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Rusty Trombagent wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 9:12 am Only one proper thing to do with grass, and that's tear that garbage out and plant a gorgeous and immensely beneficial native perennial meadow.

wab wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2024 10:50 am Get a lawn guy like the rest of us suburbanites.

Grizzled wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 3:16 pm As one with a Masters in Agronomy, just remember grass is a big parasite. Feed and weed, water, you're just creating more work as it grows quite happily. If you insist on growing it (not a native meadow or clover spread), see if the soils in your area are acidic (most probable) and apply lime. Adding compost in the fall for longer term benefits than chemical fertilizer. Keep your mower high in the summer (2-1/2 to 3 inches) so the grass grows thickly and outcompetes the weeds. Water 1" per week. Cut it short as you let it go dormant in the fall (but don't scalp it). Thatch in the spring. You might have to aerate every few years if your soil, like many suburban lawns, is compact.

RichH55 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2024 3:55 pm

Grizzled wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 3:16 pm As one with a Masters in Agronomy, just remember grass is a big parasite. Feed and weed, water, you're just creating more work as it grows quite happily. If you insist on growing it (not a native meadow or clover spread), see if the soils in your area are acidic (most probable) and apply lime. Adding compost in the fall for longer term benefits than chemical fertilizer. Keep your mower high in the summer (2-1/2 to 3 inches) so the grass grows thickly and outcompetes the weeds. Water 1" per week. Cut it short as you let it go dormant in the fall (but don't scalp it). Thatch in the spring. You might have to aerate every few years if your soil, like many suburban lawns, is compact.

Appreciate it - and yep sadly well aware that it's a Weed at its heart. Backyard has to stay for the Pooch - but if you have ideas on the front for something more native?

Grizzled wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2024 4:35 pm

RichH55 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2024 3:55 pm

Appreciate it - and yep sadly well aware that it's a Weed at its heart. Backyard has to stay for the Pooch - but if you have ideas on the front for something more native?

Where do you live? Have any trees and shrubs in the front yard already? What would be your comfort level (and possibly neighbor and HOA approval) of something which is wilder, not traditional in looks? How much maintenance do you want to do, i.e. none to you love gardening.

RichH55 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2024 8:34 am

Grizzled wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2024 4:35 pm

Where do you live? Have any trees and shrubs in the front yard already? What would be your comfort level (and possibly neighbor and HOA approval) of something which is wilder, not traditional in looks? How much maintenance do you want to do, i.e. none to you love gardening.

Riverside - small patch in front - Should be able to do just about anything

I would like very little maintenance ha

Grizzled wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 3:16 pm As one with a Masters in Agronomy, just remember grass is a big parasite. Feed and weed, water, you're just creating more work as it grows quite happily. If you insist on growing it (not a native meadow or clover spread), see if the soils in your area are acidic (most probable) and apply lime. Adding compost in the fall for longer term benefits than chemical fertilizer. Keep your mower high in the summer (2-1/2 to 3 inches) so the grass grows thickly and outcompetes the weeds. Water 1" per week. Cut it short as you let it go dormant in the fall (but don't scalp it). Thatch in the spring. You might have to aerate every few years if your soil, like many suburban lawns, is compact.

UOK wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2024 7:54 am

Grizzled wrote: ↑Sat Sep 21, 2024 3:16 pm As one with a Masters in Agronomy, just remember grass is a big parasite. Feed and weed, water, you're just creating more work as it grows quite happily. If you insist on growing it (not a native meadow or clover spread), see if the soils in your area are acidic (most probable) and apply lime. Adding compost in the fall for longer term benefits than chemical fertilizer. Keep your mower high in the summer (2-1/2 to 3 inches) so the grass grows thickly and outcompetes the weeds. Water 1" per week. Cut it short as you let it go dormant in the fall (but don't scalp it). Thatch in the spring. You might have to aerate every few years if your soil, like many suburban lawns, is compact.

What are your thoughts on clover? I kind of want to let it do its thing in my backyard.

Arkansasbear wrote: ↑Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:36 pm To me he best thing is to get a very good pre-emergent down. If I don't do that I'm fight stuff that thrives in cooler weather until it heats up.

Can you take a soil sample to U of I? They would be able to give you information if your soil is too acidic or basic and how to deal with that. I have to put down a ton of lime every year to balance out my soil's PH levels.

RichH55 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2024 8:34 am

Grizzled wrote: ↑Sun Sep 22, 2024 4:35 pm

Where do you live? Have any trees and shrubs in the front yard already? What would be your comfort level (and possibly neighbor and HOA approval) of something which is wilder, not traditional in looks? How much maintenance do you want to do, i.e. none to you love gardening.

Riverside - small patch in front - Should be able to do just about anything

I would like very little maintenance ha

RichH55 wrote: ↑Thu Sep 19, 2024 10:14 pm Just moved to Burbs from City - so coming back to it

Looking for Tips - Went with the Ego Mower - happy with that so far

But looking for like - do you use the Scotts Fall stuff? Stuff like that

Open to your years of experience!

Grizzled wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 1:36 pm

RichH55 wrote: ↑Mon Sep 23, 2024 8:34 am

Riverside - small patch in front - Should be able to do just about anything

I would like very little maintenance ha

Hey Rich, I'm recommending this for a low maintenance front lawn:

1. Plant a dogwood tree. They typically grow upwards of 15 to 25 feet tall. The Kousa variety is good for shade but others do better in sun. Available with White, Pink, and Red flowers. Will grow upwards of 1 to 2 feet per year. Red berries after flowering, much loved by birds. Very nice fall color

2. If you have room, plant a Maple about 10 to 15 feet away from the Dogwood. Unless you want a really big tree, look for a Japanese Maple, they grow to 10 to 15 feet tall. Fast growing, great fall color.

3. Between the 2 trees, plant a couple of shrubs. Hollies are evergreen and there are varieties which reach from 3 to 25 feet in height (I'd look for the smaller ones like Japanese Holly, 3 to 4 feet high). Other shrub possibilities include Butterfly Bush, Viburnum, and Weigelia.

4. Fill in with perennial flowers (last for several years). Many many types. You can also throw in ground covers, they're typically no maintenance.

5. Put up landscape barrier edging around the whole thing. Put down landscape weed cloth between plants and put down mulch to an inch or so in depth.

Arkansasbear wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 9:49 am

Grizzled wrote: ↑Fri Sep 27, 2024 1:36 pm

Hey Rich, I'm recommending this for a low maintenance front lawn:

1. Plant a dogwood tree. They typically grow upwards of 15 to 25 feet tall. The Kousa variety is good for shade but others do better in sun. Available with White, Pink, and Red flowers. Will grow upwards of 1 to 2 feet per year. Red berries after flowering, much loved by birds. Very nice fall color

2. If you have room, plant a Maple about 10 to 15 feet away from the Dogwood. Unless you want a really big tree, look for a Japanese Maple, they grow to 10 to 15 feet tall. Fast growing, great fall color.

3. Between the 2 trees, plant a couple of shrubs. Hollies are evergreen and there are varieties which reach from 3 to 25 feet in height (I'd look for the smaller ones like Japanese Holly, 3 to 4 feet high). Other shrub possibilities include Butterfly Bush, Viburnum, and Weigelia.

4. Fill in with perennial flowers (last for several years). Many many types. You can also throw in ground covers, they're typically no maintenance.

5. Put up landscape barrier edging around the whole thing. Put down landscape weed cloth between plants and put down mulch to an inch or so in depth.

Be careful in picking a dogwood. Some require a good bit of shade to grow and if they have constant sunlight, they will die. Made that mistake a while back when I got the wrong one.