rid of! The best way to get rid of it is to burn it then repeated poisoning, over a few months. Believe me you will need to do it at least 3 times! If you dig it up and you miss 1 root, or 1 piece, it will come back AND IT SPREADS over the course of 1 summer a small root can develop into a large patch. Bermuda will choke out other grasses eventually too.

 

Lizzie asks…

What type of grass seeds are good for my lawn?

my lawn is very bad looking. its spotty. there are patches of grass and patches of dark dirt what type of seed can i put on top of the grass i already have and it will look really full and beautiful by next summer i am in NJ

lawngrassseed.net answers:

This could help http://lawngrassseed.net

 

William asks…

WHat type of grass seed should I use for extremely heavy pet traffic?

I have a dof that runs back and forth all day tearing up every type of seed I've tried to lay down. What kind of grass is grown at the parks? Or, what should I do to try and grow an extremely tough grass lawn. Thanks

lawngrassseed.net answers:

No grass can withstand constant traffic, especially with dog nails digging up the soil. You can construct a dog run with a crushed limestone base and fencing and train the dog to only run in that area. Then you can plant any grass in the rest of the lawn. If you have a lot of shade, it will be difficult to grow grass, you could try a shade mix but would be better to plant a shade tolerant ground cover. Most ground covers can withstand little to no traffic, so keep the dog off the ground cover.

 

George asks…

I have some bare spots in my lawn that need to be re-seeded. What tpye of grass seed should I use?

What type of seed should I use so that the neww grass blends in with the old grass and what time of year is best for doing this? Thanks.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

The type of grass is really up to you and the type of claimant you live in. If your lawn is relatively healthy, and you have small patches that you'd like to fill in, then you're probably going to want to use the same kind of grass as the rest of your lawn. The good news is you don't have to know what kind of grass the rest of your lawn is, and you should have a fairly steady supply of seed already available. If you let your lawn grow for say 2 maybe 3 weeks, you'll see taller thinner grass growing (light green in colour, but will look similar to wheat, though smaller). That's probably your best source of seed, because it's from the grass growing in the area and is conditioned to the soil already. Then just use a mulching blade in your lawn mower, when you're done instead of throwing your clippings away use them to seed your patches. Just water the patches fairly well before you put the clippings over them, and keep them damp for about a week or so. Shortly there after you should start to see grass coming in. Hope this helps.


Your Questions About Garden Fountains

Mary asks…

I have a dolphin garden fountain that I want to set it up to squirt people on Halloween. I need how-to ideas.?

I would like to set it up on a timer or motion sensor so no one has to "man the station". Thanks in advance for all those that reply.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

It could be triggered either by a pressure switch that your guests step on, or by a motion sensor spliced into the electrical line. I've linked how-tos for both.

 

David asks…

Who has the best book/website for ideas on water gardens and fountains?

I want to see what I can make myself for a waterfall…clay pots etc…

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Timber Press is an excellent source for reference books Encyclopedia of Water Garden Plants Water Features for Small Gardens From Concept to Construction By Keith Davitt Gardening With Water by Van Sweden http://landscaping.about.com/od/booksonlandscaping/gr/water_review.htm http://landscaping.about.com/cs/pondwatergarden/a/water_fountains.htm http://www.eichlernetwork.com/spot_waterfeatures.html

 

Sandra asks…

how do i run electrcal wiring underground twenty feet from a garden fountain pump cord to an extension cord.?

the garden fountain will sit in the front yard and i wil run undergrond wire from the fountain to an above ground out door extension cord which wil run to the outlet approximately forty-five feet away.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

DO NOT do the above – call a licensed electrician and have him install a GFCI- protected receptacle closer to your pond! Besides the fact that burying wire underground requires special cable and conduit, the amount of distance between your current outlet and your pond will almost certainly ruin your pump due to voltage loss. It will be cheaper (AND SAFER) in the long run if you do it properly and have a receptacle (or even better, a sub panel with several dedicated receptacles) installed closer to your pond. This way you can also have power for a UV light, air pump, lighting, or whatever else you may want to add later on.

