Need help starting a lawn for the first time

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crc898ca Barstow, CA Sep 25, 2008

This is my first time attempting to grow grass. I live in Barstow, CA in the desert. I done brought the grass seed and starter fertilizer. I am also planning to buy some soil but different people tells me to get mulch or straw instead. I am also planning to get an fake owl to keep the gopher and ground squirrels out and birds. I also done pull all the weeds out and got the rocks out. Last two weeks I been wetting the dirt and then running the hound dog garden cultivator through it. I got a friend that have a hand spreader that I can borrow.

Now I need step by step direction what to do next to have a better chance to grow grass. Also any natural remedies to keep the rodents and pests away. I also was wondering if it is too late to put the grass seed down. I hope it's not to late to put the grass seed down for a successful lawn.

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ecrane3 Dublin, CA(Zone 9a) Sep 25, 2008

My climate's different than yours, but I suspect fall is still the best time to plant things in your area--that way whatever little rain you get in the winter will be there to help things get going and the weather won't be blazing hot. I think the people who were telling you to get soil and the ones who were telling you to get mulch/straw were thinking of different parts of the process. Unless your soil is already really rich, it probably is good to get some good quality topsoil. Then once you sow the grass seed, you put straw over the top to help keep the birds from eating all your seeds. Here's some info from UC Davis on how to start a lawn--make sure you also click on the link in the article about soil preparation since that's probably the most important part of the process. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/TOOLS/TURF/SITEPREP/seed.html

As far as natural remedies--I have tried pretty much everything under the sun to get rid of gophers, and the only thing that works for me is calling in an exterminator (trapping them or baiting them myself would work too, I just didn't want to do that). New ones always find their way in, but so far I've been able to keep them under control with 3-4 visits from the exterminator each year. I have not tried a fake owl, but I've tried all the other remedies like castor oil, garlic/onions down their holes, vibrating devices that are supposed to chase them away, planting castor beans, etc and none of them did anything at all so I'd be surprised if a fake owl was effective . Here's some info again from UC Davis on controlling gophers http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7433.html

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