Lawn Renovation Questions

[GravelyGuy]

Let me start off by saying I am mostly lawn and landscape maintenance so this kind of job is out of the ordinary for me. I have installed new lawns, but none this big before. I wouldn't mind this job later in the season when things start to slow down a bit.

I have this lawn now, the front was sodded and the back was seeded (an attempt). We need to get this back yard in shape for next year by reseeding it this fall.

Should I kill everything and totally restart, or should I kill all of the clover and junk and try to work with the little bit of grass that we do have. I am licensed to apply pesticides so this would not be an issue.

I don't get the feeling that this guy has really high expectations so he would probably opt for a more affordable renovation if we could rather than starting over from scratch even if it's not perfect right away.

Here's some pics. Thanks for the help.

[Whitey4]

Option 1:
Spray the clover, wait, dethatch, aerate, top dress with a 1/2" of soil or compost, and slit seed. Add a starter fert. I'd do a pH test first and see where that is. I'd also dig a hole to see if this soil even CAN support a lawn!

Option 2:
Personally, after a soil test, I'd make my decision, and that includes if it's clay or sand... it sure doesn't look like loam. Knowing the soil make up should dictate the treatment I think. What and how much in terms of amendments, and it might be easier to kill it and till it. Take that opportunity to do some re leveling, but be careful with that.... slope it towards the house too much and water in the basement problems might occur.

I think the first step here has to be a soil test, and a visual inspection of it's make up. Then, a plan can be set with more info.

[David W]

What whitey said. Soil test and go from there.

If it was me I would soil test it ASAP and from looking at the pics probably kill it now. Then bring in new topsoil and compost, till it real good and look to have seed down by the 3rd to last week of August. A good fescue blend. Be sure to keep the seed moist then wait a week or two and starter fert.

[Smallaxe]

That soil looks bad.

Cheap as possible? Kill the clover and overseed with a layer of compost. With proper watering the 1/4 inch of compost produces more in topsoil.

[GravelyGuy]

Thanks for the good info. I will check out the soil the next time I'm out there.

I haven't ever top dressed a lawn before, but it seems like an ideal thing to do for this situation. Do you guys slit seed and then top dress? Do you still have to put down straw in the bare areas if you seed and then top dress?

[csmlawn]

No straw, it only brings in weed seed. If you water regularly and keep the seed moist it will be okay.