 

Sandy asks…

Fountain broke in garden were to get new one?

I want a small fountain for on the wall in my back garden that his nice and soothing. Any one no what I should get? mine has broken.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

http://lawngrassseed.net/garden-fountain-reviews  have great information on different garden fountains.

 

Your Questions About Bermuda Seeds

Susan asks…

I'm in HOT Arizona, and wanted to know what is the best grass?

planning on reseeding in the fall months, after the 115 temp is gone… what is the best grass seed to use in Arizona?? Bermuda?? I would like to go cheap, but I'm willing to spend a little more… ??Thanks!

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Any grass recommended for AZ is good but if you don't have a sprinkler system going on regularly then you're wasting your time planting grass.

 

Carol asks…

How do you get rid of Bermuda grass out of the lawn?

I had a beautiful lawn full of tall fescue grass until somehow this awful Bermuda grass is attacking my lawn! I had applied 4 applications of roundup to the Bermuda grass and the laid sod afterwards and the Bermuda grass has just came back again and looks healthier than before! Has anyone else had any luck at getting rid of it? I had overseeded with twice as much as my lot size and the Bermuda just chokes out the tall fescue. I've even tried the Bermuda grass killing that you buy at home improvement stores and it didn't work either. Any one have any suggestions on something else to try? I've spent thousands on chemicals, dirt, seed, and sod and I just don't know what else to try.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Bermuda is the last to die in a drought,..but if a broad leaf covers it,..it will die-back.. You can't eliminate Bermuda.imo

 

Sandy asks…

How do I make Bermuda grow?

In Georgia, we have Bermuda grass that is thinning out. We've tried seeding, watering and TruGreen and still no results.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

I agree w/ Fred but also Bermuda grass is cool-weather grass. It's usually the lst to come up in u'r yard & comes back in Fall when u'r other grass is gettin ready to die. At least it does in ur lawn.

 

Maria asks…

When can I lessen watering my new lawn?

I seeded bermuda grass for my front lawn. I seeded on May 4. It is coming in pretty good. I water it about an inch a day. I was wondering when I can begin watering a few times a week instead of every day.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

You can probably start to gradually lessen the amount of water and develop a regular watering schedule. Normally intense water is needed at least 2 weeks once the seedlings start to grow.


Your Questions About Fertilizer Spreader

Sandra asks…

Quality Lawn Feed Spreader – with gears?

Can anyone recommend a good quality, durable lawn feed spreader with gears to regulate flow as the spreader is wheeled over the lawn? I have used two different spreaders so far, both of which have had drawbacks… I bought a light green coloured spreader from Wilkinsons (their own packaging) last year that had flow settings / gears. Flow stopped when the spreader stopped – good. This worked OK, but when I got it out in the Spring, the axle had gone rusty and seized… this must have been due to moisture in the air in my shed, as it hadn’t been wet as such. I then bought a Scotts Evergreen spreader, all plastic construction – good – but no gearing. The problem with this is that the fertilizer continues to drop out when the spreader is stationary (I didn’t realise this at first, and have scorched a couple of patches on my lawn), and excess fertilizer is also released if the spreader jerks for any reason. It’s therefore awkward / risky to use. I tried walking round in a spiral, to avoid stopping at edges, but being wary not to go over the same grass twice, I’ve ended up with yellowy streaks where I didn’t cover at all (I am using Scotts Evergreen Complete, which makes the grass greener). Ideally, I am hoping there may be a spreader available with gears that is of all plastic construction so it won’t rust. Any suggestions based on good experience would be useful. I must have gears.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

I have a Scotts EverGreen drop spreader (as per the link below). It is different fro the one that they were offering free with feed last year (or the year before that which is inferior as per your experience) It is not geared, it has a cable tensioner that regulates the amount of feed that is allowed through. Feed only drops when the cable is pulled and the wheels turn, so you do not get a pile forming when you stop. Also their catalogue tells you what setting to use for a particular feed rate. The body is plastic, the metal part being the handle which has a butterfly grip that allows it to fold in half for easy storage. Has an 18inch spread. When applying it can look like there is nothing going down as the feed gets lost in the grass. Reassure yourself by running over concrete and you will see the feed. Also there are two arrows on the hopper indicating the drop zone, so when you go down and up, you need to make sure the arrow lines up with the wheel mark from the previous direction, otherwise you will get stripes.

