New Home/Yard in Kentucky

[amr40509]

I just signed the contract to build a new home here in the Lexington KY.

Our current yard has a lot of shade in the back yard and really has always had the large, mature, trees be more of a feature than the grass. I've kept the yard decently, but not obsessed about it.

The new house is new construction, on a corner lot that is a little over a 1/4 acre. This means a few things:

1) The yard is going to be "new" and will be sodded and/or seeded upon completion of the build in July or Aug.
2) I'm only going to have small trees that I plant
3) I have a lot more frontage so I want the front yard to look nice in addition to the back.

Any tips regarding getting the yard started on the right foot? Schedule for chemicals?

Right now I use an 'el chepo Craftsman 21" push mower (mulching blade kept sharp) and mow pretty high, but wouldn't say that I get an overly pretty/even cut. It's not bad, but I've seen better. Any thoughts on the need to upgrade this?

[wrager]

Get a soil test now so you will know what to add in preperation for sod. You'll probably be going with a cool season grass and the time to seed these is in the fall. So, if given a choice, you want sod. Make sure they adequately take care of proper grading and leveling.

[amr40509]

Ok, silly questions but...


1) I assume I should wait until final prep for the site is done (meaning they are pouring the basement and all earth moving that might happen is done) and then get a soil test from the "high side" (near the street) and the walk out basement side (back yard), correct?

2)So how/what do you do to get a soil test?

[Valk]

Contact your county extension office...they'll have better/more proper instructions. I would think that several areas would be sampled...but if they are bringing in top-soil, then things might be skewed...

[RAlmaroad]

If the new house has a basement or any thing that needs a hole dug. Spread the dirt around while the house is being built. This will insure that you have an even mix for the seed or sod to exist. You do not want clay in one spot and loam in another. Try to get a homogeneous mix then soil test for pH and nutrients. There is no such thing as evening out a pH in your lifetime. Otherwise you will be bringing in tons of top soil and having it spread over the whole lawn to get that homogeneous mix that you could have started with in the beginning. I hope this makes sense.

[Smallaxe]

Originally Posted by amr40509

I just signed the contract to build a new home here in the Lexington KY.

Our current yard has a lot of shade in the back yard and really has always had the large, mature, trees be more of a feature than the grass. I've kept the yard decently, but not obsessed about it.

The new house is new construction, on a corner lot that is a little over a 1/4 acre. This means a few things:

1) The yard is going to be "new" and will be sodded and/or seeded upon completion of the build in July or Aug.
2) I'm only going to have small trees that I plant
3) I have a lot more frontage so I want the front yard to look nice in addition to the back.

Any tips regarding getting the yard started on the right foot? Schedule for chemicals?

Right now I use an 'el chepo Craftsman 21" push mower (mulching blade kept sharp) and mow pretty high, but wouldn't say that I get an overly pretty/even cut. It's not bad, but I've seen better. Any thoughts on the need to upgrade this?

When you talk about planting 'little trees' in the yard... Does that infer that the majority of the big trees will be taken out during the building process?

Also, what kind of soil are you dealing with, and consider the question about excavated dirt for the basement, if there is one... There are lots of factors to consider to make a decent lawn and landscape , so doing it right the first time will be a great advantage...

[amr40509]

The majority of the digging/grading work has already been done, as this neighborhood was started "pre-crash." This lot was always designed to be set-up for a walkout basement. It looks like nearby houses have been there since about 2007. In many ways I like this, as the general earth moving was a few years ago and should have settled a little more by now. There will be SOME additional digging to clean up the site for the basement, but it won't be a major dig from scratch.

Originally Posted by Smallaxe

When you talk about planting 'little trees' in the yard... Does that infer that the majority of the big trees will be taken out during the building process?

More accurately, there are NO current trees.

[Smallaxe]

You still need to find out what kind of soil you have and whether or not it needs to be ammended and/or mixed...
If there's any body to it at all, it should be tilled after the heavy equipment is gone, smoothened out with a rake and sodded...
If its all sand, then bring in some topsoil and compost, then till, rake and sod...

[agrostis]

Can you post picture's ?