Spreading Expectations
- PSU4ME
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: November 29th, 2016, 9:29 am
- Location: Metrowest MA
- Grass Type: Front: Bewitched/Midnight/Everglade Back: Midnight/Diva/Everest
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Spreading Expectations
I did a reno on my front yard (10k) in the fall of 2015 and my back yard (13k) in the fall of 2016. Both were seeded with SSS KBG mix.
My question(s) are three fold:
1.) When should I start seeing it spread and fill in thin areas? Spring-summer-fall?
2.) How fast will it spread?
3.) Anything I can do to encourage it (PGR)?
The grass is maintained according to the sites accepted practices (water/food). If you need other questioned hust adk.
Thanks!
My question(s) are three fold:
1.) When should I start seeing it spread and fill in thin areas? Spring-summer-fall?
2.) How fast will it spread?
3.) Anything I can do to encourage it (PGR)?
The grass is maintained according to the sites accepted practices (water/food). If you need other questioned hust adk.
Thanks!
-
- Posts: 6838
- Joined: September 14th, 2012, 10:53 pm
- Location: CT (Zone 6B)
- Grass Type: KBG, TTTF, TTPR, and FF (various mixtures)
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Spreading Expectations
You should already be seeing spreading on the 2016 planting. The traditional way of increasing the rate (past normal practices and making sure your soil is in good shape) is to add in extra N applications (as in the Philes method for Spring and/or aggressive Fall method).
Summer...not so much. More of a Spring/Fall thing. Especially Spring. Should fill a 6-inch gap in a year no problem.
PGR might help too.
There are some more esoteric things you can do, too. Milk apps, apparently, for one. I'm sure you'll get some replies about those.
Summer...not so much. More of a Spring/Fall thing. Especially Spring. Should fill a 6-inch gap in a year no problem.
PGR might help too.
There are some more esoteric things you can do, too. Milk apps, apparently, for one. I'm sure you'll get some replies about those.
- PSU4ME
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: November 29th, 2016, 9:29 am
- Location: Metrowest MA
- Grass Type: Front: Bewitched/Midnight/Everglade Back: Midnight/Diva/Everest
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Spreading Expectations
Thank you. I do plan to push it a little with nitrogen this year but I'll temper it a little from Philes just to gaurd against any disease. I'd like to see how it reacts to the baystate and grains I'm able to source
-
- Posts: 501
- Joined: June 29th, 2016, 9:54 am
- Location: Fishers, IN
- Grass Type: Mix (mostly KBG)
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: Spreading Expectations
Read and follow the aggressive Fall Nitrogen Regimen post. You will then ask how to stop the kbg from spreading into your mulch beds.
-
- Posts: 2260
- Joined: May 11th, 2014, 5:22 pm
- Location: RI
- Grass Type: Bewitched, Blue Velvet, Prosperity
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: Spreading Expectations
I've been aggressively fertilizing and mowing twice a week at 2.5 inches and the reno from late last fall is spreading. its pretty cool seeing the rhizomes pop up in the bare spots!
also get a proplugger and move plugs in the big spots
also get a proplugger and move plugs in the big spots
- PSU4ME
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: November 29th, 2016, 9:29 am
- Location: Metrowest MA
- Grass Type: Front: Bewitched/Midnight/Everglade Back: Midnight/Diva/Everest
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Spreading Expectations
Thanks guys. Sounds like just feeding it appropriately/addressively will do the trick. I do t have any huge holes, literally a bunch of 6" spaces from where it got pretty dry last year. I killed some poaA patches in the back this year that I might look at pulling some plugs for.
- LeftField11
- Posts: 200
- Joined: July 25th, 2016, 10:30 am
- Location: South Central PA - zone 6b
- Grass Type: KBG - Bewitched, Blueberry, Prosperity
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Spreading Expectations
Along with the fall nitrogen regimen last year, I've put down alfalfa pellets a couple times too. Mine spread more than I thought possible.
- PSU4ME
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: November 29th, 2016, 9:29 am
- Location: Metrowest MA
- Grass Type: Front: Bewitched/Midnight/Everglade Back: Midnight/Diva/Everest
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Spreading Expectations
Morpheus said that the alfalfa pellets have a growth hormone in them which probably helps. I'm planning to due AP in the summer if i can source them locally.LeftField11 wrote: ↑May 23rd, 2017, 8:18 amAlong with the fall nitrogen regimen last year, I've put down alfalfa pellets a couple times too. Mine spread more than I thought possible.
-
- Posts: 591
- Joined: July 16th, 2015, 9:12 pm
- Location: Dubuque County, Iowa
- Grass Type: Northern Mix
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: Spreading Expectations
Question on the Alfalfa pellets. How long does it take for them to break down from rain, foot/ mower traffic etc.?
