The nice thing about living in this part of the country is that when we have a heat wave, it rarely lasts longer than a week – or at least that’s what my memory tells me. Since Friday, we’ve been having really hot temps –in the 90s – and they are due to cool down again starting Tuesday, so the weatherman says tonight. That’s fine by me, either way.
This has been a busy summer for me, heat wave aside. I’ve been working hard at my job with an internal web site being released. I played a key part in the content of the site, and I’m very proud to be a part of it. I’m also very grateful for the continued employment and the manager that I work for.
On the home front, my summer has revolved around redoing my front yard. Let’s call this Front Yard v4.0. The builders originally installed the front yard and they did a half-ass job of it at that. The slope was terrible, the topsoil (all 1/2 inch of it) eroded away in the first year leaving a hard clay base where any grass that did grow just turned into weeds. It was pointless to try to mow or water it because of the slope – the water just went right into the drain.
Last summer I tried to remove all the grass and install low growing, maintenance free plants but that was also a big fail. It just looked horrendous and the weeds kept returning.
So this summer I was determined to get this yard right once and for all. I got some help with the heavy part from my ex-boyfriend, Tom – getting the bricks for the retaining wall and shoveling two yards of topsoil. I had the plan in my head, I drew it out, and then I implemented it. I knew, after nine years of living here, that I needed to elevate the front yard and level it out some. I also dug out all the crap dirt and replaced it with good dirt. Finally, I put down the grass seed yesterday and have been diligently watering it. I’m so excited to finally have this done.
Any one know how long it takes grass to grow? Is this anything like watching water boil?
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I admire how hard you work to make the outside of your home look nice. I had a girl friend who had a huge knack for gardening (right down to building a pond in her back yard with her own bare hands!), while I could barely keep the weeds out of the one flower bed I had. Your place looks so nice and I’m sure you’ll eventually get it to where you want it to be. I hear gardening can be very therapeutic, just don’t ask me!
The yard is looking great.
As far as the grass seed you should see sprouts starting within a week or so. Did you lightly rake in the seed so it’s just barely covered with soil? Keep the seed moist so it will germinate by lightly spraying a couple times a day and you should see thin sprouts in about a week or so. All you’re trying to do is keep the seed moist at this point. It will take quite some time to completely fill in, maybe even into next summer! Once it starts growing a bit you can reduce the watering to less often but longer so the roots get established. Resist the urge to mow as long as you can so it can establish a good root system and fill in. Bulk topsoil is notorious for weed seed so if you see anything that doesn’t look like grass PULL IT right away.
Debra – I didn’t lightly rake in the seed. I wonder if I should do that now? But I am definitely keeping it moist. I’m out there at least twice a day – and it’s been very hot here. I see little green things popping up and I really am not sure if its grass or not.
Laura – I really have to keep it nice. Besides enjoying how it looks myself, my HOA (homeowners association ) will get on my case if I don’t! It’s ok. They’ve been patient with me for 9 years, I guess I should step up to the plate.
Claire if it’s grass it will be really thin straight light green shoots. If it’s coming up I wouldn’t disturb it now by raking it in because that will pull out the grass that’s coming in already. It doesn’t have enough of a root system yet to withstand the rake.
Ha! Then there are some weeds coming up, dagnabbit! They have roundish ends, not thin and straight. I read the label on the seed container and it had a mix of all sorts of things so I thought perhaps there was some weird variation of grass. Yup, I know what basic grass looks like, so that I will keep my eye out for. Thanks, Debbie!
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