Help with Brand New Lawn

Discuss how to and whether you should renovate your lawn
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FarmhouseLawnGuy
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Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by FarmhouseLawnGuy » September 29th, 2017, 5:50 pm

I just finished building a new house this year and am looking for advice on how to get a brand new lawn started. Our house is on over 40 acres, but only about 1/2 acre of that will be lawn around the house. The landscaper used a rockhound everywhere I wanted grass and then put straw down and grass seed. We had a place come out and put a timed sprinkler system in for 3 weeks to get it started.

I have no idea what kind of seed he used and I haven't had the soil tested. I probably should have done more research first, but just never got around to it.

I'm wondering what I should really do at this point, this late in the season. This is in southern WI, so it will start getting cold soon, although we've had an unusually warm fall so far.

I'm thinking of getting the soil tested for starters, but didn't know if there is much more I could do before spring.

Any advice would be appreciated.

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andy10917
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Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
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Re: Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by andy10917 » September 29th, 2017, 6:59 pm

At this point, do nothing unless you think that erosion will happen. You can do a soil test now (until 10/31) and we'll give you things to plan for (or gather) over the winter.

You need to decide if you want a passably nice lawn, or if you're a crazy person like many of us.

FarmhouseLawnGuy
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Re: Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by FarmhouseLawnGuy » October 1st, 2017, 11:28 am

Thanks, I will get a soil test going.

My goal for the lawn is to have thick green grass that is nice and soft that you can run around bare foot on. I don't want it to become an all consuming hobby, but I am willing to put some time into it up front to get it nice, but then would like to be able to just maintain it without it taking an inordinate amount of time.

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
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Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
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Re: Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by andy10917 » October 1st, 2017, 1:02 pm

We'll help get you to the "nice and soft" point - what you do with it after that is your prerogative.

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HoosierLawnGnome
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Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
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Re: Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by HoosierLawnGnome » October 2nd, 2017, 9:50 am

Welcome! You have all winter to plan out what you want to do with the managed area and the soil test.

One tip: milorganite - you can likely get it inexpensively given your proximity to the source ;) Watch for sales!


FarmhouseLawnGuy
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Location: South Central WI
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Re: Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by FarmhouseLawnGuy » October 5th, 2017, 9:23 pm

Thanks, I have heard milorganite is good stuff. Should I put any on now, or wait for spring?

Some grass is finally starting to sprout up, but it's pretty thin at this point and we have had some rain that has washed areas out. Would it be bad to put more seed down, or should I just be patient? If it doesn't hurt, what seed should I use?

BTW, just got my soil sample sent off to Logan labs this morning.

Marinegrunt
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Re: Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by Marinegrunt » October 5th, 2017, 10:25 pm

How long ago was it seeded by the landscaper? It also depends on the type of seed on if you should throw more down. Kentucky bluegrass can take up to 3 weeks to germinate. More isn't better when it comes to grass seed but sometimes we need to spot seed areas after the initial seeding.

Anyway you can contact the landscaper and ask what kind of seed he used? It was probably just a contractor mix of Kentucky bluegrass, fescues, and rye.

FarmhouseLawnGuy
Posts: 9
Joined: September 29th, 2017, 3:22 pm
Location: South Central WI
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Re: Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by FarmhouseLawnGuy » October 5th, 2017, 11:48 pm

Marinegrunt wrote:
October 5th, 2017, 10:25 pm
How long ago was it seeded by the landscaper? It also depends on the type of seed on if you should throw more down. Kentucky bluegrass can take up to 3 weeks to germinate. More isn't better when it comes to grass seed but sometimes we need to spot seed areas after the initial seeding.

Anyway you can contact the landscaper and ask what kind of seed he used? It was probably just a contractor mix of Kentucky bluegrass, fescues, and rye.
It will two weeks tomorrow. I will find out from the landscaper what seed was used.

FarmhouseLawnGuy
Posts: 9
Joined: September 29th, 2017, 3:22 pm
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Re: Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by FarmhouseLawnGuy » October 6th, 2017, 1:49 pm

Landscaper said they used their "Badger Blend". The label says:

24.63% Creeping Red Fescue Aruba
23.86% Perennial Ryegrass Accent
19.88% KBG Nublue
9.94% KBG Everest
9.93% KBG Bluemoon
9.92% KBG Liberator

Not sure if that helps.

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andy10917
Posts: 29739
Joined: February 23rd, 2009, 10:48 pm
Location: NY (Lower Hudson Valley)
Grass Type: Emblem KBG (Front); Blueberry KBG Monostand (Back)
Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
Level: Advanced

Re: Help with Brand New Lawn

Post by andy10917 » October 6th, 2017, 3:24 pm

That would fall into the category of a "Northern Mix" (often abbreviated "NoMix").

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