Lawn Nerd Thread

[Webbo]

Any other “lawn nerds” on this forum? If so, I have an issue with my irrigation trench lines that I’m seeing if anyone has suggestions on fixing.

In the pic attached, you can see the horizontal/vertical trench lines that cross (along with the Rhino..). What I think happened here is the backfill and sod settled too deep from irrigation install so now you can see the trench lines still. Am I correct on this assumption or think it’s something else?

What I am thinking of doing is leveling with some good topsoil and hopefully will blend in? Anything else? For reference, this is Bermuda grass so don’t think I need to seed just level it.

Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

PS: the scalped lawn on the right is my neighbor’s lawn, not mine so what you see there is our property line..

 

[Banger]

If what you're saying is correct, you should be able to notice depressions in those area. The grass would then be a little taller in those areas, thus looking greener and richer.

It could also have been from a different utility being trenched, such as gas or cable. But typically they'll run from the street to your house, so not sure what the horizontal one could be other than irrigation.

So, can you indeed see and feel trenched areas forming a depression?

 

[Webbo]

If what you're saying is correct, you should be able to notice depressions in those area. The grass would then be a little taller in those areas, thus looking greener and richer.

It could also have been from a different utility being trenched, such as gas or cable. But typically they'll run from the street to your house, so not sure what the horizontal one could be other than irrigation.

So, can you indeed see and feel trenched areas forming a depression?

Yeah, it is a bit lower (maybe 1/2”) and these are the irrigation lines not another utility as I just had the irrigation installed in March. Just getting opinions on will leveling this with sand or topsoil work or do I need to pull up the sod, level below then lay the sod back.

I’ve read that if I use topsoil, it could breakdown over time and those lines could still be seen. So maybe sand is the better option? Level it out and water it in?

 

[Banger]

If it is indeed trenched, what you suggested will work just fine. Although if you're a Type A personality, it may take a couple of rounds of backfilling and settling to get it perfect. I mix equal parts sand and topsoil. Although either alone will work.

The other technique that will help is to mow the grass the grass super short around the areas you'll level. I will cut it down to 1.5"-2". No, it won't kill your grass. When the grass is too long, your top soil will just get laid over to the side and won't poke through the fresh soil. When it's short, you can add soil and level and the grass will be poking through nicely. Not much of a need to water, as you haven't planted any new seed, unless you live in a dry climate.

Now, I live in the midwest (Ohio) and up here were use mostly fescue grasses, with some Kentucky Bluegrass mixed in. I have no experience with the warm climate grasses, but I do this every year in various places in my 5 acre yard, and something somewhere is always settling!!

 

[Banger]

Also, being in Ohio, I usually do this in the fall or the early spring, when temps are cool and there's plenty of rain. I wouldn't do it in the middle of the summer when it's hot and dry.

 

[Banger]

Lawn Rebel – Lawn Care Tips

lawnrebel.com

Check this guy out. His yard looks like a putting green and is as level and flat as a pool table. If you go to his YouTube channel, he shows how he levels his yard. He prefers leveling with sand, and has it dumped by the truckload in his yard and smooth it out with an ATV.

Yours will be a far simpler project. A few bags of sand and/or topsoil and you're good to go.

And no, I would pull up the sod and fill under it, unless it's brand new (less than a month or so) and hasn't taken root yet. If you try to pull it and don't do it right, you'll just sever the roots and like kill it.

 

[Webbo]

If it is indeed trenched, what you suggested will work just fine. Although if you're a Type A personality, it may take a couple of rounds of backfilling and settling to get it perfect. I mix equal parts sand and topsoil. Although either alone will work.

The other technique that will help is to mow the grass the grass super short around the areas you'll level. I will cut it down to 1.5"-2". No, it won't kill your grass. When the grass is too long, your top soil will just get laid over to the side and won't poke through the fresh soil. When it's short, you can add soil and level and the grass will be poking through nicely. Not much of a need to water, as you haven't planted any new seed, unless you live in a dry climate.

Now, I live in the midwest (Ohio) and up here were use mostly fescue grasses, with some Kentucky Bluegrass mixed in. I have no experience with the warm climate grasses, but I do this every year in various places in my 5 acre yard, and something somewhere is always settling!!

Any risk of smothering the grass on those strips or just work in the sand/topsoil enough? I’ve never leveled grass before. Or maybe two separate applications so it’s not so thick?

