[rrmiller32]

It's been a 1 month journey since I started bringing the lawn down in an attempt to level with sand, and mow sub 1". It has been some what nerve racking seeing my once very lush, green grass become more and more yellow as I slowly brought it down. Today I brought it down as low as my rotary mower would go, 1.25". Definitely some scalping and more yellowing. I mowed almost every other day in April to make sure I never chopped off too much at once. After my morning cut I applied the sand and leveled with a 48" leveling rake and the broomed in what spots still needed work.
Any tips to bring this lawn back to its dark green and keep it low? Did everything based on @wardconnor and @lawntips since their lawns are TOP NOTCH. The reel mower shows up this week so hopefully that will help. I applied a 24-5-11 spring/summer fertilizer April 1st. The plan is to hit it with ironite and podium soon. Attached are some pictures. 1st is April 8th HOC 2", 2nd April 17th HOC 1.5", 3rd and 4th May 1st HOC 1.25", 5th sanded before leveling rake, 6th all broomed in.

 

[Colonel K0rn]

I think you're probably exposing some of the crown of the plant that normally doesn't get any sunlight, therefore it has a yellowish look to it. Connor said when he cut his grass at 0.5" that it was showing some yellowing, so that's my assumption as to what you're seeing. Kinda like a mini-scalp. You've got a nice stand of turf. Don't sweat it, and it should be just fine. Looks good, and I'm confident that the reel mower will make your lines pop!

 

[wardconnor]

^^^ what he said. Keep mowing low the yellow will turn to green. I just lowered to one half inch and I definitely have some yellowing going on. It should turn green if you and I STAY with the foot firmly pressed all the way down on the pedal.

The reel mower will do wonders. Prepare for your socks to be blown right off your feet. You think I'm kidding? I'm not

 

[rrmiller32]

Hahaha! Good to hear the reassurance from both of you. Of course everyone at the local nursery says you can't go below 3" with PRG.
Kind of like some of the people on your YouTube channel. Those people drive me nuts. Do they not see how perfect your lawn has been for 2 seasons. Can't fix stupid. Tomorrow I sand the back yard and hopefully FedEx can figure out how to deliver a mower

 

[J_nick]

Tell the people down in Augusta you can't keep PRG under 3" :lol: the entire golf course (other than the bent greens) is PRG!

 

[probasestealer]

Hahaha! Good to hear the reassurance from both of you. Of course everyone at the local nursery says you can't go below 3" with PRG.
Kind of like some of the people on your YouTube channel. Those people drive me nuts. Do they not see how perfect your lawn has been for 2 seasons. Can't fix stupid. Tomorrow I sand the back yard and hopefully FedEx can figure out how to deliver a mower

Yeah, many nurseries and bix-box stores give generic and incorrect info that they've heard for years and believe to be true.

How about a shot of Milorganite?

 

[rrmiller32]

Hahaha! Good to hear the reassurance from both of you. Of course everyone at the local nursery says you can't go below 3" with PRG.
Kind of like some of the people on your YouTube channel. Those people drive me nuts. Do they not see how perfect your lawn has been for 2 seasons. Can't fix stupid. Tomorrow I sand the back yard and hopefully FedEx can figure out how to deliver a mower

Yeah, many nurseries and bix-box stores give generic and incorrect info that they've heard for years and believe to be true.

How about a shot of Milorganite?

Milorganite is also on the top of the list.

I won't even ask a question at a Home Depot or Lowes. I'm lucky if they can tell me where the bathroom is let alone have good lawn/gardening advice. The people at the local nursery are very knowledgeable but are definitely stuck inside their 3" box. LOL They also told me not to level the turf with sand. Thank god I found TLF

 

[fusebox7]

Another thing about PRG and the conversation of rotary vs. reel mowing... the reel will be so much better for the grass because PRG tends to shred due to the veins in the leaves. Rotary seldom will leave a nice cut which typically brown/yellow the tips anyways (regardless of height). You'll definitely have a much healthier stand mowing with a reel! :thumbup:

 

[probasestealer]

They also told me not to level the turf with sand.

