Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno

Discuss how to and whether you should renovate your lawn
mtroberts20
Posts: 68
Joined: June 13th, 2016, 4:29 pm
Location: Central Iowa
Grass Type: Front: Northern Mix; Back: TTTF (Regenerate)
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Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno

Post by mtroberts20 » August 25th, 2017, 12:28 pm

8/23:


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mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » August 25th, 2017, 12:31 pm

8/23 - Different angle:


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mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » August 25th, 2017, 12:36 pm

I think this weekend I am going to venture out into the middle to inspect some of the light areas, decide on adding seed, mowing, continued watering schedule, etc. I have yet to see any two leafed blades, but maybe I will find a couple out in the sunnier areas. I am excited about the progress so far, and looking forward to it filling in and getting darker.

greenrebellion
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Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno

Post by greenrebellion » August 25th, 2017, 12:49 pm

Wow, looking good. TTTF sure comes around a lot quicker than KBG.

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probasesteal
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Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno

Post by probasesteal » August 25th, 2017, 3:44 pm

Looks good. I seeded the same day, but you are certainly ahead of me (TTTF and hybrid bluegrass). I did have one major storm and until yesterday temps in the upper 80s/low 90s.
Keep the pictures coming.


mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » August 31st, 2017, 11:53 am

Reno still coming along nicely. I was able to mow last night down to about 2.25 inches and it looks nice (I'll get some pictures up tonight). While mowing, some spots were still wet (mushy) and some spots were bone dry. I also watched the sprinklers for a few cycles and determined that the thin spots that can be seen in pictures are most likely due to poor sprinkler coverage and full sun (equals dry areas). I have adjusted sprinkler coverage, nozzles, timing, etc., and hopefully this will help immensely. The dry spots still have some sprouts, but my plan is to spread more seed there. After tonight's chance of thunderstorms the forecast looks great (although a couple days of hotter weather).

Low weed pressure as of yet over the entire area. I have seen the most weeds including the only grassy (looked like crabgrass to me) weeds in the areas where I spread the bagged top soil from Home Depot. This dirt only was fallowed for one week as opposed to the rest getting a month. I pulled some of these weeds out as I came across them.

mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 6th, 2017, 11:13 am

A problem has been growing, and this morning it got me very frustrated. Something has been digging/scratching small patches scattered all over. I can't tell if it is squirrels, birds, rabbits, or what, but they basically scratch up a small (few square inches not even an inch deep in most cases) patch and flip over the seedlings. I walked all over the reno this morning trying to "repair" them by flipping back over the mud with seedlings still attached. I will attempt to get some predatory bird decoys or other things to scare off whatever is doing it. It was very widespread this morning which was what made it so frustrating and disheartening.

mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 6th, 2017, 11:17 am

I had spread half rate milorganite on Sunday, 9/3, and did not notice nearly as many of the scratch holes, although there were some. I need to mow again, which I will attempt later this week, possibly with the riding mower if I am able to balance the moisture throughout the reno. I still need to keep the newly seeded areas wet, but some areas get too wet for the rider.

Marinegrunt
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Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno

Post by Marinegrunt » September 6th, 2017, 1:05 pm

Looking great! I can't wait to see how uniform a tttf monostand will look and how it all turns out. I think it will look amazing.

mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 7th, 2017, 12:57 pm

Very bad widespread damage again last night. Based on some research, I think it is skunk(s). I will make an attempt at deterring them with predator urine, maybe some wire, leaving the light on tonight, etc.

If I use something like dylox to kill whatever food they are digging for, I feel like they will keep coming for a while longer until they don't find food anymore. I haven't decided yet on it's use.

JohnP
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Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno

Post by JohnP » September 7th, 2017, 9:00 pm

Pics look good. Sucks about the skunks!

mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 8th, 2017, 2:36 pm

Well, I caught a couple visitors in the act last night and was able to scare them off. No skunks though...

I left the outside light on all night, and around 11:30 my dog woke me up...looked out the upstairs bedroom window to see a possum wandering around, so I ran downstairs and chased him away. Then about an hour later I was awoken again (what a great dog!) to a pack of 5 raccoons searching around, which I also chased away. No other action during the night, and I went out this morning to inspect the minimal damage caused prior to being scared off.

Take aways: owl statues and animal repellent did nothing...light on did not prevent them from coming into the yard, but did allow my dog to see them and alert me. Probably won't set up the live trap that I got since I don't want to have to drive away an animal every morning for a week.

Not sure on my next steps other than continue with the light on, and I might try some other things that can move around in the wind and make a little noise (although that wouldn't have mattered last night anyway as it was completely calm). Hopefully if I am able to continue to scare them off for the next few days without getting a good meal they will start to look elsewhere.

I also mowed this morning (push mower again) to about 2.5" and most of it looks great. The thin spots have germinated and my plan is to start to wean the water off the entire reno while hand watering the newly germinated areas a couple times per day. Hopefully this will contribute to making it more difficult for the critters to dig as well so my lawn won't be the easiest hunting ground for miles around.

mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 22nd, 2017, 3:23 pm

Haven't seen my late night visitors in a while and the damage has stopped! I have now mowed twice with the riding mower and everything is filling in nicely. The reseeded spots look a lot better, but may need some additional seed in the spring so I will evaluate again at that time. I have really dialed back the watering, and I removed all hoses and sprinklers and switched to traveling sprinkler every few days. Rain has still be very scarce and the heat has really picked up, but next week's weather is looking ideal with rain forecast for Monday and Tuesday. I last watered on Tuesday night and I have no near plans to water again (but will continuously evaluate the need for it).

Here are some pictorial updates:
8/30 --> Day 17



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mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 22nd, 2017, 3:30 pm

Forgot to add, I also added another half rate Milo on 9/17. Probably done with fertilizer till growth stoppage/winterizer which will be 1 lb N/k using ammonium sulfate 21-0-0.

8/31 --> Day 18 (After 1st mow):

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mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 22nd, 2017, 3:45 pm

9/4 --> Day 22:

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mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 22nd, 2017, 3:57 pm

9/8 --> Day 26 (Second mow):

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mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 22nd, 2017, 4:00 pm

9/12 --> Day 30:

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mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 22nd, 2017, 4:02 pm

9/13 --> Day 31 (1st mow with rider, 3rd overall):

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mtroberts20
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

Post by mtroberts20 » September 22nd, 2017, 4:05 pm

9/13 - Alternate view:

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Powhatan

Re: Matt's 2017 Backyard Reno

Post by Powhatan » September 22nd, 2017, 4:16 pm

Very nice :good:

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