Welcome to The Lawn Forum! Glad you're here!

So you and Pete1313 probably have the largest cool season lawns here on TLF. I think MrMeaner has the largest warm season lawn. I really respect the magnitude of what you guys are dealing with, and I think it's safe to say we'd all love to hear more about your regimen, see some pics, and even some YouTube videos! :thumbup:

 

Welcome Hoosierlawn!

I moved into my new home about a year ago which has a larger lawn than any other property I've owned. The property is 1.25 acres with 38K sq ft being turf and 7.5K sq ft mulch beds. I am finding it is quite an adjustment for me. My previous home had only 4.3K sq ft of turf. One thing I have found is it doesn't take much more time to manage the large lawn as it did the small yard. Mowing takes about 45-60min vs 30min, spraying takes about 75min vs 60min start to finish. Equipment is the main difference. Upgrading from a 22in cut to 62in cut mower, from a 4gal single nozzle sprayer to a 25gal 5 nozzle, and from an earthway spreader to a spyker have helped keep times down.

Irrigation and the products/frequency you apply are two big differences In a larger yard. For me, figuring out the irrigation was high priority since I want to renovate from a northern mix to an elite bluegrass. Dragging around hoses like i did on the smaller yard is not going to work on a larger property. I had to have the well pump upgraded from a 3/4hp to a 1.5hp constant pressure unit. Luckily the home had a 25 yr old irrigation system that was installed by the first homeowners (but was not used in the last 10 yrs by the second owners). I was able to reconfigure and save that system so it would perform the way I wanted. You don't need to water, but realize that your expectations need to be less if you cannot irrigate properly.

This year is a renovation year, so the budget and the products I apply will be different from other years. I am finding that I pay closer attention to the costs of products and how much I put down. Trading out an app of milorganite for some urea is a budget(and back) saver. As much as I would like to put down 2x bag rate of milorganite, putting down 1500 lbs of product is quite a chore. I do see some benefit in milo, but not all spring and summer like I did previously.

Generic primo maxx mixed with FAS(ferrous sulfate and ammonium sulfate) has been a favorite of mine so far on the existing lawn and will continue to be after i renovate. The color it provides and the reduction in mowing are great. It required me being able to come up with a solution to quickly and accurately precision spray a large yard. Using a mounted sprayer, adding a pressure regulator, adding a speedometer to the tractor, and making a 5 nozzle teejet boom have made me feel very comfortable spraying.

Overall I think how I will manage it in upcoming years compared to the smaller yard can relate to how a superintendent manages a fairway as compared to a putting green. There are things that need to be done to make it look great, but due to its size and the time and money involved, certain things that I was able to do on the smaller property are not practical on the larger property.

 

...how a superintendent manages a fairway as compared to a putting green. There are things that need to be done to make it look great, but due to its size and the time and money involved, certain things that I was able to do on the smaller property are not practical on the larger property.

Great analogy. :thumbup:

 

...how a superintendent manages a fairway as compared to a putting green. There are things that need to be done to make it look great, but due to its size and the time and money involved, certain things that I was able to do on the smaller property are not practical on the larger property.

Great analogy. :thumbup:

Yeah I totally agree. I would like to use Milo but its really not cost effective for me on a large lawn. I would rather save my money for a triplex.

 

...I would rather save my money for a triplex.

 

:nod:

 

...I would rather save my money for a triplex.

lol. what is it? You've got me.

More like this

 

Mic drop ward... :lol:

 

More like this

Agreed.

 

mic drop: an instance of deliberately dropping or tossing aside one's microphone at the end of a performance or speech one considers to have been particularly impressive.

Any post that ends with the word "triplex" is particularly impressive.

 

mic drop: an instance of deliberately dropping or tossing aside one's microphone at the end of a performance or speech one considers to have been particularly impressive.

Any post that ends with the word "triplex" is particularly impressive.

Yes this is true.

 

I know one thing is for sure.. If I had a larger lawn it wouldn't look anything like my small lawn. The wife is on my case already about how much I'm spending. But once the kids move out..... LOL

 

I can usually find Milo for 5.99 a bag but still it adds up. Im always looking for new ways to not spend money on my hobby. I am going to start a new youtube channel about my lawn so people that have large lawns can see what I go thru and what I use. Ive been taking videos and pictures but Im letting them stockpile before I make a video. And like I said if anyone has ideas on saving money please pass it along, my wife rolls her eyes when I say the lawn isn't good enough and not were I want it.

 

 

I would rather save my money for a triplex.
Okay what is triplex?

 

Generic primo maxx mixed with FAS(ferrous sulfate and ammonium sulfate) has been a favorite of mine so far on the existing lawn and will continue to be after i renovate. The color it provides and the reduction in mowing are great. It required me being able to come up with a solution to quickly and accurately precision spray a large yard. Using a mounted sprayer, adding a pressure regulator, adding a speedometer to the tractor, and making a 5 nozzle teejet boom have made me feel very comfortable spraying.

I looked that stuff up and wow that stuff is pricey $200-$300

 

I would rather save my money for a triplex.
Okay what is triplex?

 

That looks great! :thumbup:

 

I would rather save my money for a triplex.
Okay what is triplex?

That there is a triplex. A thing of beauty. Thank you Ware.

 

I have .5 acres of TTTF and 1.5 acres of Bermuda. Once I switched my front yard from failed Bermuda to TTTF, managing my lawn has now become a full time, yearly job.

 

5.99 FOR A BAG OF MILO? SIGN ME UP I AM GETTING THEM FOR 15.99

 

5.99 FOR A BAG OF MILO? SIGN ME UP I AM GETTING THEM FOR 15.99

Yep farm and fleet is the name of the store and Alsip nursery is another and they will do 4.99 but that's not often

 

I manage all of the landscaping at a large family estate property in Abbotsford, B.C. 4 homes with a combined 185,000 sq ft (4.24 acres) of a Poa Annua / Creeping Rye / Fescue mix. We mow at approx 1/2 to 5/8" 3 times / week with two John Deere 2653A surround mowers (ex-golf course). I do all the soil testing, written nutrition programs, aeration & topdressing, granular fertilizer application, liquid soil amendments & liquid fertilizer application (crucial for high-end lawns). The lawns are so thick and dense that I have not had to spray a drop of broadleaf herbicide in 2 years.

 

I manage all of the landscaping at a large family estate property in Abbotsford, B.C. 4 homes with a combined 185,000 sq ft (4.24 acres) of a Poa Annua / Creeping Rye / Fescue mix. We mow at approx 1/2 to 5/8" 3 times / week with two John Deere 2653A surround mowers (ex-golf course). I do all the soil testing, written nutrition programs, aeration & topdressing, granular fertilizer application, liquid soil amendments & liquid fertilizer application (crucial for high-end lawns). The lawns are so thick and dense that I have not had to spray a drop of broadleaf herbicide in 2 years.

Very cool. :thumbup:

 

I manage all of the landscaping at a large family estate property in Abbotsford, B.C. 4 homes with a combined 185,000 sq ft (4.24 acres) of a Poa Annua / Creeping Rye / Fescue mix. We mow at approx 1/2 to 5/8" 3 times / week with two John Deere 2653A surround mowers (ex-golf course). I do all the soil testing, written nutrition programs, aeration & topdressing, granular fertilizer application, liquid soil amendments & liquid fertilizer application (crucial for high-end lawns). The lawns are so thick and dense that I have not had to spray a drop of broadleaf herbicide in 2 years.

😍