My family has a fairly large back yard, and I'm afraid that it's been
badly neglected. In addition to scattered sections of sparse,
unmatched grass, there are patches of bare soil, moss, ivy and all
sorts of weeds.

We've decided that the best course of action is to kill everything and
start over. (We obviously aren't gardeners, so we'll be hiring
someone.) I'm seeking recommendations for an appropriate type of
grass seed, and also the best time of year to go forward with the
project.

We don't want to invest more than a minimal amount of effort into
maintenance, (watering, mowing, etc.) as we literally never use this
yard. We would, however, prefer that it look fairly presentable when
we glance out the window.

The yard contains a combination of sunny and shady areas. We're
located in central New Jersey. (Zone 6, according to this map:
http://www.growit.com/bin/USDAZoneMaps.exe?MyState=NJ) We experience
both droughts and long periods of rain.

Thanks in advance!

Anyone?


I wrote:

My family has a fairly large back yard, and I'm afraid
that it's been badly neglected. In addition to scattered
sections of sparse, unmatched grass, there are patches of
bare soil, moss, ivy and all sorts of weeds.

We've decided that the best course of action is to kill
everything and start over. (We obviously aren't gardeners,
so we'll be hiring someone.) I'm seeking recommendations
for an appropriate type of grass seed, and also the best
time of year to go forward with the project.

We don't want to invest more than a minimal amount of effort
into maintenance, (watering, mowing, etc.) as we literally
never use this yard. We would, however, prefer that it look
fairly presentable when we glance out the window.

The yard contains a combination of sunny and shady areas.
We're located in central New Jersey. (Zone 6, according
to this map: http://www.growit.com/bin/USDAZoneMaps.exe?MyState=NJ)
We experience both droughts and long periods of rain.

Thanks in advance!

We are in Zone 6 in East Tenn and use creeping red fescue [for shady areas]
with Kentucky 31 tall fescue [for the sunny areas].

Marvin & Sue

If you're going to hire someone to kill the weeds and reseed, they will know
what is best for your area and climate.

The best time to undertake this project is in the fall.


"Peter Reynolds" wrote in message
om...
My family has a fairly large back yard, and I'm afraid that it's been
badly neglected. In addition to scattered sections of sparse,
unmatched grass, there are patches of bare soil, moss, ivy and all
sorts of weeds.

We've decided that the best course of action is to kill everything and
start over. (We obviously aren't gardeners, so we'll be hiring
someone.) I'm seeking recommendations for an appropriate type of
grass seed, and also the best time of year to go forward with the
project.

We don't want to invest more than a minimal amount of effort into
maintenance, (watering, mowing, etc.) as we literally never use this
yard. We would, however, prefer that it look fairly presentable when
we glance out the window.

The yard contains a combination of sunny and shady areas. We're
located in central New Jersey. (Zone 6, according to this map:
http://www.growit.com/bin/USDAZoneMaps.exe?MyState=NJ) We experience
both droughts and long periods of rain.

Thanks in advance!

Peter Reynolds said:

Anyone?

You are going to have to invest more than a minimum amount of maintainance
to get a good stand of grass. Once it is well established you can ease up on
it. However, unless you want to be right back in the same situation it would be
best to do some watering during droughts and at least one fertilizing each year
in the fall. And irregular mowing (letting the grass get very tall and then cutting
it very short) will quickly destroy a lawn.

You'd probably do best with a blend of bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass.

Check out the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service bulletins on lawns.
(You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them online.)

http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/subc...p?cat=5&sub=39



I wrote:

My family has a fairly large back yard, and I'm afraid
that it's been badly neglected. In addition to scattered
sections of sparse, unmatched grass, there are patches of
bare soil, moss, ivy and all sorts of weeds.

We've decided that the best course of action is to kill
everything and start over. (We obviously aren't gardeners,
so we'll be hiring someone.) I'm seeking recommendations
for an appropriate type of grass seed, and also the best
time of year to go forward with the project.

We don't want to invest more than a minimal amount of effort
into maintenance, (watering, mowing, etc.) as we literally
never use this yard. We would, however, prefer that it look
fairly presentable when we glance out the window.

The yard contains a combination of sunny and shady areas.
We're located in central New Jersey. (Zone 6, according
to this map: http://www.growit.com/bin/USDAZoneMaps.exe?MyState=NJ)
We experience both droughts and long periods of rain.

Thanks in advance!

--
Pat in Plymouth MI

Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced.
(attributed to Don Marti)

Marvin & Sue wrote:

We are in Zone 6 in East Tenn and use creeping red fescue [for
shady areas]with Kentucky 31 tall fescue [for the sunny areas].

Thanks for the reply!

I've just come across mentions of grass seed blends that purportedly
grow well in both sun and shade. (with a different type of grass
dominating in each) An example (and I'm sure that there are many
others) is a tall fescue mixture called "Rebel Jr." from Lofts. It's
claimed that this brand also grows more slowly than many,
(necessitating less mowing) stands up relatively well to drought
conditions and retains more of its green color during the colder
months.

Is any of the above accurate, or is this an overpriced pig in a poke?

Lynn F. Russell wrote:

If you're going to hire someone to kill the weeds and reseed,
they will know what is best for your area and climate.

I'd like to think so, but I've ended up hiring too many incompetent
workers to take this for granted.


The best time to undertake this project is in the fall.

Thank you!

Pat Kiewicz wrote:

You are going to have to invest more than a minimum amount
of maintainance to get a good stand of grass. Once it is
well established you can ease up on it.

Yes, we're willing to pay special attention, in the beginning.


However, unless you want to be right back in the same situation
it would be best to do some watering during droughts

We will, to the extent that we're legally permitted. During droughts,
it's common for the state/county to place major restrictions on
non-essential water use. This typically includes strict limitations
on the days (with even and odd numbered houses alternating), times,
frequency and/or duration of lawn watering. Last year, it reached the
point at which lawn watering was completely prohibited.

Regardless of weather conditions, I realize that it's best to water a
lawn before dawn. We had an automatic sprinkler system in the front,
but we recently had our front lawn replaced with stones. (Sorry!)


and at least one fertilizing each year in the fall.

We certainly can handle that.


And irregular mowing (letting the grass get very tall and
then cutting it very short) will quickly destroy a lawn.

Guilty as charged. We'll try not to let that happen again, but we'd
like to obtain the slowest-growing grass available. Someone mentioned
in this newsgroup that he mows his lawn once every five days during
the summer, and that simply isn't a feasible possibility for us.

We don't intend to be nearly as lax as before, but we'd like to have
grass that has the highest likelihood of withstanding any
less-than-ideal conditions.


You'd probably do best with a blend of bluegrass, fescue, and ryegrass.

Can you recommend any specific brands? Also, do you have an opinion
of the "Rebel Jr." blend (and similar products) that I mentioned in my
reply to Marvin & Sue?


Check out the Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service bulletins on lawns.
(You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them online.)

http://www.rce.rutgers.edu/pubs/subc...p?cat=5&sub=39

I will. Thanks very much for your help!