Bluegrass Lawn patch
 

I have(central Indiana) many bald spots in my yard due to mixing a grass
killer in a Roundup sprayer applicator bottle and leaving
the bottle stay around too long and using it. I won't make that mistake
again. My plan is to scrape out all the dead grass and patch it with a
mixture of matching bluegrass blend and top soil. I purchased 40 lb bags
of topsoil and need to know how much seed to mix into the 40 lb bags.
Can you help? thanks.

"JB" wrote in message
...
I have(central Indiana) many bald spots in my yard due to mixing a grass
killer in a Roundup sprayer applicator bottle and leaving
the bottle stay around too long and using it. I won't make that mistake
again. My plan is to scrape out all the dead grass and patch it with a
mixture of matching bluegrass blend and top soil. I purchased 40 lb bags
of topsoil and need to know how much seed to mix into the 40 lb bags.
Can you help? thanks.

Grass seed should be planted on top of the dirt, lightly tamped and lightly
covered with straw.

If I were you (been there before), I would level the areas using the topsoil
you have purchased, spread 10-10-10 fertilizer at the recommended rate,
sprinkle the grass seed at 2 times the recommended rate for new lawns (the
birds have to eat), cover with straw and keep it damp for a week until I see
green then water every 3-5 days based on local conditions. This is the ideal
time for your area.

Best wishes

Colbyt

Colbyt wrote:

"JB" wrote in message
...

I have(central Indiana) many bald spots in my yard due to mixing a grass
killer in a Roundup sprayer applicator bottle and leaving
the bottle stay around too long and using it. I won't make that mistake
again. My plan is to scrape out all the dead grass and patch it with a
mixture of matching bluegrass blend and top soil. I purchased 40 lb bags
of topsoil and need to know how much seed to mix into the 40 lb bags.
Can you help? thanks.


Grass seed should be planted on top of the dirt, lightly tamped and lightly
covered with straw.

If I were you (been there before), I would level the areas using the topsoil
you have purchased, spread 10-10-10 fertilizer at the recommended rate,
sprinkle the grass seed at 2 times the recommended rate for new lawns (the
birds have to eat), cover with straw and keep it damp for a week until I see
green then water every 3-5 days based on local conditions. This is the ideal
time for your area.

Best wishes

Colbyt



Thanks for the advice. So you wouldn't recommend pre-minxing the grass
seed into the topsoil before application?

"JB" wrote in message
...
Colbyt wrote:

"JB" wrote in message
...

I have(central Indiana) many bald spots in my yard due to mixing a grass
killer in a Roundup sprayer applicator bottle and leaving
the bottle stay around too long and using it. I won't make that mistake
again. My plan is to scrape out all the dead grass and patch it with a
mixture of matching bluegrass blend and top soil. I purchased 40 lb bags
of topsoil and need to know how much seed to mix into the 40 lb bags.
Can you help? thanks.


Grass seed should be planted on top of the dirt, lightly tamped and
lightly
covered with straw.

If I were you (been there before), I would level the areas using the
topsoil
you have purchased, spread 10-10-10 fertilizer at the recommended rate,
sprinkle the grass seed at 2 times the recommended rate for new lawns
(the
birds have to eat), cover with straw and keep it damp for a week until I
see
green then water every 3-5 days based on local conditions. This is the
ideal
time for your area.

Best wishes

Colbyt



Thanks for the advice. So you wouldn't recommend pre-minxing the grass
seed into the topsoil before application?

NOPE!

I gave you my best advice based on 30+ years of grass growing experience and
following advice given by persons more experienced than myself. On top the
ground and tamped works in this part of the country. I answer question in
this group in an attempt to repay those many kind souls who helped me when I
asked.

Colbyt

BTW, I am slightly east and South of you.

According to Ortho's book, "All About Lawns"...

Kentucky blue grass should be 'installed' at a rate of 2 pounds for
every 1,000 square foot.
With a germination rate of 14 to 30 days.

If I were you, and this is just my opinion, I'd rake the bare spots,
then plant the seed as described, then cover it with your top-soil by
1/4 inch, and water well.
Keep the soil moist for the next few weeks.

Just don't get frustrated... it takes a few years to get an established
lawn.
Best wishes,
Dave

JB wrote:
I have(central Indiana) many bald spots in my yard due to mixing a
grass killer in a Roundup sprayer applicator bottle and leaving the
bottle stay around too long and using it. I won't make that mistake
again. My plan is to scrape out all the dead grass and patch it with
a mixture of matching bluegrass blend and top soil. I purchased 40 lb
bags of topsoil and need to know how much seed to mix into the 40 lb
bags. Can you help? thanks.

Relax. Weed/grass killer -- like Roundup -- doesn't destroy your
topsoil. In fact you can seed 14 days after application by the label.

Unless you have very large completely bare areas, use the topsoil evenly
over your entire lawn. It is a good way to "amend" your existing soil.
Do be aware it might have weed seeds of its own.

Seeding should only be done after the topsoil dressing has been allowed
to settle -- at least a week. You'll want to add a starter fertilizer
first, but you can usually seed directly after (I seed the next day).
This is more important than the topsoil.

So, no, you don't want to blend them. The topsoil will actually cover up
the seeds, depriving them of necessary sunlight. Better is to place
straw, light mulch, pea gravel, or landscape fabric, all of which will
help hold the seeds in place while letting sun through. Seeds buried in
topsoil will take much longer to germinate, and those that don't will
simply rot in place.

Next time, make sure you use herbicide in its own container, and keep it
labeled even if empty.

Dan Hartung wrote in message ...
JB wrote:
I have(central Indiana) many bald spots in my yard due to mixing a
grass killer in a Roundup sprayer applicator bottle and leaving the
bottle stay around too long and using it. I won't make that mistake
again. My plan is to scrape out all the dead grass and patch it with
a mixture of matching bluegrass blend and top soil. I purchased 40 lb
bags of topsoil and need to know how much seed to mix into the 40 lb
bags. Can you help? thanks.

Relax. Weed/grass killer -- like Roundup -- doesn't destroy your
topsoil. In fact you can seed 14 days after application by the label.

Unless you have very large completely bare areas, use the topsoil evenly
over your entire lawn. It is a good way to "amend" your existing soil.
Do be aware it might have weed seeds of its own.

Seeding should only be done after the topsoil dressing has been allowed
to settle -- at least a week. You'll want to add a starter fertilizer
first, but you can usually seed directly after (I seed the next day).
This is more important than the topsoil.

So, no, you don't want to blend them. The topsoil will actually cover up
the seeds, depriving them of necessary sunlight. Better is to place
straw, light mulch, pea gravel, or landscape fabric, all of which will
help hold the seeds in place while letting sun through. Seeds buried in
topsoil will take much longer to germinate, and those that don't will
simply rot in place.

Next time, make sure you use herbicide in its own container, and keep it
labeled even if empty.


Unless you have a grading problem, no topsoil should be required to
repair what you damaged with Roundup, you're doing a lot of work for
nothing. Just mow the lawn short, then rent a slice seeder to put
down the new seed. You can even overseed any other areas of the lawn
that could benefit at the same time and be done in an hour, for a
reasonable size lawn.