Random Thoughts VII 'Merica (RTTVII)

[jcyclonee]

we were specifically told not to do a crabgrass preventer this spring because of the amount of lawn seed still germinating from our last seeding in Nov. We did fertilize.

Hopefully, the grass will grow in thick enough that you won't get too much. Otherwise, you'll just have to deal with it in the fall and spring. Nobody wants crabgrass but there's certainly worse things. Crabgrass prevention is pretty much the definition of first world problem.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

I'm like 10 years behind if I'm having 9 kids!

One a year for the next 9 years puts you at like, 34 with the last one. No problem.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

One a year for the next 9 years puts you at like, 34 with the last one. No problem.

And that's a conservative estimate considering there will be a couple sets of twins in there.

 

[cowgirl836]

Was it an overseed or new seed?

both?


They hydroseeded initially in late July. Which we've learned is pretttttty much the worst time. Got about 3 inches of rain sometime in the next week. Seed was pretty much gone. So we waited and seeded ourselves on a mid/late-Sept weekend. The next Thursday, we got a single day September record rainfall for the city. Seed gone again. And yes, we had been watching the weather and waited for what looked like a long dry spell.

So we said **** this **** that and seeded the worst parts again like late Oct/early Nov. We had some grass by that point but extremely patchy and very thin. Some patches of very thick grass where seed had pooled. We figured we'd have to seed again in spring.

But when we had the person come out and look in late March, they pointed out that a lot of that last seeding was now germinating and they thought we'd be ok with not having to seed this spring, focus on fertilizing, mowing high, and getting what we had established. Then aerate and overseed where needed in the fall. And some kind of fertilizer, I think.

 

[CyArob]

see, I need DH to look on the bright side here. We've had one or two that we've dug out, but nothing like that. I'm like clover used to be in seed mix but when people started using herbicides, it would kill the clover and leave bare spots. So they pulled it out of lawn seed. I shall tell this to DH. Knock on wood, we only have a couple dandelions as well, mostly along the road. I'm like if we have to deal with clover for a while, I'll take that over the other options!

My neighbors could probably give you some creeping charlie. That would take care of the clover...

 

[cowgirl836]

My neighbors could probably give you some creeping charlie. That would take care of the clover...

I feel like this is trading a small problem for a much bigger one. I say I'll pass!

 

[cowgirl836]

and I am not having a kid a year for the next nine years. That is not happening. I used to think I wanted 5 kids. That is also not happening.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

both?


They hydroseeded initially in late July. Which we've learned is pretttttty much the worst time. Got about 3 inches of rain sometime in the next week. Seed was pretty much gone. So we waited and seeded ourselves on a mid/late-Sept weekend. The next Thursday, we got a single day September record rainfall for the city. Seed gone again. And yes, we had been watching the weather and waited for what looked like a long dry spell.

So we said **** this **** that and seeded the worst parts again like late Oct/early Nov. We had some grass by that point but extremely patchy and very thin. Some patches of very thick grass where seed had pooled. We figured we'd have to seed again in spring.

But when we had the person come out and look in late March, they pointed out that a lot of that last seeding was now germinating and they thought we'd be ok with not having to seed this spring, focus on fertilizing, mowing high, and getting what we had established. Then aerate and overseed where needed in the fall. And some kind of fertilizer, I think.

You don't want a long dry spell when planting grass seed. It needs a lot of water over the next couple of weeks to germinate. Unfortunately it sounds like you got some real downpours that helped wash the seed away.
Seeding in the really late fall works because it shouldn't get warm enough for the seed to germinate and the snow will help get the moisture levels up for the spring when it starts to warm up. That's why you are seeing germination now from the the seeding you did in Oct/Nov.

 

[jcyclonee]

And that's a conservative estimate considering there will be a couple sets of twins in there.

You could probably take another 10% off of that estimate too if you count in the Irish Twins phenomenon.





Note: I apologize to any easily offended Irish people in here.

 

[cowgirl836]

You don't want a long dry spell when planting grass seed. It needs a lot of water over the next couple of weeks to germinate. Unfortunately it sounds like you got some real downpours that helped wash the seed away.
Seeding in the really late fall works because it shouldn't get warm enough for the seed to germinate and the snow will help get the moisture levels up for the spring when it starts to warm up. That's why you are seeing germination now from the the seeding you did in Oct/Nov.

yeah we had a bunch of sprinklers going but nothing to water when the seed washed out. I wonder how much grass is growing in the field behind us this year!

 

[BoxsterCy]

Need to counter the CG's young landscape with the old landscape at the Garden Boxster.

PJM Rhododendron yesterday

Magnolia and redbud this last weekend looking down from living room.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

I feel like this is trading a small problem for a much bigger one. I say I'll pass!

It'd be like bringing in a bunch of mongooses to an island to solve your rat problem, and instead having a rat and a mongoose problem, amirite?

 

[cyrocksmypants]

and I am not having a kid a year for the next nine years. That is not happening. I used to think I wanted 5 kids. That is also not happening.

A kid a year for five years it is, then.

 

[CyArob]

It'd be like bringing in a bunch of mongooses to an island to solve your rat problem, and instead having a rat and a mongoose problem, amirite?

If only such a place existed...

 

[cowgirl836]

Need to counter the CG's young landscape with the old landscape at the Garden Boxster.

PJM Rhododendron yesterday

Magnolia and redbud this last weekend looking down from living room.

that rhododendron is beautiful!

 

[BoxsterCy]

I am going to be all Chaser like the rest of the week. Tracking a new Saris bike rack, some misc bike stuff and a Weathertech trunk liner for dah new wheels.

:jiggy:

As soon as bike rake comes I'll have to go buy a new bike to.

 

[ImJustKCClone]

Okay, I need to get involved in this pretties posting:

Five or six years ago we bought around 10 azaleas. The winter after we planted them we had snow on the ground from October to April. Most of the browse plants and reachable leaves on trees were stripped. These little azaleas and the Yew by the front door were the only green sticking out above the snow. Six azaleas died outright. The other four we were nursing back to health, along with the decimated Yew. The Yew came back to full health by the end of the following summer. Two of the four azaleas never showed another blossom and very few leaves...we finally dug them up. The other two azaleas would green up, and the one by the house would occasionally throw out a blossom or two. We very nearly dug up the one in the hosta bed last fall. SO glad we didn't...they finally decided to get pretty for me this year. Yay!

 

[BCClone]

A kid a year for five years it is, then.

None until DH stops using the backdoor.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

If only such a place existed...

Exactly. Because anyone would half a brain would realize it would be a silly idea because simple research would show that rats are nocturnal and mongooses hunt during the day and would end up not eating rats but eating the eggs of your native birds instead. Nobody would be dumb enough to do that.

 

[NWICY]

Last fall, I had a truckload of dirt delivered to repair the erosion over the years. I then seeded it and had good results in the fall.

This spring, my lawn erupted with thistles. I either got a bad batch of dirt or seed, but I have spent hours pulling thistles this year. I've nearly filled two leaf bags of nothing but thistles. Nasty indeed.

Mix up a batch of 24D that will knock them out. get the amine version doesn't drift like ester.