Yard secrets

[J.A.F.O.]

2 words...


Day laborers.

[BigSwede]

Thanks BigCheese and Keith. Awesome info! I will get to some drains in the summer when my travel schedule slows down. I'll likely do the heavy lifting myself then hire the experts to come in and plant/aerate after I'm done. I guess if the price is right I'd just have them do it all.

[Jackwagon]

Originally Posted by Big Cheese

Keith,
I tend to have difficult results with Red Fescue in damp conditions and don't particularly care for the purplish color it develops in a drought condition. I find a bluegrass mix kept at a height of 3 1/2 inches does well for me. I am a zone 5 though and do better with the cool season bluegrass. Frank is zone 7 I think and you appear to be zone 6. Would that make a difference?

Yes, that would make a difference. I wasn't sure what zone he was in. I don't care for the fescue grass myself, but sometimes it's hard to find a mixture that doesn't include it. It's a really good grass if the area is going to take a beating (Parked cars, kids playing a lot, etc.). But it is a very coarse grass with very wide blades. It doesn't look as nice as the bluegrass and ryegrass. You are dead on on the height also. Most people tend to mow to close to the ground. You want to set your mower at a height of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. This helps to keep it thick which helps to drown the weeds out.

Big Cheese, you have really done your homework on this stuff. You have a lot of good info.

[BigSwede]

Originally Posted by keith

Yes, that would make a difference. I wasn't sure what zone he was in. I don't care for the fescue grass myself, but sometimes it's hard to find a mixture that doesn't include it. It's a really good grass if the area is going to take a beating (Parked cars, kids playing a lot, etc.). But it is a very coarse grass with very wide blades. It doesn't look as nice as the bluegrass and ryegrass. You are dead on on the height also. Most people tend to mow to close to the ground. You want to set your mower at a height of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. This helps to keep it thick which helps to drown the weeds out.

Big Cheese, you have really done your homework on this stuff. You have a lot of good info.

I would rather leave my grass a lil long than to risk killing it by cutting it too short. 3 1/2" is about right.

[Scabbydoo]

Originally Posted by BigSwede

I would rather leave my grass a lil long than to risk killing it by cutting it too short. 3 1/2" is about right.

Might I suggest you also stay off of it until those deviled eggs wear off

[Big Cheese]

Originally Posted by keith

Yes, that would make a difference. I wasn't sure what zone he was in. I don't care for the fescue grass myself, but sometimes it's hard to find a mixture that doesn't include it. It's a really good grass if the area is going to take a beating (Parked cars, kids playing a lot, etc.). But it is a very coarse grass with very wide blades. It doesn't look as nice as the bluegrass and ryegrass. You are dead on on the height also. Most people tend to mow to close to the ground. You want to set your mower at a height of 3 to 3 1/2 inches. This helps to keep it thick which helps to drown the weeds out.

Big Cheese, you have really done your homework on this stuff. You have a lot of good info.

I haven't really shared. I'm a certified turfgrass specialist and a member of the Sports Turf Managers Association.
As part of my duties running the high schools I am in charge of 180 acres of athletic fields. Construction and maintenance.