7/27/2024

Current state of the lawn after one app of glyphosate:

Next up is backfilling, compacting, and leveling:

 

7/28/2024

I started the process of backfilling and diligently compacting my trenches this weekend. I am only leveling the trenches right now as opposed to the other areas of the yard in hopes they have time to settle some and I can add more soil when I do my final grade. Really hoping the effort now saves me a lot of hassle later, although I know some future leveling is inevitable.

I wanted to share my process for backfilling/compacting because it seems to be working well:

1. Add initial layer of backfill
2. Water pack trenches (This process is just using a hose with no spray head and flooding the trench to encourage settling/compaction)
3. Wait one day to let that settle and dry out some
4. Use foot to compact post water pack (You will notice how easy it compacts with just your foot after step 2)
5. Add a layer of topsoil
6. Use handle end of a spud bar to tamp (pictured below)
7. Add soil to be just above grade
8. Hand tamp

It has been mid 90's here in Ohio and this has been whipping me for sure! Again, hoping the effort now pays off and I can avoid big ruts next season.

 

Slowly but surely backfilling and grading, thought I would share how I'm forming up my edges that were damaged from irrigation install and root removal (pics below). A lot of work still to be done but taking it easy this week as I am doing a 100-mile bike ride fundraiser Saturday and haven't trained once this year

Also starting to mock up my timeline for seed down on 8/24-8/25, weather dependent of course. I am going with 4lb/k Total Eclipse KBG and 1lb/k of Obsidian PRG from Twin City Seed for an 80%/20% mix.

8/5 - scalp, dethatch, bag
8/7 - glyphosate app #2
8/7 - 8/16 - final leveling with topsoil
8/11 - 8/18 - fallow + dial in irrigation
8/20 - begin *** pre-germination (ended up not pre germinating)
8/18 - final glyphosate app
8/19 - SEED DAY

@g-man Any suggestions/thoughts here? Really enjoyed your commentary on other reno's so looking forward to any input you have along my journey.

@JerseyGreens Your 2020 reno journal could be a movie. Pretty sure I felt every emotion known to man reading through those 31 pages. Gives me life while I'm out there moving piles of dirt that don't ever seem to get smaller haha

 

8/5 - Scalp, bag, dethatch, bag

Went with the lowest setting on my Honda HRR. Ordered some new mower blades after that haha

Greenworks corded dethacher is annoying but it does the trick for as little as I use it.

8/7 - Second app of glyphosate:

4oz/k 41% Glyphosate
2.5oz/k AMS
NIS

Hoping to get the rest of my leveling done this weekend and then fallow + dial in irrigation for a couple weeks.

 

~5 yards of topsoil used to backfill irrigation trenches and do the final leveling. 48" leveling rake was the star of the show and then rolled it in opposite directions to compact. Plan is to water frequently to encourage settling and any weed germination before the final round of glyphosate.

Now begs the question of when to seed...we have absolutely beautiful weather forecasted here in central Ohio for the next 7 days. High's in the low 80's with little to no major storms forecasted at this point.

Should I drop seed ASAP and take advantage of this weather window or is it too early since we very well could get another heat wave?

 

It's more about sun angle and soil temperature. I'd check out those temps, with irrigation I don't see any issues. The 14-day forecast seems very favorable for your area. I try to seed when I get falling soil temps, usually Labor Day here, but it has been a cooler summer for the midwest. I'd say go for it.

 

Sun angle is a good point. I am North facing so if I wait too long the house starts to block the top part of the front lawn most of the day.

 

Reel good day!

 

8/19 - SEED DAY!

The weather is looking almost perfect here over the next 7 days so I took an impromptu half day off work and got my seed down this afternoon. It was a little windy so spreading seed was a bit sportier than I would have liked. But hey, if you wait until the timing is perfect then you'll never get it done. My process was:

Rake (tines down to create channels and break up top layer that was compacted)
Seed (4lb/k KBG and 1lb/KG PRG)
Rake in opposite direction (used back of rake to lightly move dirt back over seed)
Roll
Spray (Tenacity @ 0.5tsp/k, Azoxy @ 0.4oz/k, and RGS @ 3oz/k)
Spread peat moss
Water in

My watering is currently set for 4min/zone at 5,8,11,2,5,8. I am running HEVAN heads with somewhat small zones so I can put water down pretty quick.

Dahlias opened up today too and looking awesome, hopefully a sign of good luck!