I still actually somewhat struggle with this idea with cool season turf (no concerns with warm season turf). I'm not so much concerned with layering, but do worry about the possibility of increased drought stress in the summer. I think the ideal situation would be to mix the sand with compost, or once you have leveled to simply topdress with compost and feed organically (cracked corn, alfalfa, etc).
This would obviously vary by climate and north of the transition zone probably isn't much of a concern. However, my daughter's continue to dump their play-sand all over my (our?) yard, so we will see if that has any ill effects this summer. I just blow the huge clumps to disperse the "piles".

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Im not trying to pull this thread off the rails, but what if any circumstances mean you shouldnt use sand to level?

I am looking to reno soon and level things out, but I always hear not to put sand on clay as it will make cement. I wouldnt consider my ground clay by any means, maybe fairly deep at the 5+ inch level there is a lot of clay.

I know you need specific 'sharp' sand for leveling?

 

[rrmiller32]

I think anything outside the norm of mow 1 once a week, keep you lawn long and fertilize twice a year will kill your lawn. LOL
As long as the soil stays moist it should never turn to cement.

 

[wardconnor]

My lawn did not turn to cement.

 

[lawntips]

Cracker of a lawn! It will come good after a couple of mows. I generally like to cut it down a little bit lower than the HOC i'm aiming for then raise it up to the HOC you want. Just gives the crown of the plant a chance to repair by shooting out some fresh shoots and tillers above the damage.
Otherwise it will adjust naturally

 

[probasestealer]

My lawn did not turn to cement.

Some might prefer a concrete yard, no mowing and they can park there...

 

[wardconnor]

Ohhhhhhhhh? Not a bad idea💡. I should try that on the clay concrete that my grass is growing on.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Alright i get the hints

 

[Seeking_Turf]

It's been a 1 month journey since I started bringing the lawn down in an attempt to level with sand, and mow sub 1". It has been some what nerve racking seeing my once very lush, green grass become more and more yellow as I slowly brought it down. Today I brought it down as low as my rotary mower would go, 1.25". Definitely some scalping and more yellowing. I mowed almost every other day in April to make sure I never chopped off too much at once. After my morning cut I applied the sand and leveled with a 48" leveling rake and the broomed in what spots still needed work.
Any tips to bring this lawn back to its dark green and keep it low? Did everything based on @wardconnor and @lawntips since their lawns are TOP NOTCH. The reel mower shows up this week so hopefully that will help. I applied a 24-5-11 spring/summer fertilizer April 1st. The plan is to hit it with ironite and podium soon. Attached are some pictures. 1st is April 8th HOC 2", 2nd April 17th HOC 1.5", 3rd and 4th May 1st HOC 1.25", 5th sanded before leveling rake, 6th all broomed in.

Looking good!!! :thumbup:

 

[rrmiller32]

Cracker of a lawn! It will come good after a couple of mows. I generally like to cut it down a little bit lower than the HOC i'm aiming for then raise it up to the HOC you want. Just gives the crown of the plant a chance to repair by shooting out some fresh shoots and tillers above the damage.
Otherwise it will adjust naturally

I went as low as my rotary mower would go. I think I was at my mental limit too seeing the grass go to all hell. Definitely hit dirt a few times and lots of very unhappy patches of grass. I'll keep posting pictures as things progress.

 

[rrmiller32]

That's OK @wardconnor according to all the "experts" you lawn can't exist and will soon die. :lol: :shock: :lol:

 

[lawntips]

I went as low as my rotary mower would go. I think I was at my mental limit too seeing the grass go to all hell. Definitely hit dirt a few times and lots of very unhappy patches of grass. I'll keep posting pictures as things progress.

Nice, keen to see the journey!