skip to main content

Ask The Yard Doctor

Old lawn in the midwest...........questions.........

17 years ago

First of all I love lawn work and working with flowers, but I can't seem to get my lawn looking as well as I want.......so help!

My lawn is an old established lawn and fairly good shape. Kentucky Bluegrass and most has sun exposure for at least 3/4 of the day.

But.......my lawn is not as thick as I would like even though I used a fall fertilizer and already a spring one with crabgrass preventer(usually use Scotts). I have watered when it was dry, but lately it's been cold and has rained off and on.

I think the rains have helped to make it a bit bumpy too.......maybe too many worms? I am lucky to have black dirt and tons of them in my garden beds, so I suspect in my lawn too.

What can I do to help my lawn look like the sodded yards.......thick and full. By mid-summer it looks great, just not perfect.

And........I have had it aerated, just not this year....and it's basically, flat with some shade trees.

Any suggestions???

Just feel like I am missing something that would help.......

Thanks, Julie

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

yarddoctor
17 years ago
Dear Julie,

Thank you very much for your inquiry. Old lawns can be tricky, especially when you compare them to lawns with newer varieties of grasses. These new varieties are darker green and denser, in a way like new computers or cars. Getting a new one of these is expensive so we often want to make do, just like our lawns.

The big things to think about are watering, mowing and fertilizing. You may need to add a fertilizer application to May and July. Use the holiday plan, Memorial Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving for fertilizing. If you want to start with Â½ or Â¾ rates, that is fine. You can always add more, it is the subtracting that is the tricky part.

Finally, make sure you are mowing correctly. Only take 1/3 of the leaf blade during any single mowing. This will help your lawn to thicken as well. If you keep your lawn at 3-3.5 inches and follow this 1/3 rule, you will be happy with the results.

Again, thanks for the question and let me know if you have more. IF you want, check out my new book for more information and tips, Lawn Geek.

Respectfully

Trey Rogers
The Yard Doctor
iowajewel
Original Author
17 years ago
I guess I know to fertilize and mow just the tops, but am ignorant as far as any other chemicals or organics that maybe I should be applying.
Just feel like I am missing something......
I water and even fertilize a bit more than your suggestions, use inground sprinklers on a regular basis, and by late summer it looks great, just don't understand why it doesn't come up thick and greener in the spring and why it is taking SOOO much care to come back each year. And I am spoiled with black dirt to work with.....not clay or anything else.
There HAS to be some trick I am overlooking......
Related Discussions
old old snapper lawn mower
Q
Comments (1)
i see those links don't work...
...See More
Old, Rather Large, Craftsman Lawn Tractor?
Q
Comments (11)
I have a Craftsman like the one above but not dually. 18HP/IC, 44" deck. I've had it in the shop to have some repairs made and it's running good again like it always has. The trouble is that the blades are not cutting evenly (new blades). I'm wondering if the repairman put the blades on in the wrong order, or possibly put on the wrong blades? One is shorter than the the other two. Does anyone have any idea what blades these older models take or how they are supposed to be installed? I can't find a model number on the unit anywhere.
...See More
Newer Lawn Tractors vs Old Lawn Tractors
Q
Comments (39)
reply by theodocus struck me as coming from the desk of the ad agency of MTD. No mention of the actual operation that involves rolling over uneven terrain and jarring action from bumps and uneven spots and the fragile fabricated axles that bend and crack easily. Oh, there is also the bushings used in place of ball bearings: bushing use requires higher horsepower to move the newer units. The Deere has points and condenser; cost $5.00 and 9.00 respectively and the sears is a solid state igntion. Newer technology is wonderful as long as it is coupled with quality assemblage in a product. I have a 1968 Sears GARDEN tractor with a 12HP Tecumseh Heavy duty cast iron engine with ball bearings and cut with a 42 inch deck and also have a 1976 John Deere GARDEN tractor with a cast iron 10 HP engine with ball bearings and cut with a 42" deck and use both alternately for mowing two acres and for tilling and moving earth, etc.. Each has cast iron axles and mutli-speed hi-lo transmissions and EACH is used for plowing, snowblowing, tilling earth, hauling 1100 lb loads in attached large carts. EACH will run circles around the new 20 plus HP light LAWN tractors made today. Spend 5,000.00 and you will have a comparable heavy duty GARDEN tractor. By the way, good luck on getting even 10 years of use with the new wonders.
...See More
Convert lawn full of old dog feces to normal lawn
Q
Comments (6)
Finally famous! Now I'm waiting for the Nobel Prize money to roll in. I've had dogs for decades and do not clean up after them. It takes about 4 days on my yard for the flies and roly polies to take care of it. After 3 days you can step on it without it sticking to your shoe (ask how I know). After 4 days it has melted down below the surface into the soil. I'm not saying yours will do this right now, but it makes a nice goal. I believe the keys to this is to be fully organic with your fertilizer and to cut herbicide and insecticide down to absolute minimum - as needed only. The sooner you start with organics the sooner your yard will regain its health. I'm talking weeks, not years. The application rate for organics is normally 15-20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. If you have not used any organics in awhile, it would be best to start with 5-10 pounds per 1,000 and repeat in a month. That will build the population of microbes your soil need to process the organics quickly. If you do too much too fast there will be the slightest hint of spoiled milk (spoiler - it's not slight). In two months you should really notice a difference in your soil and in the lawn. Morph's favorite organic fertilizers are soybean meal and Milorganite. Mine are alfalfa pellets (rabbit chow) and ordinary corn meal. It all depends on what you can find at your local feed store under $10 or $15 per bag.
...See More

Related Stories

ORGANIZING Pre-Storage Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Store

By Laura Gaskill

Wait, stop. Do you really need to keep that item you’re about to put into storage?

FEEL-GOOD HOME The Question That Can Make You Love Your Home More

By Laura Gaskill

Change your relationship with your house for the better by focusing on the answer to something designers often ask

MOVING Hiring a Home Inspector? Ask These 10 Questions

By Christine Tusher

How to make sure the pro who performs your home inspection is properly qualified and insured, so you can protect your big investment

SELLING YOUR HOUSE 15 Questions to Ask When Interviewing a Real Estate Agent

By Laura Gaskill

Here’s what you should find out before selecting an agent to sell your home

EXTERIORS Curb Appeal Feeling a Little Off? Some Questions to Consider

By Becky Harris

Color, scale, proportion, trim ... 14 things to think about if your exterior is bugging you

BEFORE AND AFTERS See 6 Yards Transformed by Losing Their Lawns

By Annie Thornton

Wondering whether a turf lawn is the best use of your outdoor space? These homeowners did, and they found creative alternatives

LANDSCAPE DESIGN California Says Goodbye to the Sprawling Ornamental Lawn

By Annie Thornton

New state rules will effectively limit turfgrass to 25 percent of the landscape in most new and renovated yards

MOST POPULAR Meet a Lawn Alternative That Works Wonders

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Carex can replace turfgrass in any spot, is low maintenance and adjusts easily. Add its good looks and you’ve got a ground cover winner

SAVING WATER Houzz Call: Are You Letting Go of Your Lawn?

By Annie Thornton

Many facing a drought are swapping turf for less thirsty plantings. If you’re one of them, we’d like to hear about it

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Great Grasses for a New Lawn

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Learn about maintenance, wear tolerance, ideal climate and more for these top turf choices to pick the right one for you

Sponsored

More Discussions

Are my newly viburnums dead or dying?

3

Can I recover the structure of this tree?

0

Cement or pavers- which is better?

9