Hello, I'm a homeowner in Boulder County, just south of Longmont. We are seeking to upgrade our lawn to a better quality turf. We have 3.5 acres with ...
Knowledgebase
Lawn Turf Recommendations #679653
Asked January 30, 2021, 12:58 PM EST
Hello, I'm a homeowner in Boulder County, just south of Longmont. We are seeking to upgrade our lawn to a better quality turf. We have 3.5 acres with about 1 acre of good turf, the rest is more wild "field grass." The front law of of the good turf is decent, the back lawn is poor and I think the soil may need to be tilled and then sod applied. We are also interested in planting wild grasses , wild flowers in some of the far reaching areas of the property where there is just wild field grass. I'm seeking to gain some basic knowledge of the right way to embark on this project, rather than simply calling serveral unknown landscape contractors and not really knowing their understanding of proper turf treatment. Any advise you can provide, access to resources would be greatly appreciated. I am more than happy to provide pictures or speak with someone on the phone. Thank you. James Potach, <personal data hidden>, cell:<personal data hidden>
Boulder CountyColorado
Expert Response
Hello-
Can you tell me more about the back lawn. Does it receive sun or shade; is there irrigation; does it receive a lot of foot traffic; are you interested in the traditional green lawn or something different?
Thanks for your reply. I've attached some photos below. These are photos before we purchased the home. The back of the house faces due West. Our "yard" is 3.5 acres and extends well beyond the fence to the West, North and South.
The areas you see that are green are irrigated with an irrigation system fed by well water, the home is fed by city water. The backyard area you see in green has deteriorated to a scrub or grass that is a nub, almost a dust bowl and the irrigation system is fine. We DO have a lot of rabbits in our yard - not sure if the problem has anything to do with them, although they graze in the front yard too and it's holding up fine. It doesn't get a lot of foot traffic, although it would get more if it were a nice thick green grass.
We are interested in a traditional lawn in back, good thick grass and eventually will want to extend it out further west where the "field grass" is located. Beyond the fence we to the West we are interested in planning wild flowers for some interest. Eventually, we plan to landscape after we remodel the home, but for now we just want to restore the yard (the part you see in photos that is green) to a healthy green turf.
I can provide more close up photos of the back yard where the turf is really "scrubby" if that will help you.
Thank you for the pictures. What a beautiful property! I have included a lot of information for you in the links below that will help you chose the right turf for your area. It sounds like a tall fescue may be the best choice but you can review all of the options. I don't think the bunnies are causing the issues in the backyard. It sounds like you have some weedy grasses that have moved in there and it wouldn't surprise me if the soil is pretty lean and compacted. When you have your new turf installed, make sure the contractor does a thorough job of turning and amending the soil before laying the turf.
In terms of wildflowers, I have included some information on that as well.Ideally it is best to spread the seeds in the fall. You could try putting some seeds down immediately while we still have some cold weather but you will be more successful doing it in the fall. It can take a few years to really get the wildflowers going so be patient with the process and follow the recommendations in the linked fact sheet.
Thank you so much for this information. You mentioned “ contractor” for turf installation. Do you suggest I go directly to a turf grower that provides installation or a landscape contractor? And any good resource you might suggest for capable companies to provide the services ?
Unfortunately we can't recommend specific companies. Whether it is a turf supplier or a landscape company, I would request a quote with a detailed outline of how they plan to prep and ammend the soil so that you can compare the quotes and make sure you are getting the services that you want.
