I can't tell from the pictures, but does the grade run to the house? If so,
get that fixed.
..
Then, spend every dime of your landscaping allowance on loam. Then, if you
need more loam, pay for it. At least 6". Somebody else mentioned 2", but
for a really lush lawn, you need a nice base of loam.

Once the grass is hydroseeded, etc, it costs alot more $$ to fix a badly
graded, thin layer of loam. I made the exact same mistake I am afraid you
might make. Get the basics down first.
..
Plants are cheap as compared to a screwed-up lot. You can do plants at any
time. Also, the sprinkler recommendation was a good one, too.

"MikeNereson" wrote in message
oups.com...
Good day.

I'm in a new construction home on a lot of dirt. I have an allowance
from the builder to landscape. Its not enough of an allowance for this
big lot, so I need to do it on my own. Now, I have some estimates to
get the loam and hydro seed delivered, but I need to prep the lot
before I have anything delivered. I also have to grade the back yard.

So, my question is this. Can anyone advice me on what it is that I
need to do to prep the lot? For example, the builder appears to have
just used a bulldozer to level things out, so there are roots,
branches, rocks, sand, pebbles, nail, pieces of the siding, ect all
over the place. I can rake up the trash and some of the debris pretty
easily. But when I rake up the roots, I get 3 more roots pulled up for
every one that I rake up. And there are plenty of rocks out there too.

Here is the lot...
http://picasaweb.google.com/absolute...ion/Unfinished

If I paid a landscaper to do all the work of loaming and seeding, what
would they do to prep the lot?

Any advice or suggestions of any sort are greatly appreciated. Thanks
everyone.