 

1 DAS

Pretty sure I am seeing the PRG germinate already...is that possible?!

Also I went full blown lawn nut with the yellow tape to avoid a @JerseyGreens situation

 

4 DAS and not much activity...I am already getting impatient. Time to jump into a side project to keep my mind busy with something else...

I noticed some surging/missing on the new to me 220C so I am pulling off the fuel tank and carb. Thorough cleaning of both as well as replacing the fuel tank joint/filter and some seals/gaskets on the carb while I have it torn apart.

 

5 DAS

Houston we have lift off. Will get some night shots tomorrow but had one too many bourbons tonight to be walking around with a flashlight in my front lawn 😂

 

7 DAS

Pretty happy so far, looks like I have widespread germination of the PRG. Curious to see what pops up over the next week with the KBG. A few noticeable thin spots still, but I think I will see a lot more activity with the KBG there and if not, will throw down some seed in a week or two. A hot week ahead so need to make sure I keep an eye out for any disease. I did put down azoxy at seed down so hoping that will help. I have azoxy and propi on hand and a local sod supplier has mefenoxam in stock so will pick up a some if I identify any pythium. I work from home so will be able to keep a close eye on watering, but that's just as much of a blessing as it is a curse haha.

@g-man when seeding with a KBG/PRG mix, do you just split the difference between the two when declaring germination day?

 

Pick the one the matters the most to you.

 

@g-man any way to determine PRG vs KBG seedling?

 

Yes. What you have now is PRG.

 

Sorry to bug you again @g-man. Thoughts on a preventative application of propiconazole (I put down preventative rate of azoxy during seeding on 8/19)? I am nervous about all the heat and water this week. I am in central Ohio so we are at mid 90's until it breaks Saturday.

 

9 DAS, 4 DAG (PRG)

I think I am seeing some KBG pop up here with those tiny little seedlings that are significantly smaller than the PRG seedlings.

Hot three days ahead so continuing to keep an eye for disease. Thunderstorms expected tonight but I think I have enough germination to prevent major washout.

Switched to farther spraying nozzles (10ft vs 8ft) on this side as I have a dry line there in the middle that is not currently being watered very well.

 

Starting to look like a lawn again from the kitchen window!

A bunch of these little boogers in the more shade heavy areas. They are light green, almost white so hoping that's the tenacity doing its thing.

 

Looking good man. Will definitely follow this journal.

 

@g-man Should I be worried about this or is it just morning dew? We have a cool down coming this weekend in Central Ohio but not sure its enough to stop or slow down any disease that is brewing.

I am also thinking to start backing of water frequency and increasing duration slightly as I feel like I have widespread germination of both the PRG and KBG.

 

The spiderweb?

 

I thoughts that what it was as well but folks on other forums always jump to say mycelium quickly.

It seems a little odd to me that these spiderwebs all popped up overnight at the same time. But that might just be because the grass is maturing enough for this kind of activity to happen.

 

They do it every night. Normally you don't notice because there is grass.

 

I am going to put down my first spoon feed of N (0.2lbs/k) the week of 9/9. It will likely be Thursday or Friday that week which would be 20+ DAS, and around 14 days after widespread germination.

 

14 DAS, 9 DAG

Sleeping easier now that we got this cool down. Nights dipping into the 50-60 so will keep disease pressure away.

Planning to throw some more seed in the thin spots this week when I replace one of my sprinkler heads to add one with a check valve. Lot of washout near that head due to it being lower than the valve.

Some of the PRG is 2.5" and the KBG is pouting. Tempted to get on it will my manual reel mower but think I am going to wait another week.

 

18 DAS, 13 DAG

Snuck in my first cut with manual reel mower at ~2 inches before the first rain in weeks. KBG is pouting but I felt like the PRG was getting shaggy.

I am going to throw some seed down in the bare spots this weekend. Targeting my first spoon feed of N sometime next week.

@g-man Should I wait until the bare spot seedlings actually germinate and get more mature before starting spoon feeding apps? I feel like the KBG is hungry and I want to get it going but don't want to inhibit germination in my bare spots.


Before Mow (irrigation system FTW if you compare to neighbor)

After Mow

 

Totally jealous, I went straight KBG and have nothing to unleash my manual reel on yet, still pouting.

Are you going to tough up the bare spots before throwing more down? I have bare spots I want to address too.

 

Just follow the reno guide.