How to Restore a Green, Healthy Lawn | Ask This Old House
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 13 ก.ย. 2024
- Ask This Old House landscaping contractor Roger Cook heads to Kentucky to help a homeowner revive his lawn
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Time: 3-4 hours
Cost: $100-200
Skill Level: Moderate
Tools List for Restoring a Green, Healthy Lawn:
Rake
BroadcastLawn spreader
Wheelbarrow
Shovel
Hose
Sprayer
Lawnmower
Shopping List:
Dethatcher (Rental at local home center)
Aerator (Rental at local home center)
Lime
Compost
Lawn Fertilizer
Grass Seed
Gas for machines
Steps:
1. To remove the layer of thatch that blocks water and nutrients from reaching the roots of the lawn, use a dethatcher to clean up the grass. This machine works using large tines and prongs to pull up dead grass and other debris from the grass roots. Go across the lawn in a straight line and turn and repeat.
2. Use a rake to gather all of the debris from the detatching step into piles and recycle or compost it.
3. To fight soil compaction and allow water and nutrients to reach the roots, use the aerator. It will remove plugs of soil about 2” long. Go across the lawn in a straight line and turn and repeat.
4. Before applying any nutrients to the lawn, conduct a soil test to determine any deficiencies in soil health.
5. On acidic soils (with a lower pH), use a broadcast spreader to apply lime. A lime mixture typically contains calcium and magnesium to bring up the pH of the soil.
6. Spread compost across the lawn using a rake, making sure to fill in the holes made by the aerator. This will provide nutrients for the soil and create a good seed bed.
7. The soil test will also determine the best fertilizer mix to choose. Use a broadcast spreader to put down fertilizer, following directions on the packaging.
8. Use the lawn spreader to put down a healthy layer of seed. The weather zone should help dictate what kind of seed to use. A tall fescue is best for sunny, southern climates and is more drought resistant. For northern climates, a fine fescue may be a better option. It can stay green all year, if maintained properly.
9. Use a hose and sprayer to coat the top of the soil and the seed. It’s important to keep the top of the soil moist by watering two to three times for the first two weeks.
10. When the lawn gets up to three inches tall, cut it down to two inches. However, be sure to bag the clippings and not mulch.
11. Mow regularly after to maintain a healthy look.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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How to Restore a Green, Healthy Lawn | Ask This Old House
/ thisoldhouse "
This guy is the best I’ve found on TH-cam. I’m a landscaper, and I’ve never heard a wrong bit of information from Roger. Keep up the good work, sir!
1) dethatch 2) aerate 3) lime 4) seed & starter fertilizer 5) thin compost layer as top dressing 6) keep seed wet. Am I missing anything? Only think I’d tweak is to add step 1A) mower on low setting and use that to pick up all the thatch before aerating
Won’t the birds eat the seed? Isn’t that why people put down straw?
A followup would be neat.
Don't count on it. None of their old videos have updates :(
1:50 hold on berta
Who else was waiting to see him drive the aerator over the sidewalk?
thechosendude
Like the lady that almost drove over her husband and kids playset.
Jacob I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Why am I watching all these videos like it's a TV show lol
Well...
youngswhtx I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Makes me sad to see Roger like this. Hang in there big guy. :(
1:50 be careful not to let that bad boy get away from ya
Just rented an aerator today. Tried it on rabbit. Almost fell on my backside.
Matt Goheen never start on rabbit homie 😂
I find that leaning into any self propelled as you press the go handle makes it less traumatic :)
Lmao
b.gilly I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
@ThisOldHouse I'd love to see a lawn care video for the warm region for grasses like St. Augustine or Centipede grass
Those are more like glass than grass
Check out the TH-cam channel “The Lawn Care Nut” he’s based out of Florida. He started out as a hobbyist and I think is now full time. Very informative channel.
Paladin I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
What if you have lots if stones in the lawn?
great video!
Michael O'Donoghue I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
I have a backyard that is full of pine needles with fir trees that I would love to have a lawn. Is there any hope. I live in the Pacific Northwest
I don’t think Lane was quite ready when the aerator blasted off like a rocket
Chris Parker I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
That is one good vid, great advice for a lawn :)
Ian I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
1:50 - smooth!
Mark I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
3:35 don't let this deter you from using Kentucky Blue Grass, there's other varieties that do well in shade like Bewitched Kentucky Bluegrass, and the blends from Pennington or Scotts are chosen so they do well for a homeowners lawn.
John I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Rip Roger
Homeowner: How often should I aerate the lawn?
Roger: Hahaha, well, hibba dah namma in dah simmah wen dinna fo wotter. Hahaha, did na?
Tim I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
I always wandered about that!
eastcoastartist I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Roger loves his compost! Lol
General I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
I hope Roger is around long enough to show me how to do that with 2 acres of yard.
Rich I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
I think Roger's health might be failing him but after decades of landscaping anyone would be worn down.
I think he has a heart issue but not sure.
Can you seed after you just fertilize?
Have to wait four weeks
what about getting rid of weeds and crab grass? thanks
Depends. That's a spring activity. Crabgrass is more about control than eradication. Weeds can be broadleaf or grassy. Broadleaf weeds usually flower, and have a tap root that needs selective herbicide or removal. Grassy weeds need physical removal or non selective herbicide that kills everything, like roundup.
anderson I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Is it okay to fertilize before you seed like in this video?
