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Is my lawn beyond saving?

Discussion in 'Garage / Workshop' started by Styx586, Apr 20, 2018.

  1. Apr 20, 2018 at 6:27 PM
    #1
    Styx586

    Styx586 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Terrance
    Lake Elsinore, Ca
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    Little backstory, I bought my first house about a year and a half ago. I had no experience maintaining a lawn or fixing sprinklers, etc. Long story short, I've been plagued with sprinkler issues since I got the house, and it has taken its toll on my lawn. I finally got ALL my sprinklers working properly last week and I'm hoping I can revive my lawn. I'll post some pics so you can see, the grass is very patchy and it almost seems like there are two different types of grass growing on one side of the backyard versus the other side. Some of the grass is light, thin, and soft. While the other type on the other side of the yard seems thicker, darker, and "clumpier" (if that's a word). I've done a little research and it seems that I should "overseed" the grass, but that is best done in the fall and I'd like to try to get it somewhat healthy again before the major summer heat kicks in. So my question is this, is my grass worth saving or should I rip it all out and lay fresh sod? image.jpgimage.jpg
    You can see here (below) the bottom left grass is the thin softer kind, while in the upper right corner is the thicker type, while in the middle it looks kind of weed-like.image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg
     
  2. Apr 20, 2018 at 6:40 PM
    #2
    wilcam47

    wilcam47 Keep on keeping on!

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    looks like it needs aerated, fertilizer and reseeded in the bare spots.
     
  3. Apr 20, 2018 at 6:41 PM
    #3
    wilcam47

    wilcam47 Keep on keeping on!

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  4. Apr 20, 2018 at 7:22 PM
    #4
    Styx586

    Styx586 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Any ideas as to why there seems to be 2 types of grass? Do you have any firsthand experience with that hydro mousse stuff?
     
  5. Apr 20, 2018 at 7:31 PM
    #5
    toyotatacomaTRD

    toyotatacomaTRD Senior Member

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    People have probably used patch, or different grass seeds to fill in which is why it looks different. That may be a challenge to get back. If you're up for it, hydroseed is really cheap. Our lot is 10k square feet and cost like $600 to have the entire grass area hydroseeded. 3 months later it was perfect.
    Just don't do it too late in the summer, and if you have pets it's s hassle. Good luck.

    Added picture of what mine looked like after 6 weeks.

    SmartSelect_20180420-193327_Photos.jpg
     
  6. Apr 20, 2018 at 7:38 PM
    #6
    ian2016

    ian2016 @shockteq

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    Mine looked worse before I installed my own sprinkler system. Just water it and you’ll be surprised how well it comes back. Bet a lot of builders put in st Augustine and Bermuda mix sod so that’s probably why you have two types growing.
     
  7. Apr 20, 2018 at 7:46 PM
    #7
    Cudgel

    Cudgel “Tonka”

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    Grass is essentially a weed plant. Ignore it for two years, don’t cut it too close or too often and it will recover. Grass needs to grow tall to send down roots of same length that the die at the cut height, creating topsoil.
     
  8. Apr 21, 2018 at 11:43 PM
    #8
    Biscuits

    Biscuits Thorny Crown of Entropy

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    Swiggity swangin' biggity bangin'
    Did you do it yourself or pay for someone to hydroseed your lawn?
     
  9. Apr 22, 2018 at 5:13 AM
    #9
    toyotatacomaTRD

    toyotatacomaTRD Senior Member

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    I paid to have it done.
     
    Biscuits[QUOTED] likes this.
  10. Apr 22, 2018 at 5:43 AM
    #10
    ralfnjan

    ralfnjan Well-Known Member

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    I like the part of your yard that's rocks and bushes. Ever see the lawn in Malcolm in the Middle? Or the lawns in Breaking Bad? Now those were lawns! Won't work in my environment. Why fight it with water?
     
  11. Apr 22, 2018 at 5:52 AM
    #11
    Plain Jane Taco

    Plain Jane Taco ALL human beings deserve equal treatment

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    How much sun do those areas get? Even the most shade tolerant grasses need about 4 hours a day to thrive.
     
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  12. Apr 22, 2018 at 5:55 AM
    #12
    Cardsallday13

    Cardsallday13 Well-Known Member

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    What kind of climate do you live in? Does it get really hot in the summer? If so the new grass will not be able to handle the had of the summer. So I would get some want until fall and then rent a power seeder from somewhere like Ace hardware or home Depot and go to town. Then how a service to treat it a few times a year.
     
  13. Apr 22, 2018 at 6:03 AM
    #13
    hyper15125

    hyper15125 Headlight Retrofitting Hobbyist Vendor

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    Hydromousse is garbage, waste of money
     
  14. Apr 22, 2018 at 6:06 AM
    #14
    RudeJude

    RudeJude Active Member

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    I was in similar situation when I bought my house. Rent a core aerator and go to town on all of it. Then lay down a good starter fertilizer. Find a grass seed mixture that will work with your area and lay it down. Then throw a nice layer of fresh top soil down over the entire area. Water it everyday and don't let the seeds get dry (best to do all of this in the early fall so you can take advantage of any rain). It will all come back nicely, just takes some patience and work.

    image1.jpg
    image2.jpg
     
  15. Apr 22, 2018 at 8:45 AM
    #15
    Styx586

    Styx586 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for all the input guys. The grass gets plenty of sun pretty much all day, there’s one small area that is mostly shaded but I’m not too worried about that spot. As far as climate, I’m in inland SoCal. It gets really hot during the later summer months (like 100-110*) and really dry. From the consensus here I think I’ll be best off just living with it for now, then come Fall I’ll do all the re-seeding and fertilizing etc.
     
  16. Apr 22, 2018 at 9:22 AM
    #16
    Sharpish

    Sharpish Well-Known Member

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    Around here most people don't even water their lawns .... in the summer residential neighborhooda are a sea of gold grass. It always comes back when the rain starts
     
  17. Apr 22, 2018 at 9:25 AM
    #17
    toyotatacomaTRD

    toyotatacomaTRD Senior Member

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    I live in an area where you can water your yard 7 times a day with 6 stations for 30 minutes each (3 hours a day nonstop). At the end of the year the water use overage is like $28.

    Our HOA sends out letter's if your yard isn't maintained. I wouldn't have it any other way.
     
  18. Apr 22, 2018 at 9:45 AM
    #18
    Styx586

    Styx586 [OP] Well-Known Member

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    A buddy of mine was having issues with his lawn and his HOA was constantly all over him about it so he said screw it and laid down the fake turf stuff so he didn’t have to worry about it any more. Lol that stuff is expensive though!
     
  19. Apr 24, 2018 at 3:05 PM
    #19
    coffeesnob

    coffeesnob Well-Known Member

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    define water use overage. I know bill goes up when you are a heavy user but 28 bucks doesn't sound like much for that much waterig.
     
  20. Apr 24, 2018 at 3:12 PM
    #20
    toyotatacomaTRD

    toyotatacomaTRD Senior Member

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    Theres a gallon max and it starts the overage at that point. It's so cheap I don't even pay attention. I think 90 percent of people fit into not needing the overage.

    We had just had our lawn installed, the sprinklers were running 6 times a day for like 8 minutes a station and my sister in law was visiting from an area where they had a shortage and can't even wash their vehicles with the hose. She complained every single time they kicked on. Longest week of my life. Some areas water consumption isn't an issue.
     

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