 

Ruth asks…

Fertilizer – Why is it ok to just spread fertilizer rather than put deep in soil close to roots?

I notice that all instructions i have read about putting fertilizer on my lawn (e.g. Scotts Turf Builder Fertilizer and Weed Control) always says to use a spreader (or dropper) to put the fertilizer on the "surface" of the lawn. From my understanding fertilizer contains valuable nutrients for the lawn (its food for the grass) and so i would best think it would work better if the fertilizer was closest to the lawn's roots found far underneath the surfce. So how then is tossing fertiizer on the surface of the grass useful? And wouldn't weeds just use the fertilizer as food too? If it burns them chemically because the fertilizer is so close to them then why do instructions mentions to use fertilizer in a mix with new seedlings — you dont get closer to that and would that then burn the new seedling because the fertilizer is so close?

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Because today's topical chemical fertilizers are usually designed on a slow release basis so you don't have to do as much work.They feed your lawn a proper balance with each rain or watering.Who wants to work any harder than we have to?If you are worried about weeds use a weed and feed fertilizer.

 

Nancy asks…

I used an entire bag of Scotts step2 fertilizer pellets for 5,000 sq feet on 300 sq feet of lawn.?

I am in Illinois and it is late May. I used an old, rusty spreader and it didn't work correctly. I accidentally applied the bag, which is intended for 5,000 sq feet of lawn, on about 300 sq feet of lawn. Does anyone know if this will kill the grass, or if there is anything that I can do at this point to remedy the mistake? I am afraid that my lawn will die. Any pointers would be great!

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Mowing the lawn with a bagger may suck up some of the pellets. Otherwise, nothing can be done, but water, water, water. If the grass survives, you will be mowing, mowing, mowing.

 

Jenny asks…

DC motor with speed control????

I am trying to put a DC motor on my lawn fertilizer spreader. Here is my problem. I need to be able to adjust the output of the motor for the “throw” distance. I am thinking about 1/3 HP motor. Does anyone know if I can use an AC light dimmer for this control?, Probably not, that would be too easy. If you have any suggestions please let me know. Thank you

lawngrassseed.net answers:

No you can not use an A/C dimmer. You need to go to your local Radio Shack and they will help you get what you need!!!


Your Questions About Sprinklers Repair

Sandra asks…

How often should I water my lawn by hand?

My sprinkler system is in need of repair so in the mean time Im going to have to water my entire front and backyard by hand. My grass is a little on the well… dead side. Its green and lush in some areas and dry and dead in others. Im wondering how often per week should I water and how to know when I am watering it enough for the day. I live in So. Cal if thats any help

lawngrassseed.net answers:

A general rule of thumb, is to water your lawn 1" per week. The best way to achieve this would be to water fairly heavily every 2-3 days. The deeper the water gets, the deeper the roots will go to get it. A healthy lawn with deep roots is the key in keeping a consistent green beautiful lawn.

 

Jenny asks…

Can I replace a PVC ball valve – outdoor 2 inch type with a steel valve?

One of my ball valves burst last night in the freeze. Would I cut off the burst PVC ball valve and the attach the steel ball valve with PVC couplings on the ends ( to attach it to the PVC pipe)? It is pointless to put a steel ball valve on PVC pipe if the pipe may also burst from freezing? Should I just hire a sprinkler repair person or is this pretty easy. I have lots of tools. THe valve is above ground on a set of pipes that are for our front lawn sprinklers. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! Sorry – that is what I meant – a brass one. Thank you!!

lawngrassseed.net answers:

You can replace it with plastic or steel. Toss a blankie on those pipes when it is this cold

 

Thomas asks…

how to fix landscape sprinklers that come on at non-programed time without stopping.?

