What about an elite nomix? 1-2 from each, prg, tttf and kbg?

 

I like the suggestion from @g-man . An elite blend of No-mix is the way to go.

 

What about an elite nomix? 1-2 from each, prg, tttf and kbg?

What do you think a good ratio of kbg, tttf, and rye would be?

33.33% each?

 

Greetings!

I'm a bit behind on updates on everything with this renovation. I've been super busy with work, a 1 year old, and all of this coronavirus stuff throwing wrenches into life.

I wanted to post what has been happening. I had to hold off until my sons first birthday party. we had to shift it to our home due to everything going on. So we had a small party, and the minute it ended I was out the next day nuking the lawn.

I ended up going with KBG ;-) Blue Note, Bluebank, and Bewitched. I struggled with what to use back here, and know it is more work. However, I like the ability to plug spots, and self repair, etc of it. I'm not a fan of TTTF, or I haven't seen it up close looking nice to know. Our neighbor has JG Black Beauty sod. They don't take care of it, and overall not a fan maybe due to that. I'm sure others make it look stunning.

BEFORE GLYPHO:



4 DAYS LATER:



6 DAYS LATER:



SCALPING AND DETHATCHING

Set the mower low, and used the Greenworks Dethatcher to open up the ground. Filled quite a bit of yard bags, extra expense you forget about. Stickers cost a pretty penny ;-)



Aeration and chew up ground some





AFTER CORE CLEANUP:


SOIL AND LEVELING



LEVELING WORK


Level, Calibrate sprinklers, Fallow, etc. Had to make a sifter, as the soil had large particles I did not want in the lawn. My wife was PO'd, called them and we got a credit back on some of the purchase which is a bonus.

SEED DOWN: 8/22/20

Used CE XST Starter Fert at a little over 3 lbs. Tenacity @ 4 oz rate, as well as some Hydretain at seeding. Used a broadcast spreader and applied a little over 3 lbs. in two directions, and a roller to get good seed to soil contact.

Raked in lightly with a dethatch rake and put some peat moss over the area. A few days prior went out with some Humic12 and Air8.

A little later than I'd have liked. My last reno had seed down by about the 13th of August.





NEW TOYS:

With every project, comes new tools. I purchased a level lawn rake, and have to say it is very helpful. I also purchased a 3-Gal battery sprayer made by KIMO. It was sort of a generic one on AMZ, but it has done the trick and much nicer than a manual hand can.

I don't have a huge property, so didn't want to spend huge amounts at least right now. We also picked up the Gorilla Cart on the last project, and it is amazing. Was great for sifting the dirt into.

---

Right now the goal is to keep it moist, and wait for germination. We have a hot week ahead in Chicagoland... I dodged a storm last night, and earlier had thrown down some penn mulch. I also have some m-binder tackifier that during last reno was some amazing stuff if necessary.

I hope to have more updates going forward now! Thanks for reading.

 

We have germination! I am calling Saturday, 8/29 when stuff started to popup. I saw a little on Friday, but below is some photos from this morning.

I've had great weather to do this. It was very hot in Chicago, but no rain whatsoever. That allowed me to control the moisture and avoid rainouts. Area was covered with about 3.3 lbs of KBG.

There is a green haze over the area, and I think I've got good germination in most areas. Some are showing more green. I've never seeded this large of an area, so I don't know what to expect exactly. When I get down in most areas I am seeing a good amount of babies.

 

Today is the first rain I am seeing since seeding. It is much needed around Chicago, but I obviously worry about erosion and washout still.



I picked up some mulch / tackifier from Site One. I also have some m-binder as well that I can put on areas if they need it.



I feel like the camera doesn't truly show what I see. It looks much greener in person looking over the lawn...

 

Hey there fellow Illinoian, reno looking good!

 

Looks like awesome germination, at this stage you should be able to handle most rain. The tackifier is just icing on the cake. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you regardless. lol
Looks great.

 

Looks like awesome germination, at this stage you should be able to handle most rain. The tackifier is just icing on the cake. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you regardless. lol
Looks great.

So far it has been a gentle rain. Which is nice, saves on the water bill. Plus there is something magical about rain over irrigation.

Now if I could keep squirrels, and the neighbors cat from tracking across it... Need something more than tackifier ;-)

 

Hey there fellow Illinoian, reno looking good!

Thanks! I just subscripted to your journal.

