aug0211's Newbie Midwest Reno (Bewitched)

[aug0211]

[aug0211]

[aug0211]

Finished scalping the back today.

Any thoughts on those last few posts of photos? Can we see enough dirt? Or do I need to consider a power rake or dethatcher and fight weeds?

If it's the ladder, I'd like to get going asap for hopes of successful fallowing.

[SNOWBOB11]

To be honest when I first saw those pics I thought it looked like you could of gone lower with the scalp. It still looks like there's height to your grass and not a lot of soil showing. If it was me I'd try and see if I could scalp lower with the cut. Having said that, I'm not an expert and if someone else more experienced has other feelings on the matter I'd listen to them over me.

[Jackpine]

Impossible to tell by your pictures. If you part the dead grass and see the soil you are good to go. What dead grass you have left matting down will not prevent seedlings from emerging. A light raking after putting the seed down may hasten them getting to the soil surface.

[Paul]

I would go lower by looking at your photos. If your mower cant go lower, I would rake it with a steel tine rake.

[llO0DQLE]

Looks a little long to me as well. Is that the lowest your mower will go? If not, scalp at the lowest setting. If it is, I'd rake with a thatch rake and it will thin that out.

[aug0211]

That's as low as she goes and was the same concern I had

Recommendations on a rake to pick up?

[aug0211]

One other note - mower specs have the lowest cut setting at 1.25" - so that's the height we're at.

[aug0211]

Ok, one more - will a thatch rake disturb weed seeds? How about renting a powered dethatcher vs using a manual rake?

[Jackpine]

A thatch rake won't do what you want and will disturb the soil. Power de-thatchers are height adjustable like a lawn mower. Use a setting that tears away some of the dead grass with a little soil disturbance as possible then bag with your mower. Better yet, use a steel tine leaf rake as Paul suggested to tear away some of the dead grass.

[llO0DQLE]

Jackpine, you don't think a thatch rake will thin out the grass? I pull a lot of dead grass when I use it. I don't see how it disturbs the soil if you don't scratch the soil with it. I do it in such a way that the sharp points are not digging into the soil and I'm only pulling grass out on the back and forth strokes.

[aug0211]

Would a powered dethatcher on the highest setting be a good approach?

I see the below available for rental in my area, and specs indicate it adjusts up to 1" above ground level. It seems like that'd do great to thin everything out without disturbing the soil.

It'd cost a bit more than a rake of course, but I'm willing to pay the slight bit more for the convenience if I get equal or superior results.

Thoughts?

http://www.mowersatjacks.com/Product-De ... YAN/544865

[Jackpine]

It might but know I would not want to tackle even a small portion of 7500 sf with a thatch rake. LOL

[llO0DQLE]

Yes a thatch rake is a lot of work.

[Paul]

7,500 sqft isn't too bad. Get a good steel tine rake, and it will take you 1/2 a day to rake it out.

[aug0211]

Agreed... really hoping a powered dethatched set to the highest setting is acceptable? 1" above ground sounds pretty safe to me - anyone have experience or feedback?

Thanks again to everyone for all of the input. I'm learning lots and am really grateful for the input along the way.

[Jackpine]

Yes it will work. I will take some experimenting to get the right setting for best results.

[aug0211]

Yes it will work. I will take some experimenting to get the right setting for best results.

Awesome, thank you for the confidence booster! I'll start as high as it goes and slowly work down if needed.

[aug0211]

Rented a Classen, ran it on the highest setting for roughly 50%, and second highest setting for the other half of the lawn here and there where the highest setting wasn't enough.

I did hit a few spots where I hit the soil and disturbed it, mostly where things had been pulled up in June from the irrigation system install.

Also mowed after of course, lowest setting and bagged, and things are looking much better to me.

Adjusted irrigation system some this evening as well to make sure I have solid coverage.

Would love to get a second round of RU down tomorrow, but I need to help out some others so it will have to wait.

The fallowing continues!

Any other things to consider at this stage?