30
votes
Why do many landscapers put gravel around the base of buildings?
You don't want water-retaining soil sitting against the building because this causes damp problems. Creating a porous soakaway like this will mean any water sinks to a lower level than would cause any ...
- 1,271
18
votes
Accepted
What can I use the removed moss from my lawn for?
Moss is just fine in your compost! Moss is one of the great opportunists in the plant world. Moss is not hurting your lawn. The presence of moss is telling us your lawn is not vigorous enough, you ...
- 39.8k
16
votes
Accepted
What is this tiny strawberry-like fruit found in a Southern Illinois lawn?
That is Mock Strawberry, Duchesnea indica. The fruits are edible, but rather tasteless. This is a common weed in much of the United States. Look for small, strawberry-like plants in your lawn, with ...
- 51.5k
16
votes
Why do many landscapers put gravel around the base of buildings?
Perhaps I missed something in the other answers. The one and only reason is because of SPLASHING. Rain over the gutter, a hard sideways rain will splash mud/soil onto the siding. Not good for ...
- 39.8k
14
votes
Why are weeds growing with my new seeds?
Weed seeds in the soil won't be affected by a contact or systemic (such as glyphosate) weedkiller that acts on green leaves. Regular mowing will get rid of some of the taller weeds. Otherwise, wait ...
- 2,945
13
votes
Accepted
Easiest way to remove large amount of leaves from yard
I use a lawnmower with a bagger. The blades chop the leaves and reduce the volume by up to 80%. The finely shredded leaves are great mulch for plant or vegetable beds.
I cut my grass low in the ...
- 56k
11
votes
Accepted
What are the Coldest Spring Temperatures to Overseed a Lawn?
Dormant Overseeding! Read about it. Do it. I live in Ohio and the freeze thaw cycle that heaves the ground up and down pulls the seed down into it for great soil contact. Followed by wet springs......
- 2,484
10
votes
Replacing a strimmer's nylon fibre line?
If you consult the manual, you find that the part the line comes out of comes apart to expose a bobbin inside of the housing.
You need to find out what the recommended diameter of the line is for the ...
- 3,873
10
votes
Should I overseed this overgrown lawn?
Sure! You can reseed that. Wait till the ground is going to stay drained.Grass will germinate and grow fast in wet conditions, but then if you walk through, or mow, it will lie down and rot.
Because ...
- 51.5k
10
votes
What type of dirt to use for filling the backyard before preparing the vegetable beds?
Good quality topsoil is probably best, preferably with some organic or humus rich composted materials added (composted animal manures, leaf mould, spent mushroom compost, garden compost, anything like ...
- 128k
10
votes
Accepted
How does one maintain a crisp lawn edge?
There is no one "right way" to create and maintain a crisp lawn edge.
When I was much younger than I am now, I did exactly what you are doing, except I used a flat spade to cut the edge and ...
- 13.5k
9
votes
Accepted
What should I do to improve a lawn growing on a new construction lot?
ground prep is crucial for a new lawn. I assume sod was used in the front for appearance and cost, but the new lawn in the back was a starter blanket for lack of "street view" and return on the cost. ...
- 896
9
votes
Accepted
Should I aerate, or aerate and seed, my lawn? Can I do it myself?
With only a 1/3 of an acre of land I personally would aerate it myself, many rental shops allow you to rent a machine for a day for less than $100.
Stay away from the "aeration shoes" though as they ...
- 896
9
votes
Accepted
Aerate, de-thatch & overseed. Is this really the correct order?
I always dethatch first. That will create a clearer path for the other equipment, and make it a lot easier for the slicer overseeder.
As for the other two, I like to run the aerator first, to avoid ...
- 51.5k
9
votes
Easiest way to remove large amount of leaves from yard
I let the grass grow a little higher than usual for a week or two before the leaves fall, set the mower on the highest setting and mow twice at that setting. This mulches the leaves in place. I do ...
- 91
9
votes
Mowing 2+ acres of pasture
I think you are just suffering from mowing a pasture for the first time. Once you've got it all cut for the first time it will go much faster to keep it cut. However you don't want to use a flail to ...
- 6,316
9
votes
Microclover Mix Lawns
Microclover (Trifolium repens var.pirouette) is a selection from the original white clover (Trifolium repens). It was bred and selected for its much smaller leaves, lower height, much less aggressive ...
- 128k
9
votes
Why do many landscapers put gravel around the base of buildings?
My guesses are that it just looks a lot neater and also prevents weeds from growing near the foundation. If weeds and their roots are allowed to grow there you would have to be constantly digging ...
- 111
8
votes
Accepted
Watering clover seeds
I planted Palestine Strawberry clover in my yard (Phoenix, AZ) this past fall. My clover seems extraordinarily resilient so far (with the exception of falling prey to our local quail population). ...
- 429
8
votes
Why is the grass under a temporary skating rink green when the rest of the lawn is dormant brown?
If you are in a place that's so consistently cold that it occurs to you to set up a backyard skating rink that means it gets really cold throughout the winter. What the ice and plastic has done is ...
- 1,043
8
votes
How should I fill and reseed shallow depressions in my lawn?
I think you'd be better off (less TOTAL work) just filling in the holes gradually. Put 1/4" of soil in the deepest parts. Level it out with a fairly small rake (back of an actual rakehead or short ...
- 18k
8
votes
What's the best way to eliminate the moss in a shady, damp area of my lawn?
Since you are a renter, I would suggest embracing the moss as a short green groundcover that tolerates the conditions, since grass won't, and as a renter you can't solve the conditions that favor moss ...
- 18k
8
votes
Accepted
Growing a healthy lawn
For the shaded areas try a blend which has high portion of fescue grasses and consider trimming a few branches to reduce the shade.
IMHO patch packs are a waste of money. They typically have less ...
8
votes
Why are weeds growing with my new seeds?
I used to live near a retired professional gardener who had worked in English "stately home" gardens where lawns (acres of them) were a key feature.
One of his pieces of advice was "...
- 11.2k
7
votes
Accepted
What are the benefits of dethatching your lawn?
Thatch is an accumulation of dead organic debris that has not yet been decomposed that builds up between the soil and live grasses. St. Augustine is known for thatch buildup. This buildup blocks ...
- 39.8k
7
votes
Oak tree - arborist says needs to be removed?
As it's such an old tree, I'd be inclined to get someone to carry out a Picus or sonic tomograph test as well - if the Resistograph results are echoed by the Picus, then you might need to do something,...
- 128k
7
votes
Accepted
Preparation for a new lawn to prevent weeds and encourage growth
Let's start at the beginning.
About two years ago, the lawn in our back garden was full of dandelions. We decided to replace it with brand new turf, the
kind you roll out into place. I tried my best ...
- 51.5k
7
votes
Preparation for a new lawn to prevent weeds and encourage growth
This question comes up frequently and the answer is always the same. Kill it all and start fresh. I did that and was very happy with the results.
Start by getting a soil test done through either your ...
- 8,437
7
votes
Accepted
What is this plant growing in my backyard?
It looks like grain sorghum to me, and probably arrived in your yard via the birds, as it is a popular component of commercially packaged bird feed. The fact that it's near a fence would tend to give ...
- 7,707
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