Good luck with your project.

 

Hey there fellow Illinoian, reno looking good!

Thanks! I just subscripted to your journal.

Good luck with your project.

You too buddy, @Slingblade_847 is also local to us and his renovation

 

Read it all and all caught up. @mmicha you are just a few days behind me, and I'm just a few days behind @Di3soft. Di3soft has been begging for rain, and I was begging against for fear of washout. He was claiming I was a jinx. Now I'm begging for rain. It appears you own the jinx of the Chicagoland drought!!

 

Read it all and all caught up. @mmicha you are just a few days behind me, and I'm just a few days behind @Di3soft. Di3soft has been begging for rain, and I was begging against for fear of washout. He was claiming I was a jinx. Now I'm begging for rain. It appears you own the jinx of the Chicagoland drought!!

Haha... My last reno which was my first I got a good rain not long after seeding. Freaked out and through mulch with tack and M-Binder down. Everything stayed in place.

This time I got real lucky and did it during the drought. I'd prefer that over anything. It let me control all the moisture and since I have irrigation in the backyard it made life easier. If you don't have that it certainly adds a wrench.

If you ever worry about washout, look up this M-Binder material from Nature's Seed. It is like peat moss, but turns into a glue substance once it gets wet. It's a good insurance policy on a reno, and cheaper I think then those blankets I see others using like Ryan Knorr.

I'm happy for the rain yesterday. It was soft, and the perfect amount. Everything stayed in place, and grass looks even better today!

 

Quick update...

This is 5 days past germination. Just keeping it moist, and sitting back and watching. I don't see a lot of weed pressure... Tenacity must be working. Last reno I used the Scotts w/ meso and it was a different story. Seems much better when sprayed directly to soil.

My next move will be fertilizer, but I probably won't do that until 9/12. That's 14 days post germination. A light spoon feeding of urea or AMS. Most likely spray it on and water in.

Just evaluating if any areas need more seed. I feel like most areas have some seedlings. I don't see area where nothing has come up. I've really had great weather for doing this so far... Thoughts @g-man ?

 

Too early to tell, but it looks good so far.

 

@mmicha

Dude. You can stop jinxing this drought any day now....seriously!

But it's looking good my man!

 

@mmicha

Dude. You can stop jinxing this drought any day now....seriously!

But it's looking good my man!

I let it rain for ya

 

@mmicha

Dude. You can stop jinxing this drought any day now....seriously!

But it's looking good my man!

I let it rain for ya

Ha! Thanks! But I hope your in the safe zone from potential washout.

 

looking good. The sprout and pout is on. My KBG should be coming out of that in the next week. Tuesday is 14 DAG

 

Looks great, another Illini here, farther North, we now have plenty of rain

 

Time for an update:

We are at 18 DAG. 25 Days since seed down.

Overall pretty happy, but has some filling in to do. Took a bunch of shots to show the progress.

I have fed the lawn twice at this point. Once at 10 days using another granular feeding of XSTART (8-24-4), applying around .24 lbs of N with that application.

As well as again on Monday (9/14) this week with urea (46-0-0), sprayed on the lawn at .2 lbs of N. Watering in immediately afterward. Never sure how long to leave that on the blades. I go the safe route.

Going to probably continue with it weekly, and probably in another 7-10 days give it a first cut. Hopefully then it will kick in for spreading. It seems crazy, but when I look at the lawn, I can never tell if it is spreading now, or just getting longer... Even when I look at older photos.

I am seeing some weed pressure now as well. There is a good amount of crabgrass, and I see spurge as well. A few other odd broadleaf's in the mix. May let it dry a bit and see about pulling some of it. I hate losing a baby grass doing that though...

 

Here are some updates from its first cut, which it got on 9/21. That is 24 DAG. It also received some foliar urea a day prior.

Probably should have timed that better. Cutting and then ferting. I also put down some seed in the larger area that are struggling. See what happens...

It will get more fert this weekend. Thinking of using a 10-10-10 at .25 lbs across everything.

 

I love your landscaping.

OH, and the grass looks good, too!

 

@mmicha looking big time awesome good sir. What's your HOC, and what are you mowing with?

 

@mmicha looking big time awesome good sir. What's your HOC, and what are you mowing with?

@Slingblade_847 I'm cutting it right now around 2 inches.

I'm just using a rotary, Toro Super Recycler.