Converting a Vacant 1/4 Acre Lot to Grass

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

What would be involved in that?

Off the top of my head, I can think of needing to grade the land and till it (not sure if this is the correct term), sprinklers, plumbing, and the actual sod. But I can't think of anything else. I'm trying to get an estimate for it as well to see how much it would cost to do it myself.

 

[highland145]

Soil test.

 

[Thebobo]

What kind of Grass?

 

[Jaepheth]

Regular weed treatments
Regular mowing (obviously)

Possibly pest control to keep out snakes/rodents/ants/etc

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

What kind of Grass?

Nothing too fancy. Just regular grass for Sacramento area. Good enough to play sports in?

 

[Drako]

Nothing too fancy. Just regular grass for Sacramento area. Good enough to play sports in?

Dude, we're in a drought.

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Dude, we're in a drought.

That's why I'm just doing research. No actual implementation yet.

 

[tynopik]

fieldturf

 

[Ruptga]

Here you go buddy.

 

[Imp]

Astroturf... Newer shit looks real and kinda nice.

 

[lxskllr]

Nothing. Put something in that's environmentally appropriate for your locale. If that's dirt, leave it dirt. Mow whatever native plants are on it, and play sports on that.

 

[alkemyst]

Pick up phone

Order about 22 pallets of a St. Augustine variety

swing by home depot and pick up 2-5 illegals after it arrives

get a case of your favorite beer, a lawn chair, boom box and a megaphone.

profit!

 

[alkemyst]

Nothing. Put something in that's environmentally appropriate for your locale. If that's dirt, leave it dirt. Mow whatever native plants are on it, and play sports on that.

Pocket pool is not a sport.

 

[notposting]

Bermuda would probably be a good choice for this purpose.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bermuda_grass

 

[notposting]

Also, this is CA? Better check to make sure what kind of permits or environmental studies you might need. Only half joking.

 

[burninatortech4]

What are you using the lot for?

 

[phucheneh]

1) Throw out Bermuda grass seed.
2) Do nothing.
3) Welcome your new Bermuda grass overlords.

 

[alkemyst]

Compared to St. Augustine, I hate the Bermuda grass the previous owner cheaped out on in my yard.

I was hoping to have the St. Augustine take over with better watering and fertilizing for it, but that Bermuda is like a weed.

 

[d4a2n0k]

Actually, one of the worst things you can do is till the soil before laying sod or seeding. If you need to re-grade, call a pro in who should have something called a box blade. If you use a tiller, it will take 2-3 years for the soil to settle. If you lay sod over freshly tilled soil, it will end up very bumpy and be impossible to mow without scalping areas with the mower, not to mention it will be unsightly. Another reason is tilling will bring up weed seeds and you will be fighting more weeds.

If you need to soften the soil, there are liquid sprays that will work sold at Amazon. You can also use baby shampoo, do a google search for instructions.

Also, now is not the time to sod or seed. You can lay sod in the Spring but its getting too late now. You are better off waiting until fall at this point.

 

[alkemyst]

Actually, one of the worst things you can do is till the soil before laying sod or seeding. If you need to re-grade, call a pro in who should have something called a box blade. If you use a tiller, it will take 2-3 years for the soil to settle. If you lay sod over freshly tilled soil, it will end up very bumpy and be impossible to mow without scalping areas with the mower, not to mention it will be unsightly. Another reason is tilling will bring up weed seeds and you will be fighting more weeds.

If you need to soften the soil, there are liquid sprays that will work sold at Amazon. You can also use baby shampoo, do a google search for instructions.

Also, now is not the time to sod or seed. You can lay sod in the Spring but its getting too late now. You are better off waiting until fall at this point.

It's more complicated. Also with a tiller you can do a compacting.

For most cut the existing lawn as low as possible, rake it out, and do some grass-friendly pesticides/herbicides on it and just wait a bit and then repeat until most of the weeds are gone (if applicable), if needed do a grading and throw down sod.

If you are seeding, I have no clue.

 

[d4a2n0k]

It's more complicated. Also with a tiller you can do a compacting.

For most cut the existing lawn as low as possible, rake it out, and do some grass-friendly pesticides/herbicides on it and just wait a bit and then repeat until most of the weeds are gone (if applicable), if needed do a grading and throw down sod.

If you are seeding, I have no clue.

Yes, there is a lot more to it. If already covered in weeds and grass you dont want, first mow at the lowest setting and spray the entire area with Round-Up to kill everything. Wait a day and fertilize to get the remaining weeds/grass seeds to grow. Wait a week and hit the area with Round-Up again to kill the rest of the new growth. You might have to repeat again if you see weeds sprouting. Water the area well the next few days to wash away the Round-Up and then you can lay the new sod after a week.

 

[Sukhoi]

Do not plant grass in Sacramento. You're part of the problem.

 

[Anubis]

Pick up phone

Order about 22 pallets of a St. Augustine variety

swing by home depot and pick up 2-5 illegals after it arrives

get a case of your favorite beer, a lawn chair, boom box and a megaphone.

profit!

TBH that would most likely actually work

 

[SlickSnake]

Why didn't you post this in the Green Acres thread?

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2385540

 

[iGas]

a) Hire a contractor.

b) DIY.
1. Ask a local sprinkler store to design heads & pipping placement patter, valve box, timer, and head sizing.
2. Coarse grade with a backhoe or bobcat with bucket.
3. Knock down high spots with shovel.
4. Final rough leveling the land with 4 prongs cultivator, and pick out or bury the large stones.
5. Top dress the land with 4-6" of topsoil.
6. Rough leveling the top dress and pick out large stones.
7. Pre-finish the top dress with garden rake (try to bury small stones as you rake so money and effort of remove and disposal).
8. Dig trench, rough-in sprinkler piping, install valve box (1/2" above finish top dress), wiring, timer (water test rough-in sprinkler), and fill drench (flag sprinkler heads position, and valves box/es).
9. Final finish with landscaping rake (bury small stones using similar method as step 7)
10. Install sprinkler heads (turn water on to blow out dirt & contaminate in pipping), test sprinkler heads and set sprinkler sweep coverage (heads 1/2" above finish top dress for sod, or 1/2" below or the same height as fishing top dress for seeding).
11. See below for sodding, or seeding.
11a. Roll out, cut sod to fit, start from the outer border, lay sod across,off-set the sod in brick like patter to minimize sod lines)
11b. Seed ground with seeder, or by hand evenly in 2 runs and crossover/overlap for even seeding. Use leaf rake and run parallel lines across the top dress & seeds to mix in the seed with the top soil, run lawn roller the surface to tamper the seed (prevent wind/water from wash away the seed, and birds from eating it). Water for 2-3 times per day at 10-15 min each (do not let the top surface dry out until at least after 2-3 times after first mowed) for 1-4 weeks of germination.

4 prongs cultivator

garden rake

leaf rake

lawn roller