What did you find out?
Can they make these de thatcher things not go 35 miles an hour?
They have a throttle ... but nobody is bright enough to use it! They think it's like a lawn mower and you get a better job on full throttle but that engine is just to drive it forward, you don't need it full out. Everybody does the same thing, it's fun to watch them struggle. Me, I run them just above idle.
Won’t the birds eat the seed? Isn’t that why people put down straw?
Peat moss - covers the seed and keeps it moist
Shredded straw w/ tackifier - stops the seed from washing away during a heavy storm or when it's on a hilly surface.
They didn’t show the end result.
This guy DEFINITELY asked what to do with his hands before they started recording
HRPoodersmith I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
*TWO WORDS*
*ROUND UP*
Matt I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Doesn't the machine damage the good grass?
No, the roots should be down a few inches and recover. It looks bad when you do it, but a week later it grows back greener
1:50
Ran that aerator way too fast. Put it on half to low throttle
Michael Zeleznik what’s the point of aerating the lawn with you are going to just fill the holes with dirt
hallnoats4ever Soil improvement.
Michael I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Aaaaaaand no one bothered to showcase the results. 🤦
1:49 Here hold my beer honey.
Marshall I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Hehe why would you need to restore a green, healthy lawn?
Scott Warren it wasn't as healthy as it looked...he's giving it a face lift for lack of a better term...the lawn will thank him I do that once in a while too...depending how bad of a winter/fall we've had
KMike68Camaro I was saying that if a lawn was green and healthy why would it need restoring? Just pointing out the title was poorly worded. Similar to when people say hot water heater instead of water heater.
Scott Warren just because a lawns green right now doesn't make it healthy...did you miss the part of the video where he pulled out a section of grass? And the ph was off too...the grass would of started to turn brown slowly over the next few seasons ...what he did was for down the road life of the grass...that grass will come in fuller and dark green over the next season or 2...Magic Johnson looks healthy If you just look at his smile but deep down he has problems
KMike68Camaro I am only commenting about the title of the video, not the lawn shown in the video. You wouldn't need to restore a green, healthy lawn. You might need to restore a green, unhealthy lawn. Sorry that I must have been unclear about my comment.
Scott Warren gotta love the you tube commenters....they will drive you nuts
i would have put the seed down then the top soil
RObert I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
That open back on the aerator by your feet looks dangerous, is it just me?
@@MidwestFarmToys ha
It is safe. Thing weighs 150 lbs though
fastjp I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
That aerator will take you for a ride into your neighbor's yard if you're not careful!
firstname I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Roger is slowing down. I miss the over-caffeinated Roger that would pop out of the woods and aggressively start mansplaining.
a little sad to hear him sounding tired in the beginning there. he did perk up a little in the middle of the segment.
lawn work is hard on the body, trust me.
Landscaping Lawn Services i know that from experience, but this seems like something else.
Mansplaining? your man card is now revoked pending investigation. lol
Jimmy did you just assume his gender? haha
Can all this be done in the spring? At 2:20 he says "we're lucky, it's early fall and that's the perfect time to seed a lawn."
Fescue and KBB do better when over seeded in the Fall. Your success rate is much lower in the Spring due to the hot dry temps in the Summer, the new grass hasn't had enough time to build a good root system typically. At least that's how it is for most of the areas growing TF and KBB.
@@jdorris5337 what does Kelly Blue Book have to do with this?
Spring is good too.
Tool I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
@@johnp82 Turf resale value
Give him can of red bull
DR I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Anyone else think there should be a cover on the back of that Aerator!?
Oh and I hate not seeing the finished product! What's the lawn look like now???
I have the exact aerator... plugs don't fly out. Pretty safe.
if you watch the show they show you the lawn 2 months later looks great
No
Pendragon I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
That was such a small area they might have been better off taking off the top layer and putting down sod.
wind I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
E.A.G.L.E.S.eagles!!!!!
Bob I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
it looks dead rather than better
XxpizzanooblolXx they just planted new grass in this clip. it grows over time
Jayden I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
If you aerate annually, fertilize organically, and only use herbicides sparingly you'll be fine. Most of this is overkill.
Top dressing and overseeding is overkill?
Captain I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Why would you want to restore a “green healthy lawn?” Wouldn’t you want to restore a brown, unhealthy one?
DCPete I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.
Thumbs down for using chemicals and not organic corn gluten meal for nitrogen and if you used good compost and quit using chemicals he might actually have some earthworms there to eat that stuff instead of a dead lawn from using chemicals
My point is people that use synthetic chemicals are what's wrong with the planet
often synthetic is better for the environment do some research
Get lost
My experience synthetic gets applied to heavy following instructions, and grass grows an inch in 2 days. Parts get orange haze from nitrogen burn.
Organics are mostly slow releasing, so no burn. milorganite worked for me, drop and forget it.
Freedumb I suggest watch a 13 part series called _What on earth happened_ by Ewaranon to learn that the earth is not a globe.
I got it in my about tab.