That sod over the trench lines are about 2 months old so maybe I can’t pull them up, good point.

I live in a fairly dry and hot climate here in NC so that’s why I figured I’d water it in after applying. Then the irrigation schedule can add to it as well. To your point, maybe I will cut it a little shorter prior to the leveling. I usually cut at 2.5” just because of the drainage ditch on the lawn with a steep hill, I will scalp the peak if I’m not careful. But have found at 2.5” I’m fine.

 

[Banger]

Cut it real short. 1.5”. Or even use weed eater to get it that short. Since you only need 0.5” or so to level it, just add it and rake so the grass sticks up and pokes through. If it’s long it’ll lay down under the soils and get smothered. So cut it short so it sticks through. I think you said it’s only a half inch or so deep, so one application should be fine. You may have to do again in the fall, because inevitably what you added will settle and compact a little also.

Water never hurts, but probably not necessary either.

 

[cconnorhtx]

I have a Bermuda lawn and I mow 3 to 4 times a week at 0.5" with a California Trimmer reel mower - and spoon feed N2 and PGR frequently

Just leveled so it currently looks like ass but no pain, no gain

If any other Bermuda guys here, Bermuda Lawn Dominators is a great page to follow and learn from

 

[Webbo]

Cut it real short. 1.5”. Or even use weed eater to get it that short. Since you only need 0.5” or so to level it, just add it and rake so the grass sticks up and pokes through. If it’s long it’ll lay down under the soils and get smothered. So cut it short so it sticks through. I think you said it’s only a half inch or so deep, so one application should be fine. You may have to do again in the fall, because inevitably what you added will settle and compact a little also.

Water never hurts, but probably not necessary either.

I’ll give it a go early next week!

 

[Webbo]

I have a Bermuda lawn and I mow 3 to 4 times a week at 0.5" with a California Trimmer reel mower - and spoon feed N2 and PGR frequently

Just leveled so it currently looks like ass but no pain, no gain

If any other Bermuda guys here, Bermuda Lawn Dominators is a great page to follow and learn from

Heck yeah, thanks for the link just joined.

 

[Banger]

Good luck! You'll be fine. You won't screw it up.
Remember, lawns are never perfect, but also tough to kill. And if you do kill some off, just seed, fertilize and water!!

 

[Webbo]

I have a Bermuda lawn and I mow 3 to 4 times a week at 0.5" with a California Trimmer reel mower - and spoon feed N2 and PGR frequently

Just leveled so it currently looks like ass but no pain, no gain

If any other Bermuda guys here, Bermuda Lawn Dominators is a great page to follow and learn from

How do you like the reel mower? I was looking at them but my Toro recycler max works pretty well. I only use it on the front and a S120 lawn tractor the backyard.

I want a zero turn but my 2yr old son is obsessed with tractors and would be impossible to ride with him on a zero turn lol

 

[cconnorhtx]

How do you like the reel mower? I was looking at them but my Toro recycler max works pretty well. I only use it on the front and a S120 lawn tractor the backyard.

I want a zero turn but my 2yr old son is obsessed with tractors and would be impossible to ride with him on a zero turn lol

I absolutely love my California Trimmer with the Honda engine. For Bermuda, there is no rotary that will get it below an inch - which is where Bermuda thrives.

Cut low, cut frequent

 

[Irongoats]

Love my Yard Vac

 

[Webbo]

I absolutely love my California Trimmer with the Honda engine. For Bermuda, there is no rotary that will get it below an inch - which is where Bermuda thrives.

Cut low, cut frequent

Yeah, I think I should invest. Do you think a reel would do well (without scalping) with hills/steep peaks? I kind of thought it would do well since the regular mower blades are between the wheels and will scalp on a peak. That’s why I need to mow at the 45degree pass so the blade never gets low on the peak.

 

[RDRHINO]

I have a Bermuda lawn and I mow 3 to 4 times a week at 0.5" with a California Trimmer reel mower - and spoon feed N2 and PGR frequently

Just leveled so it currently looks like ass but no pain, no gain

If any other Bermuda guys here, Bermuda Lawn Dominators is a great page to follow and learn from

Just changed all of mine to zoisia at the start of spring. Expensive project too! Need to talk to my landscaper though because have some spots in the front yard it's just not greening up and I know very little about how to help it outside of maybe adding some nitrogen-based feed/fertilizer