Re-Sodding and Removing Crabgrass

[armycot]

I am in the middle of a landscape project in CA. I have the option of either re-sodding my small front lawn, or re-seeding portions of it. The issue is I got some crabgrass infestation some years ago, and would like to get rid of it.

I believe removing via chemical means may be difficult. If I choose to re-sod (more work up front, but hopefully will solve the problem for sure), how much topsoil do I need to replace to remove the seeds? I don't want to be excavating to China.

Thanks.

[MJ CORMIER]

I will try to answer this, but my experince relates to my little corner of the world, Atlantic Canada where are growing season is 7 months of the year, normally 2 to 3 inches of soil is plenty for seeding and 1 inch for sodding, crab grass can be a bugger to deal with due to root length but all you can do is yank and tug until you have desired results, wether you seed or sod plenty of water is required, a good fertilizer once lawn sets up and you should know the type of seed or sod your applying, because you will want to apply seed each year, healthy grass will actually choke out unwanted weeds, also keep an eye on ph levels you my need to apply lime pellets depending on those levels.
Well I hope this helps some and maybe 1 of the other members could toss a thought or two.
Is there any chance you can send a little warm weather this way? Friday is the 1st day of small mouth bass fishing here, forcast RAIN WINDY temps 50 to 55 deg's not the norm for us here, out by about 10 to 15 deg's.
Good Luck let us know how things go.
michael

[suemarkp]

Crab grass should be easy to kill if you're killing all the grass. Something like roundup kills it all, and will allow things to grow again in a week or two. So you could just spray the whole yard, wait two weeks and till it up (or at least rake it to loosen the soil or add new top soil), and then re-sod.

If you go with seed, then you'll have to keep on the crab grass by either spot killing it (leaving brown dead spots in the yard) or pulling it out. No matter what you do, I think the crab grass will come back over time.

[armycot]

MJ

Wish I could help with the cold weather. It is raining and cool here right now, but I guess this is summer for where you are!!

Looks like I should probably go the Roundup route, though the comment that it will come back over time is disappointing. I think if I try the re-seeding and fertilizing route each year I can prevent the return. I was hoping for a one time solution, but I guess it doesn't exist.

[MJ CORMIER]

Well it's not offially summer till june 21st however the sun has come out it's about 68degs my company work is done, house chores completed, bass boat fueled, buddies are chomping on the bit, a couple of cool ones, little fishing, some not so intense card games, then check out the NHL play offs.

No Iam sorry to say there is no 1 time fix for a healthy lawn, they are alot of work by times, & and I think suemakrp has the easiest solution, the only benifit is, "you can pat your self on the back for a job well DONE."

But remember this, " the good Lord made it so we can't pat ourself on the back, OR kick ourself in the *** to easily"

LOL Mike