[RayFinkle]

Hello again LF friends!

I'd never consider myself nearly at the level of the folks around here which almost confirms this for me without asking, but here I am anyway.

My backyard is irrigated, full sun, 5500 SQFT. Filled with a mixture of St. Aug, Bahia, Bermuda, and every weed you can think of. I got the house a couple of years ago and have just gotten around to really focusing on making my backyard a nice area as I've met someone special with a kid and I'd like us to have a nice place to play together.

What I'm thinking:

Scalp (Done) Level (7 Yards will be here Friday), Roll, Plant a narrow 10x100 Sqft strip of Black Jack through the dead center of the yard, baby that shit to the best of my abilities, and encourage it to spread. The theory is that it can spread up and down nearly the entire length of my backyard and the other sides just meet my fence line. I'd keep several feet outside of this area clean, flat, and fertilized to encourage spreading.

There are two reasons I don't just do the entire yard at once....

1. Cost/Confidence
2. Doing it this way still gives us usable turf for us to play together in the backyard.

Crazy? I know it'll take more than 1 season to fill in the remaining 4500 SQFT even if I were a damn greenskeeper-level expert.

 

[Twodollarblue]

What not just kill the weeds/grass you don’t want, and encourage the growth of the grass you do want (Bermuda).

 

[RayFinkle]

What not just kill the weeds/grass you don’t want, and encourage the growth of the grass you do want (Bermuda).

I appreciate the response!

I thought about that, but the Bermuda currently in the yard makes up the least amount of actual grass and it's the wide blade type you'd get from a contractor's bag of seed. Doing that would leave me with 95% dirt.

 

[corneliani]

You’re asking quite a lot of that plant if you’re thinking to get a 10’x100’ strip of bermuda to fill in a 55x100 area. You’d be fighting weeds and nature on this journey that’ll make this a slow and arduous process. Honestly this is where sod becomes your best solution. And if you think sod is expensive just add up the cost and aggravation of the years it’ll take to get your yard halfway decent by the other method. You may even come out ahead financially with the instant solution of sod. Just a thought if your circumstance would benefit from an instant solution. If not, I would seed the entire yard all at once and let it all grow in together.

 

[RayFinkle]

You’re asking quite a lot of that plant if you’re thinking to get a 10’x100’ strip of bermuda to fill in a 55x100 area. You’d be fighting weeds and nature on this journey that’ll make this a slow and arduous process. Honestly this is where sod becomes your best solution. And if you think sod is expensive just add up the cost and aggravation of the years it’ll take to get your yard halfway decent by the other method. You may even come out ahead financially with the instant solution of sod. Just a thought if your circumstance would benefit from an instant solution. If not, I would seed the entire yard all at once and let it all grow in together.

Thank you!

I figured I was being hopeful since I hadn't seen anyone attempt to do this.

You're 100% right though. The cost of seeding the 10x100 is marginally lower than seeding the entire lawn. I have all the equipment necessary. I suppose it's the confidence side of things. The potential to screw up less than 20% of the yard vs 100%, ya know?

I am opposed to sod. I get a lot of satisfaction from doing things the "hard way." The process is fun to me and there is nothing better than a job well done.

 

[theycallmePops]

Look at some of the sprigging journals. Hard work and excellent results = win-win.

 

[theycallmePops]

Regarding sprigging, @WillyT and @Movingshrub come to mind.

 

[RayFinkle]

Look at some of the sprigging journals. Hard work and excellent results = win-win.

I looked into sprigging and couldn't find the ratio of sod to sprigs to cover my full yard. I don't have a reasonable method to make the sprigs out of sod, maybe a scarifier would do a decent job. I don't have a truck so I can't rent a woodchipper and you'd be shocked at the delivery and pickup fees. I can only find tifway 419 sod nearby, but they require a minimum of 8 pallets.

 

[WillyT]

Electric verticutter can do the work well. It may be on the thinner side but one pallet could do it. You could rent a truck or trailer to pick up the sod from a sod farm or distributor. Your irrigation system will be a big help in sprigging.

