Switch from Bermuda to Fescue - TN
Posted: August 20th, 2021, 10:58 am
I'm looking for some advice, guidance, or even a little assurance that I am on the right track with what I'm doing. I moved into a house 2 years ago that had Bermuda grass. We have some taller trees in the front yard & lining the back property line in the back yard. With the amount of shade caused by those trees, I have some areas that the Bermuda doesn't grow. After trying different things to get the grass to grow, I finally decided to do a renovation and replace it with Bermuda.
To help get me started, I have been following the directions at the following link:
https://turf.arizona.edu/tips797.html
1. I started July 9th by scalping the yard & bagging the clippings. The next day, I sprayed glyphosate over the entire yard.
2. I watered normally for the following week.
3. On July 17th, I cut & bagged where there was still green. I then sprayed another round of glyphosate where there was green.
4. A week later, 99.9% of the grass was dead and I've just been spot spraying since.
5. On August 6th, I rented a verticutter and ran it a few directions over the yard at a depth of 1/4". I removed 7 bags of debris.
6. On August 17th, I grabbed the verticutter again and ran it through a few more directions at a depth of 3/4". I removed another 9 bags of debris. I made sure to leave some of the cut up clippings per the instructions at the link above.
7. This weekend, I plan on doing some leveling in a few areas.
8. Next week, August 27th, I have a Classen TS-20 self-propelled overseeder reserved. The plan is to seed, roll the yard, and add starter fertilizer.
9. I plan on watering per the instructions in the link above. I have an in-ground irrigation system.
I have a few questions for the group that I'd love to get some feedback on.
1. Is this the right way to go? Is there something I should do between now and next week to set myself up for better results?
2. I've seen a lot of information on adding peat moss or compost to the yard. I'm curious if I need to do this with the overseeder & some of the dead Bermuda acting as a mulch as the link above mentions? Or is that overkill?
3. I have 2 English bulldogs that go out back (they will not go to the bathroom on a leash). They each go to only 1 spot in the yard every time. Is there something I can do to help minimize the impact of them going outside to the bathroom? I'll note that if I lay straw on their spot, they'll move to wherever the straw ends (they are stubborn creatures).
4. Any other general words of wisdom to share to help me with this effort?
To help get me started, I have been following the directions at the following link:
https://turf.arizona.edu/tips797.html
1. I started July 9th by scalping the yard & bagging the clippings. The next day, I sprayed glyphosate over the entire yard.
2. I watered normally for the following week.
3. On July 17th, I cut & bagged where there was still green. I then sprayed another round of glyphosate where there was green.
4. A week later, 99.9% of the grass was dead and I've just been spot spraying since.
5. On August 6th, I rented a verticutter and ran it a few directions over the yard at a depth of 1/4". I removed 7 bags of debris.
6. On August 17th, I grabbed the verticutter again and ran it through a few more directions at a depth of 3/4". I removed another 9 bags of debris. I made sure to leave some of the cut up clippings per the instructions at the link above.
7. This weekend, I plan on doing some leveling in a few areas.
8. Next week, August 27th, I have a Classen TS-20 self-propelled overseeder reserved. The plan is to seed, roll the yard, and add starter fertilizer.
9. I plan on watering per the instructions in the link above. I have an in-ground irrigation system.
I have a few questions for the group that I'd love to get some feedback on.
1. Is this the right way to go? Is there something I should do between now and next week to set myself up for better results?
2. I've seen a lot of information on adding peat moss or compost to the yard. I'm curious if I need to do this with the overseeder & some of the dead Bermuda acting as a mulch as the link above mentions? Or is that overkill?
3. I have 2 English bulldogs that go out back (they will not go to the bathroom on a leash). They each go to only 1 spot in the yard every time. Is there something I can do to help minimize the impact of them going outside to the bathroom? I'll note that if I lay straw on their spot, they'll move to wherever the straw ends (they are stubborn creatures).
4. Any other general words of wisdom to share to help me with this effort?