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Our current lawn is in rough shape, and has quite a few peaks and dips in it; we are looking to have it leveled out, and re-sodded.

What's the best way to go about this? Till the current lawn, rake weeds from soil, add topsoil and re-sod? Is there a general price per square foot for topsoil and sodding? We will likely get a few quotes, but I'm trying to figure out the rough cost before calling around.

I am not and don't plan to be a landscaper. A small dosser and a load or two of top soil will work wonders.

One of the Red Necks out your way probably has gear in his yard.

Sandy

My biggest concern with just adding topsoil to the existing lawn is that weeds will work their way up through the new sod.

Jimmy wrote:My biggest concern with just adding topsoil to the existing lawn is that weeds will work their way up through the new sod.

That'll happen. But, if you do keep a healthy lawn, and make a regular habit of pulling weeds (I would do a five gallon bucket each evening, for two years) eventually the grass will take over and crowd out the weeds. Then, weed maintenance is minimal each year.

Grass is a weed too.

If your on a well watering and chemicals may be an issue too.

Sandy

Fuck the lawn. Grow veggies. Seriously. Investing time into grass over years will come to you as being the dumbest thing you have ever done.

GAM wrote:Grass is a weed too.

If your on a well watering and chemicals may be an issue too.

Sandy

I don't water, but do fertilize - once healthy, grass will take care of itself. The big thing to realise is that it's not instant - it takes time. Mine took two to three years to get into half decent shape.

I somewhat agree with X. The lawn is a good place to kick the kids to when they get crazy.

Mine has lots of weeds but is green and somewhat soft. I work some at the dandy lions but unless everyone for a mile around is doing the same its a waste of time.

Sandy

I can see where you're coming from, Rob, but you still need to have a yard. We are planning on setting up a garden, but would like to have a nicely landscaped yard - somewhere to hang out, have a bonfire, throw a football around, etc., it's kind of hard to do that in a garden . Plus, landscaping is one of the best ROI items you can do when it comes to the resale value of your property.

I've always let whatever wants to grow, grow. Just keep mowing it and it will look good and the mowing will control the weeds.

I would get a load of topsoil delivered and barrow it in to the low spots and rake it over and spread seed on top of that.

I never believed in fertilizing a lawn. Makes the grass grow like crazy and you have to keep mowing it ...unless of course you like spending all your free time in the summer mowing. Same thing with watering ...just encourages the damn grass to grow and need cutting. It will survive a period of drought and you get a nice break from mowing.

Sandy, weeds are "unwanted plants in human-controlled settings." Or as my father used to say ...a weed is a plant growing in the wrong place.

Thus, if you decide that you want to have dandelions and daises in your lawn, then you have instantly removed the weeds, without even doing any weeding.

Jimmy wrote: Plus, landscaping is one of the best ROI items you can do when it comes to the resale value of your property.

Really? I've heard the exact opposite. You rarely get anything back out of the money you put in to landscaping, especially if it's hiring people, a major overhaul, and/or pricey installations (walls, big patio stuff, stonework, etc.) If it's something you can inexpensively do yourself, then sure, your statement may hold. And I'm not saying to leave everything alone and you'd still maintain high property value, I'm just saying I wouldn't put it at the top of my priority list. It's obviously a factor to some degree in resale -- mostly curb appeal/front yard to draw people in, but rarely will someone say "OMG, I need this place because of the landscaping!" or "Wow, the price is totally justified by that excellent landscaping!" Time and time again, it's kitchens and bathrooms, and overall feel of the place where you get the most return. Plus, energy saving items are a big resale-helper as well. Any upgrades to windows, doors, insulation, heating systems, etc. will have a decent return (plus help you along the way).

With all that said, I do hope you can sort out getting the lawn you want.

-Keely.

Jimmy wrote:I can see where you're coming from, Rob, but you still need to have a yard. We are planning on setting up a garden, but would like to have a nicely landscaped yard - somewhere to hang out, have a bonfire, throw a football around, etc., it's kind of hard to do that in a garden . Plus, landscaping is one of the best ROI items you can do when it comes to the resale value of your property.

