New Lawn/Cover Crop

[rjschwar]

I just had a retaining wall installed and my yard leveled. The contractor brought in top soil and so now my yard is all ready for grass. The problem is I have been told that it may be too late to plant this year. I live in Seattle, WA. What are my best options? I was considering using rye grain as a cover crop for the winter so my yard dosen't turn into a giant mud field. I figured this would add nutrients to the soil and I could cut it and till it under in the spring before I plant new seed. I am trying to do this cheaply, so I think sod might be too expensive if it were more than a couple hundred dollars for my ~1800 sq. foot yard. I'm not against laying sod myself, but I have heard it can run around $.30 per sq. foot, and that is 540, and a bit more than I'd like to spend. is the rye grain a good idea, and will this work planting this late? Also, when would be the best time to till it under, and plant the new seed in the spring so as not to let the rye go to seed, and create weeds next year?

Thanks for the help,

Richard

[wannabee]

I live in Michigan and I am a landscape contractor. I just hydroseeded a lawn yesterday and expect it to either germinate under the snow over the winter or just as soon as the temps will allow in the spring, seed it now with a blend of bluegrass and perrennial rye and if it is sandy and shady make sure you add about 30% red fescue, I have never had a failure doing this. Good luck!

[mitch17]

An annual rye would be the crop I think most likely to germinate now so that you had some roots holding the soil in place over the winter.

[rjschwar]

Thanks for the replies. My concern with planting grass now would be that here we don't have continual snow cover, if any at all, it doesn't last more than a few days, so my yard would basically be mud all winter if the grass didn't grow till next spring. The rye grain that I picked up is an annual. I had a couple questions about this:

1) When I till it under, will the decomposing rye grain cereal leave clumps and depressions in the yard?

2) When is the best time to till it under so that it doesn't regrow next year.

3) Will simply mowing and then tilling it be enough to ensure killing it, and that it doesn't regrow?

4) How tall does it grow? Can it be mowed to keep it at a manageable height, or should it just be planted, and then left until it is time to plant grass?

5) If it grows fairly tall, will I run the risk of attracting rats and mice that could migrate to my house?

Thanks,

Richard

[spdavid]

Annual means it only last one season and in fact annual rye will die off once it turns warm next spring.you can cut it during the winter if it grows too tall for your comfort and you can till it whenever it gets near to planting season next spring.

You need to find a local hardware store or garden center with salehelp that has knowledge to tell you when the time is right to plant etc.

Going to a big box and buying seed with what appears to have been no interaction with anyone that knows anything is not the way to go.

[rjschwar]

Thanks, for the reply.

Actually I purchased a couple bags from the local nursery after speaking with someone there who appeared to know what he was talking about, I just wanted to confirm some stuff, because I don't think its a good idea to just take one person's word for it. I like to make sure they actually know what they are talking about. They told me that now would be an okay time to plant. I realize that annuals only last one season, but have been told, and also read that they need to be cut/tilled early enough before they set seeds otherwise there is a chance that they will regrow somewhat the next year. This seems plausible because obviously plants need some way of propagating their species even if the current plant lasts only one season, it seems it would have to have some way to reproduce.

I obviously have no experience with planting a new lawn, as this is my first house, but I'm not stupid. I've already talked to the local nursery, and just wanted to make sure I was going to do the right thing, as I've never heard of using a cover crop outside of farming. That is why I came here. Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Richard

[bob22]

Try calling your local agriculture extension office; they usually can provide more specific info.
King County Extension

[rjschwar]

Thanks, I will try them. I think I am going to go ahead and plant it this weekend, as we have been having some heavy rains/storms and the yard is getting very muddy and getting puddles. Also, I'm worried about it becoming unlevel from water runoff and the puddles. Already a few low spots have developed that I will have to fill before I plant in the spring.

Richard

[movistar]

Hi, I'm new to this forum, but have recently planted two new lawns. I also just graded my backyard, but without building a retaining wall as I've been advised. I'm going to try planting vines were the current slope is and hope it holds it in place.

One of the lawns, I used a top soil by Scott's brand seeding soil, and the their dense shade tall fescue mix. It came out pretty nice, but with a few weeds.

On my front yard I used compost(very stick I think it helps with erosion) as the top dressing instead of the seeding soil, and it came out like a golf couse using the same seed, which I would recommend.

If you plant now it will come up in about a week, and be ready to cut in about three. I believe there is Rye grass is mixed in to give you some quick growth.