Lawn question, maybe you can help.

[Paper Roses]

For the past few years, my lawn has been a mess. It was so bad that I hired a landscaper last year to fill some low spots w/soil, clean the dead grass and put down weed and crabgrass killer. He came back in a few weeks to seed. The grass never grew. I watered as scheduled but all I grew was weeds and crabgrass. I think he got the soil from our local 'free dirt' section of the dump, contaminated w/weeds.
I tried to call him but never heard back, Then a letter. No reply.
I tried many times to contact him but no luck. Gave up. Spent my summer pulling weeds and clumps of crabgrass.

This year I will try again to kill the crabgrass and weeds. I have to do this myself since I have no extra money to pay for a service. This will be a project for this old timer.

Can anyone suggest an effective 'weed and crabgrass' killer? I don't know what to buy. This will be my first effort like this. My late husband took care of the lawn. It is now my job and I am without a clue as to what to do.

I am in Zone 6, Massachusetts, the yard is about 2000 square feet.

Any suggestions will be great.

[MADem]

1. I am going to kick your thread so you can maybe get help.

I hire a guy who comes 2x per month and mows. Every now and again I throw some patch and water on a bald spot (that kind of patch that holds water) but for the most part I don't give a crap about my lawn. I don't even water the thing!

The mowing guy is cheap because he does the house next door so he just keeps mowing on his giant riding mower, followed by a guy with a strimmer who does the little edgy bits. I pay about twenty bucks a mow, but my lawn ain't big either and they're in and out in five or ten minutes.

[Warpy]

2. Ugh, lawns. They ever come back into fashion around here, I'm getting Astroturf.

Lawn and garden shops often have some very knowledgeable people working there. They can direct you to a seed mix that will tend to choke out the crabgrass, although I don't know of anything that kills quack grass, that stuff is Satanic. You can broadcast the seed by hand and fill in any spots you missed (or the birds ate) when it sprouts in a couple of weeks.

[pscot]

3. 2000 sq feet of cardboard and 6 yards of beauty bark

You'll never have to mow it again. Happy gardening.

[Mosby]

4. I use something similar to this

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Vigoro-32-oz-Ready-to-Spray-Concentrate-Weed-and-Feed-HG-52511-2/100352378

It hooks to your hose and you spray it on, usually takes a couple of treatments and does not kill your grass. Some like this one also include fertilizer.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

5. We have areas in these parts that arr what they call pan rock. Hard clay like -good for moss to grow

The top soil deteriorates and grass won't grow only moss.

solution is 5 to seven 7 inches of good top soil compacted ,lime spread and than seeded. Just adding dirt over the top is not good enough.
That is why you do not hear back from the garden guy.

Now than if you want to resolve the issue, call your local garden nursery and ask for a consult on that problem in your specific locality, they have the products to resolve the issue including top soil if it is required.

A solution might be throw down some good top soil and lay sod. Again products sold at yer local garden nursery.Call them ,consults are free.

[mopinko]

6. in your shoes

w a property i just bought. i had to have a giant old tree taken down, and had them leave a big pile of chips. spread it on the lawn. not hard to get a load dumped for free, tho. most tree services are happy to oblige.
i will till it in, either in the fall, or maybe next spring. this is a good amendment to the sandy, crummy soil around here.

i will put some big planters out so it wont be so bleak. i am sure a few neighbors are appalled, but most will remember the neglect that the place endured for the last decade or so.

[LaydeeBug]

7. The problem might be that your soil is too compacted...maybe overseed this season?

I would consider overseeding with some clover to increase the nitrates in your soil and help soften things up a little bit.

I wish I lived closer so I could help more.

[we can do it]

8. Why insist on grass? There are many other nice things you could do with your yard?

[Paper Roses]

9. Wish I could. I live in a 200 year old New England house.

Doing much of anything other than grass would not look right here. I have a tiny front yard, fair side yard and small back yard. This area does not lend itself to plantings other than shrubs and plants surrounding the perimeter of the house. The grass is the prime cover for most of the yard. With our strange spring, the work is not yet done. Waiting for some rain in order to fertilize the grass and to kill whatever weeds and crabgrass sprouts. These past two years have been very strange in terms of growing anything.

I have to depend on family help for the yard work and that also complicates this job. Schedule problems.

[roody]

10. Pull up the weeds and throw good seed in their place, a clover grass mix.