Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
Finally got some time and got the pictures off my phone to document the progress of my reno. Some background info: the back yard is 10k sq ft of lawn, mixture of sun and shade with a strip down the middle that is pretty much full sun. Previously was a decent no-mix (see this year's early June photo) due to following the practices learned here and help from ST6, but decided to try for better. I do not currently have irrigation, and with the mixed light levels I decided on a TTTF monostand of Regenerate as it did very well in the NTEP, and I was able to locate a great quality seed. I went back and forth between mixing KBG, but decided to make it easy on myself for my very first reno and just go with the TTTF.
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- Posts: 483
- Joined: October 25th, 2016, 10:37 am
- Location: Central IL
- Grass Type: TTTF + 10% KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
I too went with tttf but not a monostand. I also added 10% kbg. I went back and forth on whether I wanted all kbg or tttf. It was tough to decide.
If you want to make it easy in yourself you may want to add some other types of tttf or some kbg. The idea behind different types is if a disease hits that effects one type, and that type happens to be your monostand, a total loss is a possibility. If you have different types you won't lose it all.
Without kbg added you may have to overseed every now and then. Kbg will spread but tttf does not. Some people are fine with that but thought I'd mention it.
There's nothing wrong with doing a monostand and some prefer it for it's uniform color. You really have to be on top of things like fungus and catch them quick to minimize loss.
If you want to make it easy in yourself you may want to add some other types of tttf or some kbg. The idea behind different types is if a disease hits that effects one type, and that type happens to be your monostand, a total loss is a possibility. If you have different types you won't lose it all.
Without kbg added you may have to overseed every now and then. Kbg will spread but tttf does not. Some people are fine with that but thought I'd mention it.
There's nothing wrong with doing a monostand and some prefer it for it's uniform color. You really have to be on top of things like fungus and catch them quick to minimize loss.
- probasesteal
- Posts: 1032
- Joined: March 29th, 2014, 3:39 pm
- Location: Winston-Salem, NC
- Grass Type: FRONT: SPF30, NuGlad and Midnight. BACK: Hogan's TTTF with SPF30 HBG
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
I've never seen (or thought about) a TTTF monostand
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- Posts: 483
- Joined: October 25th, 2016, 10:37 am
- Location: Central IL
- Grass Type: TTTF + 10% KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
That's true about not hearing about many doing a tttf mono. I've only seen it mentioned once or twice on here I think. Most that do a monostand normally use kbg.
I'm not sure about this but is tttf more susceptible to disease? I remember someone, it might've been Other Time, doing a reno to switch to kbg because he was sick of battling dollar spot or something. His yard looked great too. A picture of his yard is what made my wife decide to choose tttf over kbg.
If you decide to add some more here is what Hogan has in there tttf blend. They all rank great in the ntep trials. I had them add the NuGlade kbg. They might customize to your area because someone else had one or two different types in their blend. It might just have to do with seed availability too.
I'm not sure about this but is tttf more susceptible to disease? I remember someone, it might've been Other Time, doing a reno to switch to kbg because he was sick of battling dollar spot or something. His yard looked great too. A picture of his yard is what made my wife decide to choose tttf over kbg.
If you decide to add some more here is what Hogan has in there tttf blend. They all rank great in the ntep trials. I had them add the NuGlade kbg. They might customize to your area because someone else had one or two different types in their blend. It might just have to do with seed availability too.
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
The non-spreading of TTTF is why I struggled with whether or not to add KBG, but I read in Othertime's TTTF reno that he hadn't needed to overseed in several years even while battling brown patch, so I thought I'd see what happens. Might end up being a problem for me since my dogs do sometimes race around back there and might tear up some spots that can't patch themselves.
I understand the monostand disease susceptibility issue, but figured the reason for so many people doing a KBG monostand is uniformity (color, growth, density, etc.), and that shouldn't be any different with TTTF.
The seed I ended up going with also had very good disease ratings, and the "potential" for spreading. Potential in "" because I have read conflicting reports on how well spreading TTTF actually spreads. I guess I will get to see first hand.
I understand the monostand disease susceptibility issue, but figured the reason for so many people doing a KBG monostand is uniformity (color, growth, density, etc.), and that shouldn't be any different with TTTF.
The seed I ended up going with also had very good disease ratings, and the "potential" for spreading. Potential in "" because I have read conflicting reports on how well spreading TTTF actually spreads. I guess I will get to see first hand.
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
Here is completely dead lawn prior to going on vacation. My original plan was to seed before leaving and come home (hopefully) to baby grass, but I got nervous about not being able to see what was happening or adjust anything (e.g. sprinklers), so I decided to give it another week of fallowing. This turned out to be a good thing anyway, because I finally got some bags of dirt to fill in some holes and low spots, and I saw some little things growing from the bags. I wish I would've done the fill sooner, but at least I got a good week to sprout anything else from the bagged dirt.
