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Does anyone know a realitively inexpensive way to start a lawn?
I dont want to feed the local bird population, but I want some grass. I have some spotty patches but I want to fill it in so it looks nice. I have a beautiful tree that generates the perfect afternoon shade and I dont want to sit in my chair in the dirt.
I do have a sprinkler system so watering is not an issue.
Any advice would be most appreciated.
Thanks

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WarWagon

There are a number of products out there that can used to be fill patches. I've always used Scotts products with relatively good success.

Just a side not about sprinkler systems. I see way, waaay too many people having their sprinklers go off in the middle of the afternoon. This is NOT what you want. Doing so will cause the grass to burn badly, leaving the owners stumped as to why their lush lawns are wilted with numerous brown patches. Early in the morning or later in the afternoon are the best times. Also, I opt to fertilize or add turf builder after either a heavy rain, a fresh watering, or when dew is very heavy. This allows the feed to stick to the grass and not become washed away, and will also allow those with weed killers to perform as intended.

gonadman

Spread the seed and cover it with chopped up straw(or whatever is available). Initially, you need to avoid it drying out so it will germinate. So you need to water 2-3 times a day very lightly- deep watering at this time is not needed. Once the seed germinates, decrease frequency and increase depth of watering.

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iamnormal

Why do you have spotty patches?

Boo

When I was in AZ the water was expensive everyone was painting the rocks green.

Make sure you use a plugger to open the ground up. Water running off your lawn into the street gets expensive and does your lawn no good.

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homerhop

I have just finished doing my garden with the help of her uncle, who is a gardener by profession. He helped me level it off and sewed it for me. When getting the grass seed he told me to wet my finger and dip it in the seed. If it is a good quality seed it will coat your finger where it is wet.
As for feeding the birds he said what they take is very little and not worth bothering about.
Loosen up where you want to plant the seed with a rake and sew the seed. He said not to roll the seed after it has been sewn. He strongly advised me against watering the seed after it has been sewn that the dew that falls at night should be enough .Why he is against watering is that the seed will float when you water it artificially, whereas with natural rain it will push it into the ground.
So far he has been fairly right, my lawn is coming up nice and even and will look really good. Mind you this is with our climate here in Ireland, don’t know if the advice will be any good for the climate you have.

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Scorpion23

What type of tree is giving the shade? Some trees make it impossible for grass to grow under them by sucking up all the water and blocking sunlight.
For instance, I've never seen an oak tree with normal grass under it. You might have to end up planting some sort of ground cover instead.

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BoomTruck

Some people want their lawns to grow.

I want to Pramitol mine.

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onetime2

Exactly what he said. Also, once the grass takes you may want to throw down some more seed if it didn't entirely fill the patch.

Another alternative is throwing in some sod. If it's just a couple of spots you can go buy a roll of sod and cut it up to fill the spots. You will have to dig down a little into the ground to make the sod mat level with the existing ground though. Doing a whole lawn with sod is expensive as hell but to do a few spots it's relatively inexpensive and you get an instant result. You will also have to water it like gonadman outlined about until it takes root.

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eribrav

Another option would be some wildflower seed. There's really nothing natural about a lawn, especially if you resort to spraying toxic chemicals to maintain it. Do you want to sit in your chair, feeling the morning dew on your toes, if you know its a carcinogenic bath you're sitting in?

BTW a recent study showed that dogs living in homes that use chemicals on the lawn have higher rates of bladder cancer. No human data yet but I bet it's coming in the future.

edmos1

if it is shade, you might want to check the grass type, could be the reason for the bare spots, some grass strains need less sun, some require it...

hotdogg

Great Advice Here...Two other things that I have to do. One is to put down a cinch bug killer, my lawn gets bare spots due to grubs...the other is to aerate it once a year.

PayUp

Thanks all, Tuesday a friend brought over his Bobcat and we graded all the area. A lanscape co. came over and sprayed hydro seed @ $ .15 a sq ft, total around $200.00 with a new timer. I will probably have to mow the first time wednesday. I've never seen a lawn, full, lush and green so fast. worth every penny.

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WarWagon

It is nuts how fast that shit grows in, and how well it grows in. When they first sprayed it back in CT around a shopping plaza they had just finished, within a week or so after seeing "blue dirt" the thing was overgrown.

PayUp

Exactly. Its fast I think I will actually have to mow it on Monday. Seriously the best $200 bucks spent for yard maintenance. Next week ends plans.... margaritas under the shade tree.

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