New Construction
Question:
“We just bought a new construction home, now what about the lawn? Do we sod, seed, both? What is our responsibility and what falls on the builder? Why is the backyard bare, while the front is green?”
Answer:
Congratulations. If you are like most folks, you are super excited, and rightly so! Your builder spent tons of time working through all the details with you…fixtures, colors, options, etc. Then, at the very end, they installed your landscaping. This was probably a package included in the purchase loan, and when you asked about sod for the back yard they likely said something to the effect of, ”Oh, we know how much you probably like to work in your yard so we leave the back for you to use your imagination!".
If only it was that simple. First, if you have't closed yet….STOP right now, pick up the phone, and ask your builder to add sod to the whole yard. Maybe you can include the additional cost in the purchase price, but if not, purchase it now anyway! It will cost much more to sod your lawn later. Also, if they tell you, “Your backyard was seeded, just give it some time”, that’s another legitimate reason for panic.
I challenge you to drive around new construction neighborhoods, and look at the BACKyards. Whether it was completed this year or 3 years ago - for the most part you will see one unattractive back yard after another, full of weeds, and bare spots.
How did the Triangle area get to this point...of nice front yards and a hideous splotch of clay and rocks in the back?
Well, a decade or so ago, fescue, a cool season grass that can be installed as sod or easily grown from seed, was the grass of choice for the area. With fescue, the front yard/backyard thing made sense. Sod is expensive, so builders would sod the front. Seed was planted in back, and if it didn’t do well, a modest price to any local landscaper or turf company could get your rear lawn aerated and seeded in the fall. In a month or two, voila! A nice back yard (at least until the next summer).
Why did this change to bermuda?
If you have or have had a fescue lawn, by now you know that fescue looks pretty good fall until late spring. However, as soon as it gets hot fescue takes a beating, and by the next fall you need to seed again whether or not you have sod or seed. Another downfall of fescue was that since sod is so expensive, installing it in the hot summer months was a losing proposition for builders. The sod required immense amounts of water, and chances are, a lot of the sod died anyway. Which meant if the house didn’t sell right away they would have to replace it.
This ushered in the era of bermuda sod, a warm season grass, as the turf of choice for local builders. This grass is much more sturdy and wear tolerant. If watered properly it handles summer installation very well (unlike fescue), and it can be installed even in the winter when the sod is completely dormant. So, this rapidly became the grass of choice for the Triangle.
The downside?
This bermuda sod is a sterile hybrid. This means it does not propagate from seed - only from sod, sprigs, and plugs. Well, "my builder told me he seeded the backyard”. Okay, I hear you. The builder’s landscaper may have seeded your backyard. Unfortunately, it was likely seeded with “common” bermuda. This is what locals call “wire grass”. This seeded bermuda will look nothing like your nice, hybrid bermuda front yard. Yes, if you are fortunate enough to have some of it germinate, it will spread, but it won’t look great. Additionally, if your lawn is like most, the backyard received very little TLC and the ground is hard packed clay full of rocks. Even if by chance your builder’s landscaper used a higher end bermuda seed (still not the same as your nice sod) the chances of getting a nice lawn out of this are pretty bleak! Bermuda seed can only be planted successfully in the hot summer months. This means the rest of the year the seed is useless. Additionally, conditions have to be perfect for bermuda seed…perfect water, perfect sunlight, perfect temps...in other words, good luck with that!
"What can I do now? I’m already in my house, and I have a backyard that looks like a clay pot full of gravel.”
Well, we get it. The advice is probably not what you want to hear. First, talk with your landscaper or turf company. Don't have someone? Please give us a call!
However, in general, your best bet is to bite the bullet and go all in. Don't play around, or you’ll be spending money for years trying to fix this. Get the backyard re-graded, add good, sandy soil, till it in, and install sod. This won’t be cheap. It’s a lot of work, and when done right will cost a pretty penny. My recommendation - unless you have heavy equipment and know how to use it, don’t try this by yourself! You’ll likely have to call someone in to finish the job and will lose money in the process.
An inexpensive option?
Forget the bermuda, and just split your lawn! Cool season fescue in the rear, and warm season sod in the front. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen bermuda seeding fail. It’s just not worth it. A split yard will cost more for your turf care…instead of a 7 treatment program, you’ll be looking at 10 or 11 treatments to manage the different turf types. BUT, if you can handle part of the year with a dormant brown front and growing green back, you’ll save money and a headache in the long run!
Email info@tlgturfcare.com for further questions and information.