Andy's 2013 Back Yard Renovation

[HanLawn]

$600 for 4 months is still pretty cheap for your size lot- just over 2x what my 4 months usage is....with only 2 people living in the home and 1700 total square ft of irrigated lawn/garden area.

[Cyclone12]

I'm so glad that Cyclone12 pushed me to get the Day 60 pictures done - 8 hrs after the pictures were taken we got hit with the first significant frost.

Glad to be of service...

[kevreh]

You should build some type of rain basin with rain from your gutters or general runoff, if your yard slopes a certain way.

[Chemeng]

Well, I'm thrilled with the Blueberry renovation at Day 60. It has formed a really nice turf, and has done everything that I asked of it.

Good read Andy. And congrats on your success! Inspiring ..... if my weed pit doesn't improve next spring/summer, I may give it a shot. Even a sliver of your good results would be a big improvement!


Sent from my iOS device using the Yard Help App

[ez2luvlawn]

Great pics. Looking very nice.

[j rockford]

I know it is early in the process but I am looking forward to your comparison to between the cultivars themselves as time passes.

[andy10917]

I know it is early in the process but I am looking forward to your comparison to between the cultivars themselves as time passes.

Obviously, I want to see them head-to-head during the same weather, but I already suspect that they will be very different from each other. "Emblem" is late-to-rise and early-to-bed about being green, but loves the heat. "Blueberry" is thriving on the cooler weather and listening to the snoring of its front-yard neighbor.

[turf_toes]

Blueberry wakes up early too. But as with most KBG, the color darkens considerably with time.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

[HoosierLawnGnome]

Blueberry wakes up early too. But as with most KBG, the color darkens considerably with time.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

I'm *really* looking forward to the blueberry darkening up next fall. *REALLY*

[jglongisland]

Blueberry wakes up early too. But as with most KBG, the color darkens considerably with time.

[ Post made via iPhone ]

I'm *really* looking forward to the blueberry darkening up next fall. *REALLY*

It will be darker when you let it go taller, I have a few spots on my walkway where the grass is always a bit taller because the earth/soil is lower. On those steps the grass looks a good 2-3 shades darker as it is about 3-3.5 inches vs. 2.5 elsewhere (on a 90 day old lawn).

[Jackpine]

I wish Blueberry showed better NTEP ratings in the North Central trials.

[HoosierLawnGnome]

What's your mowing height, Andy?

I'm at ~2.5" on my mow today, mostly because I didn't mow it for a week and 2" would have taken too much off. As jglongisland said, I really notice a darker color in just that 1/2" difference.

[andy10917]

2.25".

[GaryCinChicago]

I really notice a darker color in just that 1/2" difference.

Want and need are two different things.

You need it to establish, knit, tiller and form a sod like turf right now. Young succulent grass is so full of moisture that it can not produce enough chlorophyll to keep up right now due to the suns lowering angle of fall.

The color you want comes next year, after the spring growth flush. (growth flushes are lighter green always, which you are experiencing right now)

Patience. First grow grass, then comes aesthetics.

[Othertime]

Looks great! Solid reno this year. Do you plan on spraying FAS after you drop your winterizer for color?

[andy10917]

Maybe next week - one week before the winterizing app.

[Lawndog]

Have you applied Prodiamine yet?

[andy10917]

No. With growth stalling, I don't see the point. And Prodiamine isn't legal for homeowners in NY.

[andy10917]

Growth has stopped in the back yard (Blueberry renovation). Front yard (Emblem) is still growing a bit (1/2" in a week).

I need to decide whether to apply Urea winterizer to the back yard, and hold on the front - or wait a week and get them both done.

Blueberry is still stunning-looking. Emblem is strange, and starts showing a bit of brown as early as October 1st - but it obviously ain't dormancy.

[jglongisland]

For what its worth I've been splitting it up at my place, I winterize the three sections that stop growing 1-2 weeks before the front hill.