[kirridam]

Folks,

Please look at these pictures of my lawn:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/3495108170/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/3495105878/

. I moved into a new house in Feb and this is my first time seeing my lawn. It's a mess. Please advise me as to what I need to fill up those patches.

I was thinking of buying some sod and fill the up the long patch on the left. However, I don't know what to do about the small patches all around. Please advise.

I'm in Grayson, Georgia

thanks,
kirridam

 

[AndrewF]

I would fertilizer and use a power overseeder. It is important to get a fertilizer that is suitable for using with new seed.

If you use the wrong fertilizer and plant grass at the same time, the grass wont germinate.

 

[Brik]

i wouldn't do anything with seed now. I would just weed and feed at the moment and also check for grubs and moles/voles. Seeding is best done in fall. It looks like something might be feeding on the roots.

 

[drtbk4ever]

What they said.

But I think you could use get away with top dressing some areas and throwing some grass seed in there. I wouldn't expect perfection from doing it now, but it could help.

As stated, only use fertilizer designed for use with grass seed. I learned this the hard way.

 

[downunder]

Just for asking, did you seed the lawn from bare soil? If so, not a bad job from scratch. Speaking of that, what prep work was done before the seeding? What grass do you have?

That thin strip on the left looks like maybe where a utility line was dug. Could be that the soil is compacted there a little more than elsewhere.

I regret that as a Master Gardener and Georgia Certified Landscape Professional I must disagree with the advice mentioned so far.

I'm not familiar with a power overseeder mentioned above. There are some verticutters that will also drop seed in the slots, but so not practical here.

Yes, fall is preferred for seeding as well as any other planting. But,...

Frankly, I can't tell from the photos if anything is feeding on the roots other than that usually shows up as definite patches. This just looks thin to me.

Fertilizer, particularly N, will burn tender young roots. It will not prevent seeds from germinating. "It is important to get a fertilizer that is suitable for using with new seed."
Q. What would be the suitable fertilizer?
A. High in phophate.
FYI- "starter" fertilizer should be incorporated into the soil at prep time.

Since you did not mention weeds and I cannot see any in the photo, I see no reason to use a weed and feed.

If you use sod, I doubt that you will get it even with the surrounding lawn.

I would get some topsoil to topdress with if it is available at a reasonable cost. Whether I did that or not, I would simply overseed, mulch with straw, and water properly. Ask if you are not sure how to water new seed.

 

[kirridam]

Just for asking, did you seed the lawn from bare soil? If so, not a bad job from scratch. Speaking of that, what prep work was done before the seeding? What grass do you have?

That thin strip on the left looks like maybe where a utility line was dug. Could be that the soil is compacted there a little more than elsewhere.

I regret that as a Master Gardener and Georgia Certified Landscape Professional I must disagree with the advice mentioned so far.

I'm not familiar with a power overseeder mentioned above. There are some verticutters that will also drop seed in the slots, but so not practical here.

Yes, fall is preferred for seeding as well as any other planting. But,...

Frankly, I can't tell from the photos if anything is feeding on the roots other than that usually shows up as definite patches. This just looks thin to me.

Fertilizer, particularly N, will burn tender young roots. It will not prevent seeds from germinating. "It is important to get a fertilizer that is suitable for using with new seed."
Q. What would be the suitable fertilizer?
A. High in phophate.
FYI- "starter" fertilizer should be incorporated into the soil at prep time.

Since you did not mention weeds and I cannot see any in the photo, I see no reason to use a weed and feed.

If you use sod, I doubt that you will get it even with the surrounding lawn.

I would get some topsoil to topdress with if it is available at a reasonable cost. Whether I did that or not, I would simply overseed, mulch with straw, and water properly. Ask if you are not sure how to water new seed.

Couldn't understand what you meant by 'Whether I did that or not, I would simply overseed, mulch with straw, and water properly. Ask if you are not sure how to water new seed'. Would it be a good idea to use 'multi seed' bag, instead of bermuda seed? Bermuda seeds are so expensive.