 

[corneliani]

I am opposed to sod. I get a lot of satisfaction from doing things the "hard way." The process is fun to me and there is nothing better than a job well done.

You are on the right forum then 😜. I'll keep an eye out for your progress. I have lots of friends & family in the Davie/PembrokePines/Hollywood area and have seen the hard work required to keep turf manicured down there!

 

[FATC1TY]

Thank you!

I figured I was being hopeful since I hadn't seen anyone attempt to do this.

You're 100% right though. The cost of seeding the 10x100 is marginally lower than seeding the entire lawn. I have all the equipment necessary. I suppose it's the confidence side of things. The potential to screw up less than 20% of the yard vs 100%, ya know?

I am opposed to sod. I get a lot of satisfaction from doing things the "hard way." The process is fun to me and there is nothing better than a job well done.

I wouldn’t look at sod as the easy way, but more like seed is the lowest entry level in terms of quality going forward. If you like the extra work and risk, to come out with lesser quality grass then seed is a fantastic choice if you don’t really have a preference other than “green”.

 

[PhxHeat]

. . . . . . I'd love for someone to tell my neighbors that my grass is "lesser quality" and that it's a "low entry level and (only grass because it's) green". HAHA, whatever. ALL grass requires effort and proper care in order to be nice.

I have some neighbors with some VERY nice hybrid sod. But when rotary mowed once a week and watered all kinds of incorrectly, my reel mowed, properly watered big box store common SEEDED bermuda puts their "fancy" hybrid sod grass to shame. Do I understand theirs could/would out perform mine in many ways if properly cared for, yes. But I also know that "fancy" hybrid sod grass requires the same bunch of inputs to make many of those improved characteristics be next level.

 

[horizont_z]

If you do go with just the grass strip and waiting to spread. You could consider plugging the bare areas once the sodded strip gets rooted. It will still not be instant yard but will help fill in a bit faster.

 

[Redtwin]

Sod, sprigs, or seed; I would 100% recommend doing it all at once. It’s all a matter of how much down time you can tolerate in your yard. Sodding is the shortest, then sprigging, with seeding being the longest down time.
You could sprig it will one 500sf pallet and a SunJoe. Two pallets would be the max. Borrow a friend’s truck or rent one for the day to get the pallet.

 

[FATC1TY]

. . . . . . I'd love for someone to tell my neighbors that my grass is "lesser quality" and that it's a "low entry level and (only grass because it's) green". HAHA, whatever. ALL grass requires effort and proper care in order to be nice.

I have some neighbors with some VERY nice hybrid sod. But when rotary mowed once a week and watered all kinds of incorrectly, my reel mowed, properly watered big box store common SEEDED bermuda puts their "fancy" hybrid sod grass to shame. Do I understand theirs could/would out perform mine in many ways if properly cared for, yes. But I also know that "fancy" hybrid sod grass requires the same bunch of inputs to make many of those improved characteristics be next level.

Don’t get your balls touched. A guy trying to see a strip of land and expecting to have success is far different.

But you obviously know seeded Bermuda is subpar, but my point was the establishment. It’s far more work and chance, for a lesser end goal for the common homeowner.

 

[PhxHeat]

haha @FATC1TY ⚽ 🏀 🏈 ⚾ 🎾 🏐 🏉 . The op stated his intentions and laid out his plan. He was asking if it seemed reasonably feasible or was it more likely wasting time and money. Besides, he also stated in a response that he was "opposed" to sod. So sod "superiority" wasn't his ask. And I am aware regardless of grass "status"; if it isn't properly cared for, then any notable differences are pretty much imperceivable.

@RayFinkle do what best suits your budget and comfort level. If you can "splurge" just a smidge more, I agree to just seed it all. I think you'll find it more satisfying to have total coverage and it will be easier to deal with the yard as a single entity.

