What is the best plan / strategy to bring my lawn back.

[katit]

I have 3/4 acre yard and right now only dealing with front yard. It's mostly OK, not bad at all. I don't water it, grass is sturdy and mostly grass.
I use weed killer (liquid bayer stuff) about twice a year. Just used it now. After application I have some "yellow" spots.

I also have some grass which is different from "main" grass. And it doesn't die when I appy weed killer. Makes sense, because its grass... Picture of one such "grass" attached, maybe you can recognize what it is..

Anyway. It's not bad in general, about 80-90% is grass. Remaining 10-20% with weeds either dead yellow spots right now or have this "other" grasses. I wonder how do I attack them? Can't just throw grass seads on top, right? What is the best/proper tool to use to get rid of thatch/unneded grass?

I guess I need to prepare soil, embed sead with a soil and cover with hay? Is that a best way to do it? Right now is a time to do it, it get's cooler in St Louis area and grass will have time to grow.

Basically, I'm wondering on what is the best and most practical way to fix spots on a lawn.

I also need some extra topsoil too as I need to fix some low spots (I feel when I mow). What is the best way to spread soil and compact it to make an even surface for mowing?

 

[BlazNT]

I have 3/4 acre yard and right now only dealing with front yard. It's mostly OK, not bad at all. I don't water it, grass is sturdy and mostly grass.
I use weed killer (liquid bayer stuff) about twice a year. Just used it now. After application I have some "yellow" spots.

I also have some grass which is different from "main" grass. And it doesn't die when I appy weed killer. Makes sense, because its grass... Picture of one such "grass" attached, maybe you can recognize what it is..

Anyway. It's not bad in general, about 80-90% is grass. Remaining 10-20% with weeds either dead yellow spots right now or have this "other" grasses. I wonder how do I attack them? Can't just throw grass seads on top, right? What is the best/proper tool to use to get rid of thatch/unneded grass?

I guess I need to prepare soil, embed sead with a soil and cover with hay? Is that a best way to do it? Right now is a time to do it, it get's cooler in St Louis area and grass will have time to grow.

Basically, I'm wondering on what is the best and most practical way to fix spots on a lawn.

I also need some extra topsoil too as I need to fix some low spots (I feel when I mow). What is the best way to spread soil and compact it to make an even surface for mowing?

Kill the undesireable grass by spraying it with grass killer. In Missouri the time to kill it is now. May have to spray more that once. Rake dead grass away and spread new grass seed over raked ground and water every other day till grass is up and growing.

Low spots are normally high spots that need to be knocked down to fill in the low spot. Yard roller to compact soil. If you have an established yard it is not easy to fix low spots. Just lots of manual labor.

I hope this helps some. Every one has different ideas on how to do this so listen to all and decide what is best for you.

 

[motoman]

katit, As Blaze knows I found out my yard is too acidic and will add lime. If you have a local ag college try to get a soil test, sometimes free. The theory: grass may be choking for lack of nutrients it cannot get due to bad pH . Once fixed grass can compete with the weeds and crowd them out. We'll see. It takes time.

 

[katit]

Ok, I will summarize what I found and am going to do and you let me know if that sounds OK. BTW, I used Home Depot's "Lawns 1-2-3" book and seems like I know too much about lawns now

1. I did identify soil that I have. Seem like it's clay. Fertile in general but problems with compaction.
2. I did identify that I have cool season grass right now. Didn't really go into what kind, was too much
3. I did identify weed on a picture. It's an annual bluegrass. Need to apply preemergence herbicide NOW.

So, right now I already took samples, taking them to my local university extension. But judging by what I found - most likely I will need to apply a lot of lime..
My plan for this fall in steps:

1. Cut grass really short, like 1-1.5 inch tall.
2. Do core aeration
3. Do top dressing with a good organic matter. Compost, etc. Around 1/4-1/2 inch layer. Best if spread and fills plug holes.
4. At the same time I will do overseading.
5. At the same time do slow release fertilizer
6. Lime if needed

Then water every other day or so.. Apply preemergence herbicide to control weeds.

Any suggestions on my plan? #2 and #3 sounds like a hard labor.