Hi all,
New to the forum here and been mostly reading (A LOT) to this point. I'm at the point now though where a feel a little advice could go a long way.
I'm having what may be a typical fall dilemma - to overseed or not. I'll add some images below, but my situation is this; I've got a 1 yr old new construction and sod was layed just over a year ago - pure KBG, with an irrigation system. The landscaper put down a layer of topsoil which I suspect is thin in some areas and beneath that is probably a mess that mostly consists of clay but potential typical builder mess/materials.
This spring, I fertilized (starter) and aerated (felt like there was debris build up, more on that later), did a couple of milo substitute (I'm in Canada so couldn't get the real thing, used HH 9-2-2 with Fe) treatments over the summer. Despite this, there were sections of my yard that never fully greened and thickened up at any point this year. Through the hot summer, I was just trying to maintain these and look ahead to a recovery program for the fall.
I'm doing pretty well in terms of weeds - not perfect, but very few and I stay on top of them either by hand pulling or spot treatments with Killex. (one of the pics will show a bit of what I'm dealing with)
I've also done a couple of baby shampoo treatments as the trouble spots for me, the soil was very hard - in some places I couldn't even get a screwdriver in the ground at all. This, and the falling temperatures seems to have helped. I can now get the screwdriver in at least a few inches even in the trouble spots.
A couple of weeks ago, I was sure that I was that I'd overseed given the state of the yard and trouble areas. I called a couple of seed farms for advice on what to overseed with and they both recommended a certified PRG blend and said it would mix well with the KBG. But now that temperatures have started to cool I see reason for optimism that overseeding may not be needed. (Pics make things look pretty good actually, but I have issues - are they lawn or personal?? :? )
So my question to you - based on the above and the pics - what would you do?
In either case, I feel like there is a lot of lawn debris/dead grass/mulch that should be removed. It's felt this way all year that maybe the roots aren't able to get what they need (esp in the dried out areas) - water, fert, etc. I've purchased a Sun Joe dethatcher/scarifier and plan to dethatch to get rid of the debris.
So - the options:
In both cases, I'd been thinking to start on Labour Day weekend (Aug 31). Can start earlier if recommended though but soil temps here are still ~80 degress.
![Image]()
1. Dethatch and Nitrogen Blitz
1. Use Sun Joe to take care of the debris
2. Follow the Fall Nitrogen Blitz plan
2. Dethatch and Overseed
- Current plan for this option would be to:
1. Shock by reducing HOC to ~2"
2. Dethatch with Sun Joe
3. Scarify to prepare for seed to soil contact,
4. Overseed with the PRG blend,
5. Roll,
6. Lightly cover with peat moss,
7. Water 3x daily until new seed has caught up
8. I'd then start to fertilize in a couple of weeks around 1st cut.
Other notes:
Soil test - I haven't found a good place from here (Windsor area in Southern Ontario) to do a soil test. Suggestions appreciated. So I don't know my soil chemistry.
HOC - I was at 4" most of the year, until about a month ago a dropped to 3.5" because it just wasn't looking great at 4".
Climate wise - I'm in Windsor, ON which is equivalent to Detroit in terms of zones.
Mows - generally mulching, and trying to stick to the 1/3 rule.
HOC last fall - I think I may have left too long (3.5") in the fall - could this have contribute to my debris problems in the spring?
New to the forum here and been mostly reading (A LOT) to this point. I'm at the point now though where a feel a little advice could go a long way.
I'm having what may be a typical fall dilemma - to overseed or not. I'll add some images below, but my situation is this; I've got a 1 yr old new construction and sod was layed just over a year ago - pure KBG, with an irrigation system. The landscaper put down a layer of topsoil which I suspect is thin in some areas and beneath that is probably a mess that mostly consists of clay but potential typical builder mess/materials.
This spring, I fertilized (starter) and aerated (felt like there was debris build up, more on that later), did a couple of milo substitute (I'm in Canada so couldn't get the real thing, used HH 9-2-2 with Fe) treatments over the summer. Despite this, there were sections of my yard that never fully greened and thickened up at any point this year. Through the hot summer, I was just trying to maintain these and look ahead to a recovery program for the fall.
I'm doing pretty well in terms of weeds - not perfect, but very few and I stay on top of them either by hand pulling or spot treatments with Killex. (one of the pics will show a bit of what I'm dealing with)
I've also done a couple of baby shampoo treatments as the trouble spots for me, the soil was very hard - in some places I couldn't even get a screwdriver in the ground at all. This, and the falling temperatures seems to have helped. I can now get the screwdriver in at least a few inches even in the trouble spots.
A couple of weeks ago, I was sure that I was that I'd overseed given the state of the yard and trouble areas. I called a couple of seed farms for advice on what to overseed with and they both recommended a certified PRG blend and said it would mix well with the KBG. But now that temperatures have started to cool I see reason for optimism that overseeding may not be needed. (Pics make things look pretty good actually, but I have issues - are they lawn or personal?? :? )
So my question to you - based on the above and the pics - what would you do?
In either case, I feel like there is a lot of lawn debris/dead grass/mulch that should be removed. It's felt this way all year that maybe the roots aren't able to get what they need (esp in the dried out areas) - water, fert, etc. I've purchased a Sun Joe dethatcher/scarifier and plan to dethatch to get rid of the debris.
So - the options:
In both cases, I'd been thinking to start on Labour Day weekend (Aug 31). Can start earlier if recommended though but soil temps here are still ~80 degress.
1. Dethatch and Nitrogen Blitz
1. Use Sun Joe to take care of the debris
2. Follow the Fall Nitrogen Blitz plan
2. Dethatch and Overseed
- Current plan for this option would be to:
1. Shock by reducing HOC to ~2"
2. Dethatch with Sun Joe
3. Scarify to prepare for seed to soil contact,
4. Overseed with the PRG blend,
5. Roll,
6. Lightly cover with peat moss,
7. Water 3x daily until new seed has caught up
8. I'd then start to fertilize in a couple of weeks around 1st cut.
Other notes:
Soil test - I haven't found a good place from here (Windsor area in Southern Ontario) to do a soil test. Suggestions appreciated. So I don't know my soil chemistry.
HOC - I was at 4" most of the year, until about a month ago a dropped to 3.5" because it just wasn't looking great at 4".
Climate wise - I'm in Windsor, ON which is equivalent to Detroit in terms of zones.
Mows - generally mulching, and trying to stick to the 1/3 rule.
HOC last fall - I think I may have left too long (3.5") in the fall - could this have contribute to my debris problems in the spring?
