On Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:15:18 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Jul 31, 1:16*pm, "
wrote:
On Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:56:06 -0600, Robert Neville wrote:
Matt wrote:

Just moved into new construction. *Everything in the house seems to be
of average or higher quality, but the grass seed that they spread on
the lawn is coming in extremely clumpy. *I will say that it was spread
in June and this has been about the hottest summer on record, but I've
also tried to water every night or morning at least for 10-15 minutes
per area.

Anyway, my question is whether the contractor grade grass seed will
eventually yield a nice plush lawn? *Should I overseed with higher
quality seed or just not worry about it until this fall or next spring
when I can see what I'm really dealing with?

Never heard the term "contractor grade" grass seed before, but I assume you mean
it's whatever the landscaper put down - usually a blend of quick sprouting rye
grass and a slower sprouting fescue or bluegrass if water isn't a problem.
Hydroseeding usually gives a more even application.

"Contractor grade" grass seed is a common term for perennial rye. *It grows
quickly and looks decent until the house is sold and then is a PITA for the
homeowners for years to come. *

One common mistake people make is to stop or slow down watering when the rye
comes in and not letting the fescue germinate. Doesn't sound like you are there
yet.

Your rye in the mix above is supposed to be *annual* rye. *In theory it won't
grow the second year (unless allowed to go to seed). *It's intended to be
cover for the better grasses that takes longer to germinate. *Using this seed
takes a bit better class of "contractor". *;-)

Seeded lawns usully do come in in clumps and it takes 2 or 3 years before all
the bare spots fill in. I'd wait until fall to see what you have. That will be
the best time to overseed.


Nonsense. I've totally re-seeded lawns many times in the Fall. By
winter you have decent cover and by May a full lawn. Bare spots
aren't gonna fill in by themselves ever if you have a clump type
grass, eg tall fescue, that doesn't spread. The key to getting it
growing evenly is to properly apply the seed.

Contractor mix isn't going to give you a great looking lawn. Whether
it's good enough for you depends on what your requirements are. It's
extremely difficult to establish a lawn from seed in summer. There is
huge competition from weeds and the watering demands, as Ransley
pointed out are difficult to meet, unless you have a sprinkler system
and either cheap water or a well.

Don't know where you live, so can't give precise timing. But I would
wait until late summer and then kill off everything that you have
there with glyphosate. Then 10 days later, make sure it's all dead,
rake off the debris. Rent an over seeder (slice seeder) and apply a
high quality grass mixture of the type you want and starter
fertilizer. Keep it constantly damp until all the grass has started
growing. That could mean several short waterings a day if it's still
warm and sunny, Then slowly back off the watering so you water it
less fequently, but longer.

As you're now in Fall, everything is on your side. Cooler temps,
less competition from weeds, etc.

In the meantime, I'd take some soil samples and see what it's like.
If it's not decent topsoil, you may want to till the whole thing up
after killing it off and mix in soil ammendments. Also get the PH
tested and if necessary apply lime now. And if you want a green lawn
in summer, consider having an irrigation system installed. This is
all some work up front, but you can either do a modest amount of work
and have a great lawn, or do a half-assed job and then have problems
for the next 20 years and never have the lawn look the way you want.
That applies especially to having decent topsoil. If you try to grow
a showcase lawn on gravel, you're never gonna be happy.



Which is why I liked what my contractor "planted"; Zoysia turf. *;-) *

Good God! Where is it? How long before it invades my lawn here in
NJ?

You're safe until Spring, anyway. It has about 850mi to spread before it gets
to you. The neighbors will be very happy, though. It's a whole lot better
than Bermuda (which he used for the smaller houses).

Actually, the Zoysia is quite nice (a whole lot better than centipede or
Bermuda). I liked creeping red fescue in the North but it wouldn't last a
week here.