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wasatch123

Do I need to start all over? HELP!!

14 years ago

So after some great advice on this forum, I seeded my backyard (approx 10,000 sq ft) about 3 weeks ago with a KBG blend. I have irrigation, so I kept it nice and watered. After a week I noticed the grass popping up, so I felt great. But within another week it was almost entirely covered in weeds. I get a lot of sun on my backyard. Now it's been 3 weeks and over half of it is completed covered in thick weeds.

Too early to spray, too early to mow, but how in the heck can the grass grow under this dense foliage? I am thinking of just mowing it down anyway so the grass has a chance. I guess I know now why everyone in this neighborhood sods their lawns - but I didn't want to spend that kind of money. Maybe now I will have to? PLEASE tell me what you think honestly. What should I do - or is it a lost cause, and should I clear it again and call a sod farm?

First picture is a closeup, second pictures shows the expanse. Thank you.

Comments (13)

  • 14 years ago

    Here's a wide shot of most of my lawn. The ground actually is flat - but the different weeds and their heights make it look like rolling hills. I am just sick about this, but would rather know NOW if I have to just resort to sod, rather than have people spare my feelings by telling me to wait it out. Thanks for your honesty.

  • 14 years ago

    Who advised you to seed in early August? Try Tenacity before you give up.

  • 14 years ago

    Most of the nurseries here said it would be fine since I had irrigation water and could keep it moist. And one told me that September 1st was the absolute last day I could do it, as we sometimes get snow as early as October. So, I guess I felt like early August would work.

  • 14 years ago

    That is a lot of weed. How did you prepare your soil prior to seeding? Did you use a seed blend containing zero percent weed?

  • 14 years ago

    Most of the nurseries here said it would be fine since I had irrigation water and could keep it moist. And one told me that September 1st was the absolute last day I could do it, as we sometimes get snow as early as October. So, I guess I felt like early August would work.

  • 14 years ago

    Oops. Sorry for the accidental double post.

    As for prep, I sprayed round-up on the entire yard, and then tilled the top two inches to loosen up all of the dead stuff that was there. I raked it out, dragged a pallet, raked it out again, dragged the pallet again, and raked it out one more time.

    I bought Barenbrug Magic Turf at one of the better nurseries here. It was weed free, or as close as possible, yes.

  • 14 years ago

    From what I've learned here on this forum, tilling is highly discouraged because it can bring to surface a lot of dormant weed seeds. I would suspect that this is exactly what has happened to you. As far as your options at this point, I'll leave that up to the lawn experts which I'm sure will be along shortly.

  • 14 years ago

    Right, I understand the tilling. But this land had been neglected for years and was super hard. That's why we only tilled the top two inches. It had a bunch of dead growth that needed to be removed.

    In any case, what's done is done. Just looking for my options at this point. Thanks to all who are posting.

  • 14 years ago

    No sense going over what you may or may not have done wrong at this point. It is what it is. I would still suggest you use Tenacity to kill of the weed as it is seed and young grass "safe" and wont impede any spot seeding you may need to do. Although I don't recognize the weed you have, Tenacity is effective on a broad range of weeds.

  • 14 years ago

    Can I Ask where you got your seed?
    I had the same thing happen to me. I bought from an online company.
    My YArd was covered in the same weed as yours.
    Did you buy from Outside Pride?

  • 14 years ago

    I bought my grass seed from a very reputable nursery - it is the exact same mix they sell to sod farms, and know this weed is just in my dirt, because it pops up in my garden when I water as well. So the seed isn't the problem.

    I've mowed it a few times now, and it is encouraging to see good grass mixed in with the weeds. Some weed killer, fertilizer, and more time will win the fight I think. Thanks to everyone who replied.

  • 14 years ago

    post update pic?

  • 14 years ago

    Sure, here is the latest pic. I mowed it twice to get the weeds down, and it actually really did help the grass. Still lots of weeds out there - but I can spray them in about two weeks, so that is encouraging. Then a few weeks after that I'll reseed some bare spots. Overall I'm feeling much better about it.

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