A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Lawn...What's that?

I'm going to have a lawn for the first time ever. Now I know this is going to be rought but could someone tell me everything I need to know about them from turning clay and rocks into something it can grow it right on through the edging trimming and mowing stages please.

If a lawn is what you want, than good luck. Deep watering is good. Don't mow too short (longer blades encourage longer roots so once established, the lawn can survive dry conditions).

I am working hard to replace grass with things that don't take nearly as much work and provide me with great pleasure (e.g., day lilies, flowering ground covers, etc.) OR plants that take work but that I can eventually eat! So while my neighbors are weeding and feeding and watering and mowing and fretting over their green patches of grass in their front yards, I am doing the same-- fretting over collards, squash (3 kinds), beans (3), cukes (2), melons, blueberries and raspberries, all in what was previously my front lawn. As an added bonus, I will soon not have to pay $1.50 for one green pepper.

Good luck!

What do you want your lawn to ultimately look like? You want all grass? Do you not want to have to mow very often? Do you want dark green or light green grass? D you not want to have to water very much? Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera?

tammy, kalar's questions are what we need to know first. usage (are you looking for a nice green cover, or do you want kids to be able to play in it?) the whole thing is decided by those questions.

Well the backyard is over a septic drain field so I wouldn't want to water a whole lot I guess. Any kind of green would be fine, I don't think I have a preference. I'd prefer to never have to mow given a choice lol. And I'd like to be able to walk on it if possible. It's on a slope so whatever gets planted there needs to be able to hold the soil in place.

Reminds me of a book from decades ago entitled "The Grass is Always Greener Over the Septic Tank." I think it was written by Erma Bombeck. She's a hoot!

Sounds like there are no trees to speak of. Hence not shady at all. Gets pretty hot there in the summer, right?

This may take a little research. No shade, slow growth (less mowing), holds up pretty well to foot traffic, low water requirements, erosion control.

Do you want to be able to run barefoot in it?

For the fastest results, I suggest contacting your County Agricultural Extension Agent. It should be listed under County offices in the phone book. They are supposed to know everything about what will and will not grow in your area. They should be able to tell you what type of grass will best meet your 'specifications.' :wink:

good answer kalar. and tammy, i'm not sure you want grass at all, so much as a steppable ground cover. very different "creatures" at times. i wonder how some ivy or such would do?

Ooooohhh, the thought of ivy as a ground cover conjers up images of a 'snake' hotel or other creepy crawly things that like to hide in the shade.

But the idea of a 'no mow' groundcover is a good one. If there won't be a lot of foot traffic, it would be very nice.

The "County agent", as we call them here, should have a few suggestions for that, too. :wink:

edit to add: Jiffy called it right as a "steppable" groundcover.

I'll have to look into what is available. I didn't have good luck with the county extension coop in my old neighborhood,...maybe I'll have better luck here.

I may be having a 'senior moment,' but I'm not sure I understand what you're saying about a "county extension coop." I guess different states have different setups. What we have isn't a 'coop' as far as I know. The Agricultural Extension Agent is hired by the county to help with any and all things 'locally' having to do with crops, gardens, erosion control, anything concerning stuff that grows, what it grows in, pests that bother it, and improving or controlling all of the above. And if he doesn't know the answer, he's expected to find out. :wink:

Here's an email address for a man by the name of Matthew Benson. He is the Extension Specialist for northern Virginia district associated with the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Prince William County is part of the northern district he supports. I feel sure he can either help you or point you to who can. It's worth an email to him.

mcbenson at vt.edu

Thanks Kalar but I don't live in Northern Virginia anymore. I moved to Gladys. And I love being out here. I'm sure I can findout the information that we've discussed. thankyou for taking the time to find that information for me.

Okay. And it was no trouble. I get 'inspired' sometimes just to see if I can find something.

I went by the 'loc' in the profile that shows up next to the posts.

No one told me that sweeping a 4 pound weedeater back and forth would kill my arms in short order. I'm going to be weed eating every day until my arms get a lot stronger than they are. I started this morning and then realized that it was only 7 am. I think I have to at least wait until 8am.

This is going to take a lot of time away from the other chores I have to do outside. Grrrrrh. I'm sure there is a way I just have to figure it out.

I added a hose clamp to the base of my weed eater and added a nylon strap so the brunt of the weight falls around my back and shoulders. I just loop it over my head andone arm and across my back and away I go.

I think I will get one of those straps I saw them at Lowe's but the guy that was helping me told me I didn't need one. Young person of course. Wait until he gets old and decrepit lol. I wouldn't have thought 4 lbs would do me in either but it did.

I wonder what other kinds of suprises I'm in store for.