Full Lawn Renovation Start to Finish for Beginners (Like Me)

I did my first full lawn renovation this fall. Follow along as I walk through the steps I took and lessons learned.
Here are some of the helpful supplies I used:
Sun Joe Scarifier amzn.to/3v5M6o4
Lawn Level Tool amzn.to/3t6Yns7
Scott’s Starter Fertilizer amzn.to/3thS7Ob
Eraser Non-selective Herbicide amzn.to/3NobeNt
Dye amzn.to/3tiDJ8j
Surfactant amzn.to/3GDwqv5

[@porterhodges727]

This is the video the people need. Not over done. Looks great.

[@i_try_diy]

Really appreciate that and so glad to hear it 🙏 Thanks for watching

[@mrdobalina3451]

If using corded tools start closest to the power source and work away so the cable moves with you which is easier than going the other way like you did.

[@i_try_diy]

Makes sense thanks for the pointer 👍

[@SteveE293]

Great job and that view of the mountains is just awesome

[@i_try_diy]

Thanks so much, and I agree... love these mountains.

[@zachhazeldine4985]

Now that’s what I call grass. Great upload. Can’t wait for spring to roll around!!!

[@i_try_diy]

Appreciate that!

[@afbshaw]

What a lawn!! I wish I saw this video when I re-did my lawn.

[@i_try_diy]

Thank you sir!

[@DMUSA536]

I cut my back lawn short then dethatched, over seeded and it came in great! I didn’t kill it. This was in August. It took a while for it to recover, but wow! Just need to do some leveling in the spring. Tip: keep a journal of what you do.

[@i_try_diy]

That's great! I think that's what I'm going to do with my front. It's not in as bad of shape as my back was so don't want to kill it off. Appreciate you watching!

[@danielgomes4754]

Awesome job. Well explained in detail. I am in a warm season zone with St Augustine lawn, so there are no seeds just re-sod.

[@i_try_diy]

Really appreciate the kind words!

[@TurfCulture]

Nice work! Looks like it turned out great.

[@i_try_diy]

Thank you! We're really happy with the results

[@romanovskie3381]

great job! I did a back yard renovation last fall that included a retaining wall so that brought the level of our yard way up. I rented a sod cutter and ripped out the old nasty yard and then once the wall was finished and back filled with fresh deep soil I rented a roller to compact and smooth the dirt out. I then over seeded and covered with peat moss and it came in great. I used sunny mix perennial ryegrass which was locally sourced from the willamette valley where I live in Oregon.

[@i_try_diy]

That's awesome! Sounds like a ton of work! Sometimes it's just easier to rip and replace rather than constantly battling it though. I certainly have no regrets with my decision. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@afullms]

Great step by step breakdown 👍

[@i_try_diy]

🙏

[@cameronandersonsr]

Looks great, try using Gravity L liquid Humic. Apply 4 oz per 1 gallon of water and watch the magic.

[@i_try_diy]

Thank you! I appreciate the tip!

[@Creeder991]

Great results, thanks for sharing. I love tall fescue though some consider it weedy. The view in the back though looks stunning. Utah mountains?

[@i_try_diy]

Thanks for the comment! We are loving the tall fescue, perfect for our backyard. And yes you nailed it! Utah mountains

[@raymond8929]

So Awesome that I subscribed 🎉

[@i_try_diy]

Really appreciate it!🙏

[@tadmarshall2739]

Very nice video, thanks! I have a similar situation of mixed grass types, some thriving and some dying in the heat, but the worst part is how uneven the soil surface is. The grass looks "level" because of how the mower averages out the dips, but it's very unpleasant to walk on. Every step rotates your ankle in a new and unexpected direction. I hate the idea of glypho-ing the whole thing, but maybe that's my only choice. Seems like I have no way to level the soil while the grass is there. I'm also not keen on doing much work in 95 degree heat!

[@i_try_diy]

Yeah it's a difficult conundrum! When it's that uneven it's hard to just top dress and level without starting completely over

[@i_try_diy]

Thanks for watching!