Last night at approximately 10:15 PM the front lawn sprinklers on zone #2 came up and started watering. There are two groups of sprinklers on #2 zone that water a separated two part front lawn. They are programed to water at 7:15AM for 6 Min's. every day. Only one of the two section zone malfunctioned and began watering, the other section did not water. None of the other watering zones came on. Only the one section on #2 zone came on and would not stop. Referring to the owners manual I performed a test of the electrical system using the program box which did not indicate any electrical shorts or problems. Nothing in the manual trouble shooting section was related to this problem. At the sprinkler program control box I turned off the pumps to all zones and then the entire system to off with no results. I subsequently tried resetting the program and even erased the entire program zeroing out everything which failed to stop the watering. I then disconnected all the power and electrical wires to the program box with no results. Finally, I turned off the water valve above the main water shut off going to the sprinklers. This of course shut down the run away sprinklers. I don't know what the problem may be or where to trouble-shoot. I would like some help and advise as to locating and repairing this problem.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

You must have two different valves on zone two. Otherwise every thing on that zone would come on and go off together. They would not have started at 1015 unless some one had changed the clock and put a second watering time on it or manually opened the valve. However if you could not get them to turn off when you turned the clock off you have a faulty valve – probably a worn out diaphram in it. If you know which valve controls that zone you can often turn it off manually by turning down (turning clockwise) the center stem of the valve until it is all the way closed.. This usually will turn it off until you can get someone to either replace the valve or replace the cracked diaphram. I suggest you plug the clock back in otherwise you will run down the internal battery. If you have zeroed out the program nothing will start until you reprogram the clock again. Unless you manually start them with the clock. Each valve can also be opened by turning a small plastic screw on the top of the valve with a screwdriver or with your fingers. Closing this screw when it is open will turn off the valve in 20- 30 seconds. Once you get your valve problem fixed I suggest you reprogram your watering to run only twice or three times a week for double or triple the time. This is much healthier for the lawn. Tempoarily you may try just opening the main water valve and see if the sprinklers stay off. Some times this corrects the problem. If not you will have to turn off each valve manually until you find which one is broken.

 

Sharon asks…

Why do my new pvc sprinkler pipe sections keep cracking?

I had a small leak in the metal pipes at the sprinkler valves. The plumber repaired the leak by replacing that valve with pvc pipe. A week later, one of the replaced sections had a small crack that also leaked only when that valve was running. The plumber replaced it 3 days ago. Today when I got home from work there was a huge crack in the other pvc pipe he'd replaced and the water was gushing onto my lawn, even though the sprinklers weren't even running at the time. It looked like it hadn't been gushing for too long, as my lawn wasn't flooded yet. I was able to turn off the water to that valve set. I've left a message for the plumber to have him back out to fix it. But why does this keep happening and what can I do to prevent it? Should I have him replace it with copper rather than pvc pipes? I can't afford to pay another plumber to come out to fix this when the work should be warrantied. I hope someone has some good advice! Add' Info: My water company was out about a month ago to test my pressure. It is 50 psi at the exterior faucet. About 28 when I run water in the house at the same time. Rep says I have good normal pressure for our area but probably narrow pipes because they are old galvanized steel. So I don't think the water pressure is the problem.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

It sounds like the PVC fitting that is being screwed on is a female adapter. PVC female threaded fittings do not have the best strength. If this is the case, use a metal (preferably brass) female thread X female thread coupler and a PVC male adapter. It will be much stronger.


Your Questions About Seed Mat

James asks…

How to turn an old garden into grass?

I moved into a house with a huge garden in the back that I want covered up and replaced with grass. It is completely run over in weeds, and the soil is very hard and clay like. What is the best way to make it grass? Do I kill all the weeds first? and what is better, grass seeds or those pre-grown grass mats? I don't have any experience in lawn care. Thanks for the help!

lawngrassseed.net answers:

I had a garden like that and we just started mowing it. Didn't work it or plant it at all. Within a year of mowing it there was grass there. **

Helen asks…

getting grass to grow in my yard… need help!?

i moved into my newly constructed home last year and spent most of the spring/summer trying to get the grass in my backyard to grow. it gets the proper amount of sunlight/shade. however there are several large bare spots. i tried several different grass seeds, straw mats, and hydro-seeding… no luck. i'm looking for a solution. any tips you can share will help. thanks!

