Grass situation - failure to thrive?

[MomToTwoBoys]

Hi all!

I've been working on the front and back yard now that the garden is in, but I'm running into issues with the front yard not retaining seed.

I've watered it twice daily and give it fertilizer. Still, no luck. The areas that were bare and/or thin are still bare and/or thin after the last month. The seeds are supposed to have germinated by now, but haven't. The area under the spruce tree is lush and thick and some of the front yard towards the sidewalk are starting to cover. However, the area near my water barrel and across to the neighbors' yard is still a lot bare.

I've given up trying to keep anyone off of the grass because even with twine and stakes, they (meaning the neighbor kids) continue to walk over them and through. And trust me when I say that I've told them repeatedly to stay off because I could tell them eight times a day and what happens? They're on it ten minutes later.

DH thinks the problem won't be solved until we remove the spruce tree and rototill the entire front yard. I don't want to put a patching product out there if even afterwards, the grass won't hold. I have this same problem in the front half of the side yard, but I can keep the kids out of that easier than the front yard.

Should I give up on the grass in the front yard all together? I wanted it to be lush but it really isn't working.

[mndtrp]

When did you plant? I've read it's best to plant in late fall, for spring germination. Renting a seed slitter, and covering with compost seems to be the most recommended process. Unless your soil is completely useless, and only a soil test will tell you that, it's not a good idea to till everything up. If the soil is terrible, tilling in compost or aged manure is a good course of action.

I'd more or less give up for the summer. I don't know much about Canada's weather, but summer heat will usually destroy any grass you try planting now.

Check out gardenweb.com for more help.

[MomToTwoBoys]

I planted these seeds in the first week of May. The seeds that I planted out back have since germinated and are growing in pretty well. The ones in the front yard, however, aren't growing at all.

Fixing the front yard is sadly not in the budget any more this year. I might as well just give up and take care of the grass that's still there. I still think that the spruce tree is the culprit because it's sucking in all of the water that I'm putting onto the grass.

[frugalfranny]

Are you covering the seed with anything.......like even peat moss?

If not.........are you sure the birds aren't eating the seed?

I have planted grass at any time of year and it grew.........if I could keep the birds out of it. Peat moss seems to hide it! Maybe even a sprinkling of top soil.....it will grow up through it.

[Libby]

I think my dad did this last year - he sprinkled grass seed on a very soaked lawn so it'd stick, he watered it well after but didn't flood it and wash away the seed. The next day he put a lot of top soil on over top, almost like a protective layer but we have a very dimpled lawn.

Also, if its in the budget...we paid a lawn care co to come and 'fix' the lawn one year - they got it growing nice and lush then my dad took over after that. We got a deal from a local co and paid $100 for Spring - Fall.

[Russ]

Are you covering the seed with anything.......like even peat moss?

If not.........are you sure the birds aren't eating the seed?

I have planted grass at any time of year and it grew.........if I could keep the birds out of it. Peat moss seems to hide it! Maybe even a sprinkling of top soil.....it will grow up through it.

What she said.

[nvmommyx6]

I agree, wondering if the birds are eating the seeds! I also let the grass seed out and take the seed off to replant, it saves $
I also grow bird seed and keep it available for the birds so they'll leave the grass seed alone!!
Good luck

[MomToTwoBoys]

We do have a lot of birds and perhaps they are the culprits. I didn't cover it with anything and raked it into the loose dirt. I have some green patching product that I could use and I have leftover peat moss. I might try the patching product since it would keep the birds out. If they tried to eat it (it has fertilizer seed and peat moss in it) then they might get sick and stay away from it.

[frugalfranny]

We do have a lot of birds and perhaps they are the culprits. I didn't cover it with anything and raked it into the loose dirt.

Yep......bet it was the birds. Try again!

Peat moss has always been successful for me......just need to keep it wet.....not soaked or flooded.