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
Only a few things popped up throughout the month of July (very hot and dry all month) that I spot sprayed with glypho. Finally things cooled off and the last week of fallowing really payed off. Did a final blanket spray of glyphosate on 8/12/17 and seeded on 8/13 along with soil moist seed coat, starter with mesotrione, and peat moss topper. I think I went through 16 of the 3.0 cu ft bags of peat.
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- Posts: 483
- Joined: October 25th, 2016, 10:37 am
- Location: Central IL
- Grass Type: TTTF + 10% KBG
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
Great job so far! It'll be interesting to see the tttf mono and how uniform it looks.
Since tttf seems to be more susceptible to disease I recently did some reading on it. Looks like a lot of people apply Serenade as a precautionary. Might be something to check into just to play it safe. You can always treat any fungus more aggressively if something pops up. Fungus is something we have to deal with whether we have multiple cultivors or a monostand so yours will work put fine.
Can't wait to continue to see pictures of the progress.
Since tttf seems to be more susceptible to disease I recently did some reading on it. Looks like a lot of people apply Serenade as a precautionary. Might be something to check into just to play it safe. You can always treat any fungus more aggressively if something pops up. Fungus is something we have to deal with whether we have multiple cultivors or a monostand so yours will work put fine.
Can't wait to continue to see pictures of the progress.
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
Thanks.
I could be wrong, but I was actually thinking that TTTF would be less susceptible to disease in the same conditions. However, the main regions where TTTF is typically grown (transition region) have conditions where disease pressure will be high.
Anyway, my plan is to try to use at least Serenade and keep up with regular applications of it.
I could be wrong, but I was actually thinking that TTTF would be less susceptible to disease in the same conditions. However, the main regions where TTTF is typically grown (transition region) have conditions where disease pressure will be high.
Anyway, my plan is to try to use at least Serenade and keep up with regular applications of it.
- ken-n-nancy
- Posts: 2571
- Joined: July 17th, 2014, 3:58 pm
- Location: Bedford, NH
- Grass Type: Front: KBG (Bewitched+Prosperity); Side: Bewitched KBG; Back: Fine Fescue Blend + Prosperity
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- Level: Experienced
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
Looking great! Thanks for sharing your progress to date, including pictures!
I think your 8/13 seed-down date is just about optimum timing to give you as much time as possible before winter, yet be after the real heat of summer.
There's a couple big challenges with August seeding, though -- (1) the risk of thunderstorms causing washouts, and (2) the risk of a "heat wave" which makes it difficult to keep the baby grass from drying out.
You're about 10 days after seed-down at this time -- hopefully you have some good germination by now!
I think your 8/13 seed-down date is just about optimum timing to give you as much time as possible before winter, yet be after the real heat of summer.
There's a couple big challenges with August seeding, though -- (1) the risk of thunderstorms causing washouts, and (2) the risk of a "heat wave" which makes it difficult to keep the baby grass from drying out.
You're about 10 days after seed-down at this time -- hopefully you have some good germination by now!
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
Germination is looking pretty good overall. Some spots look great, a few spots look pretty thin.
I noticed the very first germination on 8/17, four days after seed down. I took the advice of edenl01 to go out with the flashlight, and it was very cool. Since then it has continued to really fill out and grow.
I would say the weather has been near perfect, with only a couple heavy rains, but luckily not several inches worth at a time. One spot near my gutter downspout had some bent over blades and fairly light germination so I spread a bit more seed there on 8/20.
Some of my other light germination spots are out in the middle, and I have been too scared to walk on the grass to go out and inspect/decide if more seed is necessary. When do people decide that walking on the seedlings is fairly safe?
I'll get some more pictures up of the germination progress soon.
I noticed the very first germination on 8/17, four days after seed down. I took the advice of edenl01 to go out with the flashlight, and it was very cool. Since then it has continued to really fill out and grow.
I would say the weather has been near perfect, with only a couple heavy rains, but luckily not several inches worth at a time. One spot near my gutter downspout had some bent over blades and fairly light germination so I spread a bit more seed there on 8/20.
Some of my other light germination spots are out in the middle, and I have been too scared to walk on the grass to go out and inspect/decide if more seed is necessary. When do people decide that walking on the seedlings is fairly safe?
I'll get some more pictures up of the germination progress soon.
- probasesteal
- Posts: 1032
- Joined: March 29th, 2014, 3:39 pm
- Location: Winston-Salem, NC
- Grass Type: FRONT: SPF30, NuGlad and Midnight. BACK: Hogan's TTTF with SPF30 HBG
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
I'm confused. You seeded on 8/13?
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno
Yes, seed down was 8/13. Posting of pictures and updates (including starting the thread) has not been very timely.
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- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
-
- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
-
- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
-
- Posts: 68
- Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
- Location: Central Iowa
- Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Experienced
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