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Sean you left out a lot of information someone would need to help you out. What area are you? (North/South) There are warm season grasses and cool season grasses. Shoot me an email with you climate zone and I can give you some good direction. Ryanscoggins@trugreenmail.com

Ruth asks…

How do we keep "newborn" grass from dying?

We recently had the area around our house dug up for regrading and needed to have it seeded for grass. Over the weekend we had heavy rain, and our gutters overflowed. (My husband has since cleaned out the gutters). The result was that the line of new grass under the gutters is matted and flattened. Furthermore, some of the new grass has come in VERY thick in other places and is matted. Is there a way to "un-mat" the grass without damaging it? Is it likely to die in the places where it's so thick?

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Have no fear, your aim is to have thick lawn throughout. The rest of the lawn will catch up with the thick areas, and the beaten grass under the gutter will soon stand again. Grass does not stay down for long. Another thing, an old-fashioned manual roller type mower is kinder on new grass and gives good exercise. (Are they still available?) Relax, enjoy your grass.

Robert asks…

I WANT GRASS= will seed , then cover/straw, WHAT to keep DOWN? TAR/ASPHALT?

Dogs and the winter and toys(Little Tikes) made alot of bare patches in the yard. I want to seed then cover with a bale or two of straw/hay? Always see this on a 'new highway' project. The crew covers the seed then sprays on a black mat'l , to keep from blowing away. My question is what can I use at my house? I have access to Asphalt , but it is in the solid form.

lawngrassseed.net answers:

The word lola was looking for I believe is burlap. And that works great for sloped areas. I would not think it would be necessary on flat areas. I like to use peat moss because it holds moisture well. You can also use ground up paper. If you have a paper shredder this should be sufficient. If wet as soon as put down it will stick to each other and the ground, hold moisture and decompose quickly. What they spray on the roads I am sure is not asphalt or tar. But is often highly colored so they can easily tell where they have finished and what still needs to be done.


Your Questions About Seeders

 

William asks…

Planted Grass Seeds – Made a slight boo-boo?

In late September early October, I seeded my backyard. I did not know if things went well until now. It looks like my lawn is starting to grow and the majority of it looks kind of nice. I apparently did not overlap the seed rows well because I have a row of grass, a thin row, a row of grass, a thin row. The thin rows are where my seeder tires were rolling. I do not know if I should go back over the yard with seed now that it's early spring or will that disturb the current process? Shall I wait to see if the grass will "fill in" the thinly skipped rows?

lawngrassseed.net answers:

If you can walk on the grass to go out there and fill in the thin areas, go for it. Otherwise, wait for the ground to firm up a bit. You'll notice it coming in a bit thicker in the thin areas over time. But, you really should fill in the thin areas with more seed for a more uniform lawn as soon as you can walk on it without damaging it.

 

Daniel asks…

What is the best way to go about planting/reseeding a law in VA?

I live in Virginia. I am trying to fix up my grandfathers lawn. I am trying to do it at a minimal cost and with limited time because its already the end of September. I haven't had the soil's ph tested but it hasn't been limed in many many years. It is also overtaken by crab grass but there is some grass patches. What is the best way to go about getting it full of healthy grass without spending a fortune. I have made arrangements to have someone to core aerate it and put down starter fertilizer and seed. I bought the pelleted lime. Should I rake the yard first to break up some of the crab grass so the lime, fertilizer and seed can make it to the soil or should i go ahead and lime it first then rake and sow the seeds. How much lime, using a drop seeder, should i put on the lawn for an untested soil ph. Is this time of year, end of september beginning of october, ok to plant tall fescue blend? any help or tips is greatly appreciated. lawn not law

lawngrassseed.net answers:

I'd call a local nursery or county extension service. What practices that work in the sandy soil of Virginia Beach may not work in the red clay soil of the mountains of southwest Virginia or the Shenandoah Valley. Lime may or may not help (or hurt) your lawn.

