Grass for a shady area

Plant when it's cool and not supposed to be rainy. And water gently. here should be directions on the seed bag.

Oh, sorry...I forgot about the relay. Still, it's hard to get good advice for your specific city on an international forum, and the local nurseries do know what works best. In Tulsa, it's fescue for shade, and there are several hybrids that work better than others with our climate. So I know you really need specific information. Also, some grasses prefer bare soil, others prefer to be overseeded on existing turf. Again, you need a local expert. You might try contacting your local county extension gardener on the web.

Thanks, Eva. From my research (here and on the elsewhere) I'm happy with Scotts classic for shade. It's a mix, and specific to this kind of climate.

Cool and not rainy, thanks.

One more gardening question (I know I have a ton of them, sorry) -- the ivy and vinca has grown over the railroad tines and into the "grass" area (quotes 'cause it's pretty sad just now.) Is now a good time of year to cut it back? Any specific suggestions thereof?

In my experience, well-established ivy can be cut back anytime. It grows like a weed. Same with vinca. My vinca looked awful about two weeks ago, but now that we've had a warm spell, it's ultra-green and blooming like crazy...seemed to happen overnight! Your time is coming.

Really? It looks so hopeless now. That's great to know!

I'd recommend leaving the vinca alone for awhile. It will look good before the grass will. Wait til the grass looks like it's ready to make a move before you get too assertive with the vinca.

Grass re-seeding is traditionally done in autumn, as the busiest/most successful root setting time is just before the snow flies. You'll probably get your routine set nicely this year. The grass seed 'recipe' I linked to, is featured on that tv program every September.

I agree with ehBeth. If you cut the vinca right now, you'll cut off all the lovely blossom buds right before they bloom. As soon as it's finished blooming, though, I'd feel free to trim away. It's hard to kill.

Thanks for the info!

I already liked vinca/ periwinkle, but the more I learn about it, the more I like it.

Adore that vinca. Really doing great right now, much better than the ivy. Hope the ivy has its day sometime soon, a lot of it looks pretty sad.

Laid down the grass seed yesterday! Have the blisters to show for it.

First I attacked the whole area with the gardening rake. Man that was brutal. Basically just aerated areas where there was grass (sunk the rake into it straight up-and-down, no angle) and then tore up areas where there was dirt. That took a couple of hours. Lots of rocks! Took out maybe 100 medium-sized rocks (1-4 inches.)

Then laid down some topsoil/ humus that I already had, spread it out with the garden rake, and then raked the whole area with a regular rake to blend it in and spread it out.

Then I made a little spreader out of a cardboard box with a slit I had cut into the bottom, and laid down the actual seed. The spreader worked nicely.

Then I watered and watered and watered.

Then when it dried out later I watered some more.

And now I'm waiting and watching with fingers crossed. I took a "before" picture in case there's a satisfying "after".

I'm definitely getting into this whole yard work thing, enjoying it a lot, figuring things out. Thanks for all your help, everyone!

Remember to re-seed in the autumn. It'll make the next year's grass more durable.

Sounds like you did a great job (and aren't you glad you left the vinca alone for now?)

Re-seed in autumn, check. Hadn't planned on that, thanks.

Oh and that's just what I did yesterday. Previous steps were raking it to get rid of leaves, (10 yard bags worth), and several waves of weeding. That patch had no leaves and no weeds when I started in with the garden rake attack. (About 1000 sq. feet.)

Grass grows best when it is cool and damp - mid autumn into early winter is peak root development time. That's why gardeners who seed in spring and summer have to reseed every year - the grass hasn't had a chance to develop a good root system before the heat of summer.

If you go through that reseeding process from the cityline link I dropped in here somewhere - it is done in autumn, and a good grass root system gets a chance to develop. The results can be amazing. Most garden services/garden centres won't tell you - will cut down on their seed sales, the buggers.

Ah.

Well, will do both this year, and then maybe autumn from here on out.

The "here on out" part is a major part of my gardening vigor, I've found -- thus far every house I've lived in, I've known that I'd be there for a limited time, and so much of gardening is delayed gratification. Work now, payoff later. Puts a bit of a damper on things if you know you won't be around for the payoff.

So really nice to be able to think loooooong term...

Yup on the long-term thing.

When I started planning my little garden here, I had a little 4 year schedule written/drawn out. Other than under-estimating what would happen in the 3rd year for some perennials the front yard worked out almost exactly the way I expected. The back yard is still in progress.


The law of perennials (from some gardening program on the radio - and it's the goldanged truth)

Sleep, Creep, Leap.

leave lots of space around your perennials the first year - and hang tight for the wild leaping third year.

Useful!

Are you composting your leaves?

Incorporating organic matter in the soil will help the soil soak up more water. Your run-off problems could be solved.

I've always composted, haven't started a pile here yet.

Again though it's mostly about water rushing from one place to another in very heavy rains -- if the water is just there, it absorbs quite well. Can send you the pics I sent littlek too if you'd like to get an idea.

I'd like to see the pictures. I'm of a mood to find other people's gardening challenges very restful.

:-)

On their way.