- HoosierLawnGnome
- Posts: 9591
- Joined: May 22nd, 2013, 5:59 pm
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
- Grass Type: Blueberry KBG
- Lawn Size: 1 acre-2 acre
- Level: Advanced
Re: Spreading Expectations
This is what I've done. Even with less-than-I-could-push-it Nitrogen applications, the onset of warm, wet weather has invited rust in spots - and I did a preventative Heritage app a month ago.
Anything dinner plate size or larger gets a plug or pot.
Check out my renovation thread to watch it spread - it's doing pretty well spreading-wise.
- LeftField11
- Posts: 200
- Joined: July 25th, 2016, 10:30 am
- Location: South Central PA - zone 6b
- Grass Type: KBG - Bewitched, Blueberry, Prosperity
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Some Experience
-
- Posts: 554
- Joined: March 19th, 2013, 1:55 pm
- Location: Northern IL
- Grass Type: Elite KBG Sod (unknown cultivars)
- Lawn Size: 1000-3000
- Level: Experienced
Re: Spreading Expectations
So far the sod I cut out of the mulch beds or plugs I moved have taken in nicely and are spreading, plus I already need to cut some grass out of mulch beds where I previously cut some out this year. I'm also spoon feeding N every week and have made one PGR application so far. There's some other things that are a bit more aggressive, but for small bare spots I'd just put some plugs in from other areas ASAP to get the most filling potential before summer.
- PSU4ME
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: November 29th, 2016, 9:29 am
- Location: Metrowest MA
- Grass Type: Front: Bewitched/Midnight/Everglade Back: Midnight/Diva/Everest
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Spreading Expectations
I have the PP, when you do plugs, are you doing 2" or 4"
- PSU4ME
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: November 29th, 2016, 9:29 am
- Location: Metrowest MA
- Grass Type: Front: Bewitched/Midnight/Everglade Back: Midnight/Diva/Everest
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Spreading Expectations
That looks great! I'm going to go as aggresssive as it looks like the lawn wants to go up to Andy's top suggestion. The new x380 will get some use!
-
- Posts: 567
- Joined: September 17th, 2013, 11:13 pm
- Location: Kentucky
- Grass Type: Tall Fescue
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: Spreading Expectations
Alfalfa is available in several forms. First choice for me is the meal. It spreads very easily and gets closer to the ground. Rabbit food is also mostly alfalfa and is generally pretty small pellet size.
I once got some alfalfa pellets that were for horse feed. Didn't seem too big but did not really fall down into the grass very well. They swelled when wetted so they remained suspended in the grass for some time. Too low to be broken up by mowing but to high to have ground contact to retain moisture and dissolve.
I have not done this yet but considered just getting a couple of bales, spreading it around a bit, and mulch mowing. Bales are probably 50# or so for about $10. Not as accurate application. Application rate should not be more than 20# / 1000, if I remember the research report I read some time ago.
- LeftField11
- Posts: 200
- Joined: July 25th, 2016, 10:30 am
- Location: South Central PA - zone 6b
- Grass Type: KBG - Bewitched, Blueberry, Prosperity
- Lawn Size: 10000-20000
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Spreading Expectations
Would you run the risk of growing alfalfa in your lawn this way?Charley wrote: ↑May 24th, 2017, 12:59 amI have not done this yet but considered just getting a couple of bales, spreading it around a bit, and mulch mowing. Bales are probably 50# or so for about $10. Not as accurate application. Application rate should not be more than 20# / 1000, if I remember the research report I read some time ago.
I've always used the horse feed pellets, they're available locally to me. You're right - some of them lay on top of the grass and don't get chopped up by the mower. But they eventually swell up with moisture then dissolve into the grass. I hope this doesn't affect their effectiveness.
To the OP and spreading - have you considered milk? I'm planning on picking up a gallon of raw milk and apply with the hose end sprayer today. For $7 and 30 minutes of time, what's to lose?
- PSU4ME
- Posts: 1149
- Joined: November 29th, 2016, 9:29 am
- Location: Metrowest MA
- Grass Type: Front: Bewitched/Midnight/Everglade Back: Midnight/Diva/Everest
- Lawn Size: 20000-1 acre
- Level: Some Experience
Re: Spreading Expectations
I haven't tried milk but on 30k sqft, my neighbors already think i'm crazy lol!!
-
- Posts: 2260
- Joined: May 11th, 2014, 5:22 pm
- Location: RI
- Grass Type: Bewitched, Blue Velvet, Prosperity
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: Spreading Expectations
-
- Posts: 567
- Joined: September 17th, 2013, 11:13 pm
- Location: Kentucky
- Grass Type: Tall Fescue
- Lawn Size: Not Specified
- Level: Not Specified
Re: Spreading Expectations
I would not be worried about growing alfalfa as the hay is cut before it develops any seed. There could be some weed matter from the field though not likely to be much. I don't really know this but I don't expect that the pellet or meal creators do any cleaning of the bales before they use them either. Probably some difference in moisture content of the products.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 13 guests