 

Donald asks…

New lawn has turned yellow! Help!?

Last summer I killed my lawn by using the wrong weed killer on it. I used weed and grass killer, oops! An $800.00 mistake. I used a sod cutter and allot of elbow grease to remove the old lawn. I had 3 yards of new soil brought in which was spread out on the lawn and rolled. Then I brought in a hydro-seeder to shoot the new lawn. Perfect. A few weeks later we had the best looking lawn in the block. Now, over the winter, my beautiful lawn has turned straw yellow. I have not been able to get out and put anything on it all winter because of foot surgery. Now that I am getting back on my feet I want to save the lawn if possible. I am not sure if I should just wait and watch to see if it comes back around or if I should spread new seed and fertilizer, or if more drastic measures need be taken. The lawn has been watered consistently every other day for about 10 minutes per setting. I live in N. California so our climate is pretty temperate. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

lawngrassseed.net answers:

It's still winter, wait until mid March before you use grass fertilizer. North Carolina or not you may still get frost. I was just at Pawleys Island, SC, my bro-in-law is a landscaper/gardener, his lawn is still a straw color but by the end of March it is a lush, beautiful green carpet of grass. Stop over watering it too. Once a week watering for now is all it needs.

 

Lizzie asks…

New lawn has turned yellow! Help!?

Last summer I killed my lawn by using the wrong weed killer on it. I used weed and grass killer, oops! An $800.00 mistake. I used a sod cutter and allot of elbow grease to remove the old lawn. I had 3 yards of new soil brought in which was spread out on the lawn and rolled. Then I brought in a hydro-seeder to shoot the new lawn. Perfect. A few weeks later we had the best looking lawn in the block. Now, over the winter, my beautiful lawn has turned straw yellow. I have not been able to get out and put anything on it all winter because of foot surgery. Now that I am getting back on my feet I want to save the lawn if possible. I am not sure if I should just wait and watch to see if it comes back around or if I should spread new seed and fertilizer, or if more drastic measures need be taken. The lawn has been watered consistently every other day for about 10 minutes per setting. I live in N. California so our climate is pretty temperate. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

lawngrassseed.net answers:

PROB YOUR SEED MIXTURE. A GOOD BLUEGRASS SEED WILL STAY MOSTLY GREEN THROUGHOUT WINTER, APPLY NITROGEN FERTILIZER IN FALL AND SPRING. LOOK FOR "SCOTTS" PRODUCTS BUY A SPREADER AND APPLY AS PER DIRECTIONS. GIVE IT A FEW WEEKS OF SUNSHINE AND WARMER WEATHER BEFORE YOU PANIC. GOOD LUCK AND FOR YOUR SURGERY ALSO.


Your Questions About Garden Fountains

 

Betty asks…

How can I make a zen rock/moss garden/fountain similar to the one pictured here?

I saw this at an art gallery and I think it's great. I'd like to know if there are any online resources/communities for making something like this. http://www.flickr.com/photos/32722473@N05/3463671774/

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Home depot has kits for that type of thing, or even garden centers.

 

Maria asks…

I drank out of a garden fountain will i get sick?

I know it sounds stupid and is but yes i did it…i drank out of a public garden fountain that people throw pennies and stuff in. So i am wondering if i will get sick. I am freaking out a little…but dont people accidentally drink lake water and stuff all the time??

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Yes they do. Don't worry. Drink a lot of CLEAN water and pee whenever you have to. I had a toffee in my drawer. It had been there for many months. Ate it. Didn't get sick.

 

Nancy asks…

old cement garden fountain has layers of a top coat and plaster falling off how do i refinish it?

 

lawngrassseed.net answers:

I would use a paint thinner or stripper and take it back down to the cement.

 

William asks…

how to clean garden water fountains?

the oxidation

lawngrassseed.net answers:

Be more specific Hon. What is it made of? Metal, concrete, resin? Are you talking of removing the mineral spots. Can help if you give more detail. Are you cleaning the outside, inside.