The Grass Doctor

Help, my back yard looks like an old mans head - bald and patchy.?

My front yard is full and looks great, its just my backyard. I am looking for a cost effective solution. I would rather not bring in landscapers to resod it as its soo expensive. I have tried to reseed the yard - spread a bunch of kentucky blue grass seeds and then water. No results - although the local birds seem really happy about it. I live in the middle of the Mojave Desert. Any suggestions? 10 points to best cost effective solution.

Public Comments

1. My Ortho Home Gardeners book says to mow the existing lawn as close as possible, rake up the clippings, scratch the soil vigorously with a metal rake, and sow seed at two to three times the recommended amount on the package. Also, I was listening to a show last year and reseeding the lawn was mentioned. It was a year ago so I forget what the implement was called. It may be called a seeder or reseeder. It drives the grass seeds into the ground. It's made specifically to ressed existing lawns. They can be rented, but it doesn't sound like every Tom Dick and Harry is going to have one.
2. use a tiller to just loosen the soil if tou dont have one maybe you can borrow one. if that fails you can rent one. ask a local nursery for what kind of grass seed you need. put straw over your grass seed and just keep moist this will help keep seed in contact with the ground,keep birds from getting to it so easily,and wind from blowing it away.let the grass grow 6 in. if it goes to seed the better for you and keep pets and people OFF until well established if there is a lot of traffic in yard tell your nursery you need a grass that holds up to it it makes a difference. make sure to rake the lawn before you seed.
3. We had the same backyard. Simple and super-cheap method: 1. Use sturdy rake to kick up the dirt 2. Spread your grass seed (by far the most $ of this job) 3. Toss straw or marsh hay around over the area (provides moisture locking for baby seeds) 4. Water well, and keep watering regularly until grass grows
4. I had the exact same problem for years, and finally gave up trying to coax the grass to grow. I dug a 6x6 foot pond all by myself, used rocks I had collected and was given by friends to line around it! I also moved around different perennials and grasses from other parts of my yard to enhance the ambiance. Around the edges and on a path I cleared behind the pond I spread gravel and in some areas wood chips (which, besides the pond filter, were the only expense I had.) Not suggesting the pond which was a personal choice, but the gravel or anything of that nature would perhaps be an inexpensive alternative to grass and if I could do all that by myself, most anyone could! Best of luck..wish I could see the results! : )
5. MASTER GARDENER TO THE RESCUE... Mulch the hell out of it and add a bunch of colorful, low water use, low maintenance xeriscape plants. go to the web and check out all the beautiful xeriscape demonstration gardens. you can turn your back yard into a thing of beauty for less then the cost of maintaining a lawn for a year. not only that, you will save money on water, you'll save yourself a lot of work and it is earth friendly. a few ideas for plants.... fortnight lily Cleveland sage California lilac rosemary English lavender ivy geranium hybrid day lily melaleuca nandina domestica sea lavender California poppy saliva (many colors and types) and that is only the tip of the ice burg. After you check out the demo gardens on the web, contact your local water dist. they will send you a ton of cool xeriscape ideas and tips. turn that bald, patchy head into a thing of real beauty. You'll end up saving time, labor and money. now is the perfect time of the year to start to xeriscape in the desert. you couldn't have planned it better. Go for it, you'll thank me for it later.