Rule breaking renovation - log - Day 1 - 121 (w/photos)

[jglongisland]

So I got back today after 10 days away, this is day 13.

The RU definitely worked; I got some serious s__t when we got home from my wife. My phlox were in full bloom, the hydrangeas are kicking, etc. We get into the kitchen and she looks out the back door and says ("you did that thing to the lawn again"). I promised her this is it, I finally got it right, etc.

Germination is pretty even, here are pictures. We finally have sun (which has helped everything, I'm going to post updated pics of my front lawn in another thread).

The upstairs window shot (you can see the eveness of the kill and a light shade of green from the seedlings):



Ground level - standing:



Closeups:







The overseeded area:

[GaryCinChicago]

Wow, Jon ... the over seeded area looks spectacular!

Q. The corner area, by the raised brick bed, beyond the slide/swing, is that area receiving enough moisture?

[simpson]

Wow, Jon ... the over seeded area looks spectacular!

Q. The corner area, by the raised brick bed, beyond the slide/swing, is that area receiving enough moisture?

I would have to agree that the os area looks great. But is that just from watering and nitrogen?

[jglongisland]

There is a head on both cornders of the wedding cake, so its getting a lot plenty of water. Grass was longer and harder to scalp over there because I couldn't get the mower in (perhaps that's the issue).

I agree on the overseeded area, I think its the N and water.

[jglongisland]

Shots from this morning, Day 18. No matter how much you plan the germination will always be spotty at this point (I think the areas where the peat was thicker are germinating slower. The craziest part is the area under the tire swing is doing great; limited sun, etc. Go figure).

Shot of the overseed from a window:



Shot from window of backyard:



Ground level shots:

[turf_toes]

Looking good!

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[GaryCinChicago]

The craziest part is the area under the tire swing is doing great; limited sun, etc. Go figure).

Interesting.
What could this be other than preferred soil temperatures for germination? Thoughts?

[jglongisland]

Day 26 - corn meal went down yesterday, light dose of Milorganite today (primarily to keep the animals from running around/digging holes). First cut with the reel mower. There are some patches that don't look good, I'm afraid they are poa or something else, but they look totally different than everywhere else. I'm debating on hand pulling them. Next photos in about 10 days, I think there will be a huge difference (there better be for the sake of my marraige).







Should I pull this?????






















More of that possible weed:






And the overseeded area:

[GaryCinChicago]

Should I pull this?????

I'd spray it so to not disturb the surrounding soil, then sprinkle some extra seed there.

[talldesk]

Pull it. That thing looks alot like yellow nutsedge. Was nutsedge in that lawn before renovation?

Take a close look at the tip of the grassblade. If it doesn't look like a boat's head, then it is not kbg.

[jglongisland]

I've never had nutsedge in this part of my yard. I pulled it this evening.

[jglongisland]

Gave the lawn its second cut today with the reel mower just before another thunderstorm, lots of broadleaf weeds (can't wait until I can get some WBG on them, in the meantime hopefully many will die when they get cut). Should see some tillering over the next few weeks.

Here are some shots:

From window:



Ground level:







Overseeded area:

[eriocaulon]

Looking really good! Man, I have to say, your property is just lovely! Love the pathways and all that stone wall/steps.

[jglongisland]

Thanks.

[GaryCinChicago]

With all that beautiful landscaping Jon, everything will look fantastic this fall!

[jglongisland]

Here are photos from six weeks/day 42. Cut for the 3rd time with the reel mower, weeds are dying off (I've pulled a bunch as well). Hopefully all of you renovators will get some comfort from this. Although I had cool temps there has been somewhere between 12 and 14 inches of rain over the past six weeks. I finally figured out why the grass didn't germinate next to the wall and by the swingset - the water was running down the wall and off the set and creating puddles (saw it happen during last night's downpour). I'm hoping it will fill in over the next 8-12 weeks.

Had a spill with TB2, forgot about how bad that can be after 2 years of organics. Knowing that I have KBG and it can fill in the hole is very comforting.

Here's the burnout:



Here are some second floor shots:






Ground level:






And here is a weed. My gut says it Poa Trivialis as I mistakenly used Jonathan Green Shady Nook seed a few years ago. It had died out, but I think it left some seeds behind. At least I know I can zap it with Certainty if the heat doesn't fry it.

[eriocaulon]

Wow, that looks excellent! That does weed does look like poa triv but at least it's not annua.

[bpgreen]

That's looking really good. Congrats.

[jglongisland]

Here are pictures from 8 weeks, day 48.

Sprayed Certainty and 0.5 oz/acre strength on the Poa T. Wish that stuff worked as quick as RU. Grass could use a watering today but there is moisture in the soil so I figured I'd wait another day to really stress the Poa T. Supposed to hit 93 on Monday (first time over 90 all year); that should stress the Triv as well.

Also hand weeded for about 30 minutes today. My most prolific weeds are actually impatiens; go figure.

I put down Alfalfa pellets yesterday as well as cornmeal and a bag of Milorganite. The cornmeal doesn't help the look; makes the gaps between the grass look lighter. Cut with reel mower today for the fifth mow.

At this point it looks like a so-so lawn, very similar to what the lawn looked like before it was killed.

[eriocaulon]

Wow. Coming along nicely! That is going to look great come fall!