[@kajavaid]

Great job

[@i_try_diy]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@ArtVandelay-z6h]

I've been wanting to do this but it's so intimidating... Looks really good though nice work

[@i_try_diy]

I was also super intimidated which is why it took me a few years to pull the trigger. Definitely a time and energy commitment, but I'm SO glad I finally did it and now have a solid lawn to work from! Let me know if you end up doing it or have specific questions

[@marcusharvey2296]

How long after spraying can you lay the seed?

[@i_try_diy]

I'd wait at least 10 days. I think I waited 2 weeks.

[@mabybee]

For raking the dead grass, did you just use a typical leaf rake or did you use something more specialized? Also, with the top soil and peat moss, did you get a special order from a local store or did you just buy bags of material at a box store?

[@i_try_diy]

I just used a regular rake for collecting the dead grass, it was pretty brutal but effective. You could also use a mower with a bag, as long as you don't care about your blade getting dull from all the dirt etc. For the soil, I just picked up a truck load from a local nursery and spread it out with a wheelbarrow and leveling tool. Depending on how much soil you need/want to add, you could just grab bags from the store and use those!

[@patrickcarter1547]

Green grass with the snow capped mountains is epic! Are you in Utah?

[@i_try_diy]

Yes sir I am. It's still completely green even now! Hoping it stays that way this summer without having to water nonstop

[@bryonsview]

great video!!

[@i_try_diy]

Thanks so much!

[@DaChapoGuzman]

about how long after the second round of herbicide and thatch did you lay grass seed?

[@i_try_diy]

I seeded about 12 days after the second round of herbicide. Anything after about 10 days you should be good to go

[@logandouglas1466]

Looks great. What made you go with the fescue blend?

[@i_try_diy]

Biggest thing was drought and heat tolerance, fast establishment, and just seems like it'll be lower maintenance than a KBG or rye. Thanks for watching!

[@marsbeads]

What are you taking out of the spreader @ 4:12 Thx

[@i_try_diy]

Good question! Some of the peat moss material clumps up and isn't fine enough to fit through the spreader holes, so I'm just removing and discarding the chunks and twigs that are left in there.

[@marsbeads]

@@i_try_diy got it. 👍 I’ll be renovating one section of my front lawn in a couple of days. First time tackling a project like this 🫰

[@i_try_diy]

Good luck you got this! Take your time, and make sure you don't let it dry out once the seed is down 👍

[@i_try_diy]

Let me know if any specific questions come up

[@marsbeads]

@@i_try_diy Thanks!

[@stoonley4]

You don’t want to put a preemergent down with new seed

[@i_try_diy]

In general that's correct. Most pre emergents will inhibit seed germination. The active ingredient in the Scott's starter fert is mesotrione, which is safe to apply at time of seeding. Same active ingredient as the popular Tenacity product.

[@eimulex]

In my country all those 20$ accesories are like 100-150$ :(

[@i_try_diy]

Bummer! Good news is most of them are really "optional", it might just be more work without them

[@cameronturnbow1119]

Great video! Did you do anything to prep the new grass for winter?

[@i_try_diy]

Appreciate it! I just put down the trusty IFA Step 4 "fall & winter lawn food" which is a 22-2-12

[@Hike_and_Yap]

Could’ve just used tenacity and over-seeding and it would have ben much easier

[@i_try_diy]

Viable option if you've got decent grass just with weeds or patchiness. Mine was extremely uneven and bumpy too and that process would've taken years of thinning, overseeding, and leveling to achieve consistency. I wanted to get a drought tolerant grass type in place too so it doesn't get wrecked every summer.

[@ulfatunnaher]

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[@i_try_diy]

Thanks

[@ocsplc]

Don’t cow to such a comment dripping in condescension. The salutation alone indicates that unjustified arrogance is coming and on a rail….

[@i_try_diy]

Haha yes very true

[@ulfatunnaher]

@@i_try_diy I can help you with video viewing and video editing if you want