[Wonderboy]

Hello everyone. I'm not a professional landscaper, just a home owner with a yard that does need a big overhaul. Im in Chattanooga, so i believe im in zone 7b

My first question is about aeration. I have a steel roller with spikes that i drag behind my mower. Would I be able to weld some aerator tines form Amazon to the roller? I would need to cut them down, but would they bend or break?

My second question is.... should i kill the weeds (gonna try the Tenacity method) and then seed? Should i kill the weeds, start to level the yard, then seed? I guess i'm not sure the best method to start this process.

anyways, i know nothing but want a good looking lawn so any advice will help.

 

[EricC]

I assume the 1st pick is a back section? that looks rough, mostly weeds, moss, bare, and grassy weeds. I'm not a pro either so others will hopefully comment. But I might be inclined to wait until fall and just kill the whole area and start over.
Other sections look good enough. I prefer core aeration or none myself. Doubly so if also going to throw down seed. Not sure how your plan of welding them to your drum would work, so I won't comment.

But if you have a lot of weeds, I'd do a pre-M when the soil temp is good. we're still in the upper 30's for soil temps here so I have a while. Watch your rates so you leave a window for seeding in the fall and don't use too high of rate. and when broadleafs are growing I'd start with a good 3 way mid late spring before it gets the summer heat.

In the fall I'd core aerate, seed, drag a mate to break cores and mix seed and then spray tenacity watch my little baby grasses grow.

 

[Bfish]

You need less shade and you need to cut taller.

 

[Wonderboy]

You need less shade and you need to cut taller.

i am planning on taking out a few trees. I think i have the mower set at 3 inches... should it be taller?

 

[[email protected]]

My take:

1. soil test, see where your at nutritionally on the lawn. Local county extension can help.

2.just rent a self propelled aerator, stand on of you can find it.

3. Get a plan based on what the soil test reveals. If your going to overhaul, start with a whole clean slate. Identify trees to limb up, and an area of the lawn to start with. Go from there based on what$ available and time you have!

 

[Bfish]

Taller is better, especially in shade. Verify that your 3 setting is actually 3" (it probably is not).

 

[RigglePLC]

Fall is better, but if you have good soil moisture and soil temperatures are adequate, seed now should work.
And yes, get a top-rated tree service to trim your trees. They should remove any diseased or weedy trees. Then trim trees for improved appearance. Then trim with an eye to remove excess shade to grow grass. Where shade is still too heavy--install tree circles with bark chips. If you prefer, plant a locally-adapted ground cover plant. Myrtle, pachysandra, barren strawberry, ivy, hosta, euonymus or ajuga for instance. Add a nice statue or fountain to add artistic visual interest where the bark is too wide. The best seed is scarce this year. Seek out the best shade seed. Creeping red fescue, hard fescue, chewings fescue in modern disease-resistant varieties. Sow plenty of seed; a few pounds extra may be helpful.
Aeration is not really designed to plant seed. Use a slit seeder.

 

[RigglePLC]

I guess I cannot add to above. There is no longer an "Edit post button".
I think welding aeration times to a drum would be a problem--the soil might not be able to pop out of the top.
Soil might remain stuck in the times. If the grass in the sun and the trees look OK--then you soil is OK.

 

[Wye Oak Tree]

I guess I cannot add to above. There is no longer an "Edit post button".
I think welding aeration times to a drum would be a problem--the soil might not be able to pop out of the top.
Soil might remain stuck in the times. If the grass in the sun and the trees look OK--then you soil is OK.

Hi Riggle, if you click on the three vertical dots in the upper right of your post it will give you the option to edit it.
Yea, we are all getting used to the new version of LS. .