Can you go into some detail about how you did that? We can sit here and dole out suggestions all day long, but it never goes exactly like we suggest. What did you do and what did you not do from the suggestions you got here?

What do you think was the most important thing you did for your success?

Also what varieties of grasses did you use?

I started killing my lawn with roundup mid August. I borrowed a zero turn and chopped the lawn as close as possible. After the seed was down my plan was to water 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the evening. I planted the seed with slit seeder on sept. 15th. I wanted to go a week earlier but it didn't workout that way. After one week I applied starter fertilizer for the ryegrass, then the 3rd week I applied more starter for the KBG. From that point on I could notice a difference daily in the growth of my lawn. The water schedule didn't workout as planned, we had a very abnormal fall here in NW ohio. We had a ton of rain and the temp. was consistantly in the 60s-70s through Nov. I was extremely lucky with the weather and getting a few extra weeks of optimal growing weather. I was worried of there being to much rain, but it sure did help me with my water bill.

My plan for fertilization are a combination of two different kinds. I apply 5 bags of milorganite 4 times a year combined with lesco 12-0-0 liquid every 6 weeks. I know some people don't like milorganite but it sure did make my lawn look good before and can't wait to see what it will make this new lawn look like. The pics above, the only fertilizer applied was the starter and the last pic the lawn was only 6-7 weeks old. I am a big fan of using iron and notice a big difference when using it for green up and haven't used it in this lawn yet.

Everything I've done were suggestions from this sight from reading everyone's post. Some people do things different but I picked what I thought was best. I think the most important things for my success was the amount of seed I used...I applied double than what was suggested, and having a sprinkler system. I'm the only one in my neighborhood that has one and it sure does look nice when everyone elses grass is dormant in the summer and I'm still mowing mine and it's looking good. Can't wait to see what I can get this new yard to look like in the next couple years.

I fully agree with the Milorganite. I'm not as hot on the Lesco liquid. At least you don't plan to use the liquid exclusively, twice a year, like some folks. Liquid ferts must be applied frequently to be effective. If this is going to be a serious hobby for you, you can apply Milorganite, or other organics, every week if you can afford it. The difference you would expect from that is a much longer growing season into the winter and earlier green up in the spring. In fact depending on where you are, it might not go dormant.

The theory behind organic lawn care could fill a long pamphlet or short book. The practicalities can only fill a few pages. If you are looking for a good book or the bigger picture of organics, look for Teaming with Microbes, by Jeff Lowenfels. He's written the first good book on organics since the 1940s when Rodale was writing. Rodale was not privy to modern DNA research. Lowenfels is. I have not read his book but I was on a forum with him about 5 years ago. He is a true guru.