My yard was dirt and weeds when we moved in 10-1/2 years ago. I seeded ours and it came in decently w/o the issues that some experience. Any issues over the years had more to do with my level of and quality of care, not the fact it was from seed. The learning through experience is invaluable. It gets said here from time to time; grass isn't a sprint, it's more of a mega marathon. Green speed ahead.

 

[kameda]

If my doing so isn't proper procedure please forgive me for adding to @RayFinkle 's post. I live in the greater Austin, Texas area and have builder installed bermuda (2019) that came with various obnoxious weeds including clover, dichondra and what I call bull nettle just to name a few. Am I too late to treat with an application of weed and feed this year? If not and there is someone in my zone on the forum, could they offer what product they have had success using for my problem?

 

[Mightyquinn]

If my doing so isn't proper procedure please forgive me for adding to @RayFinkle 's post. I live in the greater Austin, Texas area and have builder installed bermuda (2019) that came with various obnoxious weeds including clover, dichondra and what I call bull nettle just to name a few. Am I too late to treat with an application of weed and feed this year? If not and there is someone in my zone on the forum, could they offer what product they have had success using for my problem?

I would stay away from ANY weed n feed products as they aren't that good at the weed part, you are better off using a separate weed killer and stick to straight fertilizer products. You probably want to look at a 3 way product like Trimec or something similar as those should still be safe to spray as long as the temps stay under 85F.

 

[txlawnguy]

Hello again LF friends!

I'd never consider myself nearly at the level of the folks around here which almost confirms this for me without asking, but here I am anyway.

My backyard is irrigated, full sun, 5500 SQFT. Filled with a mixture of St. Aug, Bahia, Bermuda, and every weed you can think of. I got the house a couple of years ago and have just gotten around to really focusing on making my backyard a nice area as I've met someone special with a kid and I'd like us to have a nice place to play together.

What I'm thinking:

Scalp (Done) Level (7 Yards will be here Friday), Roll, Plant a narrow 10x100 Sqft strip of Black Jack through the dead center of the yard, baby that shit to the best of my abilities, and encourage it to spread. The theory is that it can spread up and down nearly the entire length of my backyard and the other sides just meet my fence line. I'd keep several feet outside of this area clean, flat, and fertilized to encourage spreading.

There are two reasons I don't just do the entire yard at once....

1. Cost/Confidence
2. Doing it this way still gives us usable turf for us to play together in the backyard.

Crazy? I know it'll take more than 1 season to fill in the remaining 4500 SQFT even if I were a damn greenskeeper-level expert.

FWIW, I've been extremely impressed with the aggressive spread of Celebration bermuda plugs.

 

[TN Hawkeye]

Hello again LF friends!

I'd never consider myself nearly at the level of the folks around here which almost confirms this for me without asking, but here I am anyway.

My backyard is irrigated, full sun, 5500 SQFT. Filled with a mixture of St. Aug, Bahia, Bermuda, and every weed you can think of. I got the house a couple of years ago and have just gotten around to really focusing on making my backyard a nice area as I've met someone special with a kid and I'd like us to have a nice place to play together.

What I'm thinking:

Scalp (Done) Level (7 Yards will be here Friday), Roll, Plant a narrow 10x100 Sqft strip of Black Jack through the dead center of the yard, baby that shit to the best of my abilities, and encourage it to spread. The theory is that it can spread up and down nearly the entire length of my backyard and the other sides just meet my fence line. I'd keep several feet outside of this area clean, flat, and fertilized to encourage spreading.

There are two reasons I don't just do the entire yard at once....

1. Cost/Confidence
2. Doing it this way still gives us usable turf for us to play together in the backyard.

Crazy? I know it'll take more than 1 season to fill in the remaining 4500 SQFT even if I were a damn greenskeeper-level expert.

I would worry more about spending time with the kid and the special someone. The kid ain’t gonna remember what kind of grass you played on but the fact you played. And I guarantee the special someone won’t be looking at how nice the grass is. He or she will be watching you play with the kid.