Tips for a fertilizer/weed control as I seed this spring

[neoflex]

The nice part about the sod is I skipped the topsoil portion of the equation that I wouldn't have been able to do had I gone with seed. That is where the costs started to even out between the two.
I would love to hear about the beer can thing. I used to know someone that swore to using beer as a fertilizer but at the time I was renting so I never paid much attention.

[Gophernut]

I too would be interested in hearing about the beer can fertilizer.

[wayner123]

Originally Posted by neoflex

The nice part about the sod is I skipped the topsoil portion of the equation that I wouldn't have been able to do had I gone with seed. That is where the costs started to even out between the two.
I would love to hear about the beer can thing. I used to know someone that swore to using beer as a fertilizer but at the time I was renting so I never paid much attention.

Originally Posted by Gophernut

I too would be interested in hearing about the beer can fertilizer.

This is probably the recipe:

1 can beer
1 cup epsom salt
1/2 cup ammonia
2 cups water

Mix together and add 1/2 oz to 1 gallon of water, feed every 2 weeks.

I would NOT recommend using this for a fertilizer.

[tsolomon]

Look at Purdue University's Turf Grass site and it will answer a lot of your questions.

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/pubs/

You really don't want to seed or over fertilize at this time of year. That should be done starting in September. Depending on what turf grass is growing in your yard, you need to mow at the correct height. If you have anything other than Zoysia, that means 2 1/2" to 3 1/2". This keeps the weeds seeds from germinating, but it also means you're cutting the grass once a week.

[JaKaacH]

Originally Posted by tsolomon

Look at Purdue University's Turf Grass site and it will answer a lot of your questions.

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/pubs/

You really don't want to seed or over fertilize at this time of year. That should be done starting in September. Depending on what turf grass is growing in your yard, you need to mow at the correct height. If you have anything other than Zoysia, that means 2 1/2" to 3 1/2". This keeps the weeds seeds from germinating, but it also means you're cutting the grass once a week.

What he said, seeding works best in late summer/ early fall.
Spring seeding IMHO never works out very good, I live in the Kansas City area, don't know about your area.
A quick spring and summer grass is rye, but it will not come up next year.

[forgop]

Originally Posted by tsolomon

Look at Purdue University's Turf Grass site and it will answer a lot of your questions.

http://www.agry.purdue.edu/turf/pubs/

You really don't want to seed or over fertilize at this time of year. That should be done starting in September. Depending on what turf grass is growing in your yard, you need to mow at the correct height. If you have anything other than Zoysia, that means 2 1/2" to 3 1/2". This keeps the weeds seeds from germinating, but it also means you're cutting the grass once a week.

I already said it's not ideal, but I just need to get the coverage ASAP for what I wasn't able to get filled in last fall. I'm not really wanting bare spots/mud every time we get anything more than a sprinkle. Figure I'll just aerate the hell out of it in a week and seed the hell out of it even more.

[JaKaacH]

This is a great product.

http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Right-So.../dp/B00178Q936

Really makes the grass grow nice and thick, gets the soil properly conditioned. I couldn't believe how good it worked.

Like others have said mow it tall, thick and tall shades the soil, keeps the weeds choked out.

[tsolomon]

Originally Posted by forgop

I already said it's not ideal, but I just need to get the coverage ASAP for what I wasn't able to get filled in last fall. I'm not really wanting bare spots/mud every time we get anything more than a sprinkle. Figure I'll just aerate the hell out of it in a week and seed the hell out of it even more.

It can be done, but you will need to water it a lot until the roots get established. Look at the Seeding a Turf Area in the Spring publication, that pretty much covers everything you need to do. I have been over-seeding bare spots for the last couple of weeks, so you're not the only one doing this.