lawn whisperer

I’ve been tending to my lawn myself for 5 years and the lawn is steadily getting worse. I’ve watched plenty of how-to videos, fertilized, mowed, watered, overseeded, etc as per schedule. But I must be doing it all wrong because the grass is not looking healthy. I can’t keep up with the weeds anymore and I have crabgrass everywhere. I suspect the pH level is wrong and this may be part of the problem.

I could possibly start all over, either by sod or seed (I have the patience) but I would like an expert by my side before I invest any more energy. It would be great if I could hire someone for a season to take care of the lawn and they don’t mind teaching me along the way. Can’t get rid of my DIY instincts in the long run 🙂 I’m not looking for a perfect lawn (no toxic stuff please), just a healthy one.

Can anyone recommend a lawn whisperer?

Thank you in advance!
PJ

pmody

in General Discussion 5 years ago

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stevecym | 5 years ago

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and i will ad this – it was an old man, a neighbor, who told me “do not water the grass everyday. it is bad for it”. but he did not tell me why. only when i screwed my postage stamp lawn up royally, did i read about lawn care and learn that watering the lawn everyday does not promote root growth and for a lawn to survive the rough spells, droughts and the winter, they need deep roots. so when people tell any of us anything, it helps to read behind that they are saying. get the “why”.

stevecym | 5 years ago

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@bob, i have reached out to you asking if you could contact me. perhaps i can give you reason to part with that tool.

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 5 years ago

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I have one of those tools—it came as part of a set—I don’t think I’ve ever used it

stevecym | 5 years ago

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and talk to your neighbors. i often talk with the guy across the street about our lawns (grass, lawns are a bit larger than what we have here) though he is at this less time than i so i think he is trying to see what he can learn from me. but in years past – before we all had our heads stuck in these electronic devices and before TV’s, men would actually talk to one another. you would see them after work standing in front of their houses. my uncle recently told me that before my grandfather settled into a routine that included a television, he went outside after dinner and as soon as he went out, other men would appear and they would talk about things pertaining to the houses and yards (these men were not drinkers). these same men took care of their own lawns and both of my grandfathers had perfect lawns and they did it themselves. the crab grass, my grandfather had a tool that looked like a screw driver with a split end on it and as soon as the first weed appear, he was on his hands and knees pulling it out, root and all – when i was about 10 or 11, he trie d to teach me how to do this; i resisted until he gave up. i am thinking of getting one of those tools myself now.

i am serious, talk to the neighbors. you will glean something and when they say things, follow it by reading.

pmody | 5 years ago

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Thanks for the suggestions Steve. I’ll give it one last try with the pH test and lime if necessary.

stevecym | 5 years ago

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amazon will sell you a ph kit and have it to you tomorrow. i finally got one this spring. i’ve had the same issues you are talking about. the mistake i was making was over watering. yes, when the grass is new, you have to water a lot, but once the roots are established, you have to cut back so the roots grow deep looking for water. after finally getting this to work, mine took a little bit of of beating in the heat, i waited too long to water.

also, i see a sprig of crab grass in mine now and i know if i do not get it, it will take over.

i thought about hiring someone to take care of the lawn for a season and get it up – but maybe talk to neighbors. its helped me. and in so far as Ph, everyone here put lime on their lawn every fall and the ph will tell you if you need some. it can be an issue. start with that before calling someone. also, you cannot lime in the heat of summer, it will stress the grass. around here they lime in like Oct.