[DeanFL]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

After 18 months of constant struggle with my turf, I took pictures to the extenstion agent. He looked at them and said soil problems. (remember, they put about a 1/4 inch of top soil on top of the sand.)

Had Adam Neusbaum from Black Kow come out and put down 3 cu yards of cow poop mulch on my yard. Watered a lot the first week. I now have the greenest yard on the block. It is also *finally* closing up the empty spots in the turf and choking out the weeks.

Oh yeah. For those who worry, the compost doesn't smell at all. It is very well aged and them micro-screened before delivered.

My zoysia is struggling too - new house, 6 mos old.

Re your Black Kow matter. I'm thinking of going direct to the source >>> buy a cow (any color...) Let her graze and poop all over to her heart's content. Bonus would be a savings on lawn cutting. Now, only if the ARC and neighbors approve.

[e-flyer]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

(remember, they put about a 1/4 inch of top soil on top of the sand.)

In our area, they put the sod directly on sand, no top soil added.

[bluedog103]

Originally Posted by DeanFL

My zoysia is struggling too - new house, 6 mos old.

Re your Black Kow matter. I'm thinking of going direct to the source >>> buy a cow (any color...) Let her graze and poop all over to her heart's content. Bonus would be a savings on lawn cutting. Now, only if the ARC and neighbors approve.

Tell your neighbors that you have a big dog. Neighbors like it when your dog poops on its own lawn.

[Bizdoc]

Originally Posted by bluedog103

Tell your neighbors that you have a big dog. Neighbors like it when your dog poops on its own lawn.

Neighbors will notice in hot weather. *Lots* of poop which really smells when it gets hot. And there are probably too many folks from farm states who would spill the beans. Of course, you could have everyone over for steaks.

[Cobh521]

We purchased last year and we maintain our own lawn. In the beginning we used Lesco 15-0--15 to help promote root growth. We also keep our clippings in the grass. In the beginning you need a lot of water. In the very hot weather we can have a spot or two that starts to tun brown and we use our hose to water those spots in the morning. We have a nice turf and the grass clippings helped to enrich the soil.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by e-flyer

In our area, they put the sod directly on sand, no top soil added.

BUT....the sod is green side up and brown side down and the brown side is dirt...soil. About an inch. Topsoil isn't spread anywhere that I know of here...and usually sod will be o.k. with water.

Ours did fine both places with plenty of watering, but we do have an area that has some kind of mole crickets and the grass doesn't look as good there. Sweetie is tryin' to solve that problem. Not my job description. I am in charge of world affairs.....not doin' too well there.

[Vladimir]

Don't depend on the landscapers to make your grass look good. I have had lousy standard advise from them and this is what worked for me, which I had to do myself.

Watering is critical and needs more than what is generally reccomended. Spread top soil or black cow over the bare areas or all over your yard and seed the bare spots - this is key. Then as your landscapers fertilize you need to supplement their feedings two or three times a year - the landscapers fertilizer is weak and not enough. Also walk around every so often and dig out the weeds by their roots. I experimented and did this and my grass is green and lush and under control...and my house is only about 6 months old. Oh, don't cut your grass low - I prefer a residential push mower over 2 1/2 inches cutting height.

[Papa Cuma]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

is it me or what.look at some new houses and the grass looks terrible. cant they water and feed it??? I don't mean a few but most them look so shabby,bare spots and dryed up .

My wife and I were carting around Hillsborough north of Hillsborough Trail and noticed that the lawns are terrible. Thin, patchy, light green, weedy. But, south of the trail in Hillsborough and Lake Deaton the lawns were lush and green. What gives ???

[village dreamer]

well my house is in lake deaton,and the builder replaced about 1/4 of my lawn due to bugs.

[cmj1210]

Our house is also in Lake Deaton & so far it's good. There is some sort of warranty on that was it still covered

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by village dreamer

is it me or what.look at some new houses and the grass looks terrible. cant they water and feed it??? I don't mean a few but most them look so shabby,bare spots and dryed up .

Welcome to trying to have a nice lawn in Florida. I wish I could put in artificial grass. I hope it does'nt happen to you but when I moved in it cost me a small fortune to get my grass looking good. And I still have to pay thru the nose to water it. I HATE FLORIDA GRASS. In Illinois it gets to be 40 degrees below zero for 3 months and every spring the grass looks great. I HATE FLORIDA GRASS.

[village dreamer]

Originally Posted by cmj1210

Our house is also in Lake Deaton & so far it's good. There is some sort of warranty on that was it still covered

yes there is a warrenty on the grass but ,I had them repair grass befor I closed.............yesterday.

[perrjojo]

St Augustine looks nice but needs too much water. It is also very susceptible to fungus. I agree, get Adam to put out Black Cow on your lawn. We have him top dress our lawn and shrubs twice a year. Also, if your house is less than one year old it is possible they will replace the sod.

[asianthree]

Our lawn is over a year old and still looks iffy

[jnieman]

Try Fertigator. They apply fertilizer at every watering. We have had them for three months and our lawn looks great now and new grass has choked out all of the weeds.