Football, yeah, tough in a garden. But you can hang out and have fires in neat settings devoid of grass. I'd keep only what you absolutely need, not one inch more. The latest trends are actually getting away from grass.

Really it's about balance. A shitty yard is going to detract from an amazing house, and a shitty house will detract from an amazing yard. I don't think you need an amazing yard - just something that doesn't look terrible

The only 2 things we have left on our "to-do" list is landscape and replace the kitchen cabinets. We replaced all interior doors, light fixtures, electrical outlets, light switches, baseboard, baseboard radiators, trim, floor, stairs, painted, and stained the siding. We have new exterior doors on order, and there were already good vinyl windows in the house when we purchased it. I could understand holding off on landscaping if other essential upgrades were required, but think landscaping provides a good ROI if the other items are in check.

I did this to my old house. Top soil seemed to work fine. Weeds will grow back but you can use weed killer to get rid of it. Make sure u get good quality top soil that contains no rocks. I bought mind from Conor's in Dartmouth.


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In that case, I can see working on your yard. Just when you said landscaping improves ROI - that stand alone sentence doesn't hold without everything else you've done (good job by the way, you guys work quickly!). But where you're at now, yeah, I can see why you're looking at making a change. Sorry I don't have any good advice on landscapers.


Keely.

I definitely agree with Jimmy regarding ROI on a nicely landscaped property. It creates a lot of curb appeal when selling. It doesn't need to be anything extravagant either though.

Jimmy, when I purchased my house 4 years ago the lawn absolutely sucked! I've got an extremely large lawn so it took a fair bit of work. Every spring I applied lime and fertilizer. I also aerated it a couple of times as well. It took a couple of years, but it's gotten MUCH better with a LOT less weeds.

When we first bought our house less than 4 years ago.




And last summer.

Worked in landscaping for a while (every summer 2000-2008), mostly doing contract work for cemeteries. Good topsoil + hydroseeding or sod works really fast, normal seeding takes a summer or so to become very good. As soon as you see weeds spot treat with a herbicide (if you are on a well or don't want to mess with chemicals, 5 gal white vinegar, 1 cup salt, and few drops of dish soap works fine, just be careful with it as it will kill all plants).

Also, don't believe what fertilizer companies say, 5 applications of fertilizer is way to much, 1 is plentiful for a healthy lawn, we found best results by applying in spring/early summer (late May/early June) .

^ Yeah, I agree Jon. I only fertilize twice a year......spring and fall.

Big difference in the lawn, Shane - looks great.

Our lawn is similar, with some rougher spots where they had a boat laying, and a trampoline. My biggest concern with the current lawn is the unevenness. There are quite a few peaks and valleys spread around our yard, and I'd like them evened out and some green grass growing on top of them.

But Rob, back to your point. I've looked into a few vegetable garden yards and think we could make something like that work for our back yard. I'd be happy with something like this:
or this
Nothing as extravagant as those, but something with lots of vegetation and a fire pit integrated in the center of it all.

Really like that last style, boxes and vertical. Fwiw, that's what I want out front.

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redoubt wrote:In that case, I can see working on your yard. Just when you said landscaping improves ROI - that stand alone sentence doesn't hold without everything else you've done (good job by the way, you guys work quickly!). But where you're at now, yeah, I can see why you're looking at making a change. Sorry I don't have any good advice on landscapers.


Keely.

Our property was a bunch of big rocks and boulders, and it was never filled in properly, we have a few sink holes and such that need to get taken care! Some are along the edges of the driveway the lawn. Which tells us that although the house was very well built (just not maintained well), when they got to the yard part, they almost...gave up? One of the bushes in the yard is still in it's plastic pot! They dug the hole, and dropped the pot right in! Although the other same bush isn't in a pot?

LOL we did all the work in the 3 weeks between when we got the keys to when we moved in. And, did the work ourselves (ok, Jimmy and his dad did most of it lol). Quick, although, chaotic! LOL

Better than a rowing machine.

Sandy

Here are a few before and after/in progress - because they are always fun

Every bit of the work was done by ourselves, and with the help of family/friends!

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Huge difference! Nice work!

-Keely.

Nice work!