If you’re worried about expertise, lawncare is pretty simple:
Kill weeds, fertilize the grass. Mow. Water when it’s dry.
If you’re worried about the labor involved, hire professionals.
Its not that simple for all of us. Thats good for maintaining but improving takes more work! My lawn has fungus or gnats so more attention is needed.
https://preview.redd.it/kcrthu9cfezc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e812d6ae42cecc839b6f42b25c311864c43d4bc
Bermuda spreads fast so it should fill in the bare spots on its own if you follow a basic warm season grass lawncare plan. I'd do a soil test to see what it needs so you can pick the right fertilizer first.
Your lawn really isn’t that bad to be honest. Just get the weeds under control. Then it just comes down to fertilize, mow (frequently), water, and heat. Do not overseed the Bermuda. It will fill in on its own.
Currently dealing with similar issues also in Raleigh. Newly purchased house. Godspeed. But like others have said. Soil test, pre and post emergent, mow, aerate, seed, fertilize, and all at the correct times. Plenty of guides out there!
A little east of you but in the same get real area. If it’s Bermuda then I’d mow and bag everything, buy some selective herbicides that will all the weeds(make sure it’s safe for Bermuda) and then apply some good Bermuda seed. Do you have sod or did your contractor put down Bermuda seed?
Here’s a guide: https://www.thelawnforum.com/threads/bermuda-bible-the-new-testament.1651/
Mowing twice a week & watering once a week will go a long way. You can also put down milorganite which is pretty much dummy proof, meaning it won’t burn your lawn. I’d for sure put down a 10-10-10 first and then in June down milorganite.
You could hire a service but they won’t do anything that you couldn’t quickly figure out on your own. Bermuda spreads stupid fast and your lawn isn’t all too bad so you could really have that lawn looking nice in a month or two if you put a little time in. Hit it with some fertilizer, mow regularly (at least weekly), and water deeply when it needs it. Figure out what types of weeds you have and get an herbicide that will work for it. Spectracide has a weed killer that’s safe for lawns that will take care of most weeds. Avoid a weed and feed product because they just have mediocre results unless you time them perfectly. If you do a little research (YouTube channels Lawn Care Nut and Budget Lawns are great info) and spend an hour or two a week on the lawn you will surely have great results.
You’ve got this.
A few hours of research on here or any lawn forum and you’ll be able to come up with a much better gamelan than any pro would have the time to do for you. Then you’ll be able to decide what you’re willing to do yourself, and what you may want to hire out - even if you hire everything out, it’s useful to know what to ask for and to understand if you’re getting what you need.
I know it seems daunting at first, but I’d recommend making a calendar in excel or on paper, then research one topic at a time (start with fertilizing) and add it to your calendar - what product, what time(s) of year, how much.
You’ll start to notice there are only a handful of things you really need to do each year, and you won’t have to devote the same mental energy next time. Then it will start to get fun when you can focus on the small tweaks!
The beginning of my second spring/summer I was mowing my ugly, uneven lawn when an old man stopped by and gave me a crash course very specific to our area. (He lived across the street and a couple houses down). He’d stop by and check on it or come over and BS when he saw I was out working.
He left a binder for the people who bought their house when they moved to be closer to kids and grandkids and the lawn still looks ALMOST as good as ours.
TLDR; find the nicest lawn on your block and ask that old man what he’s doing. He’s probably got a plan he’s been working on for a decade plus.
That pic you shared, looks like weeds poking through your new sod. It will 100% destroy the entire lawn if you don’t act fast. Get out there with a Fiskars weed puller and make sure you get as much of the roots out as possible. Then spray a selective post emergent spray that is safe on Bermuda.
After that, water twice weekly, for long durations. And mow at least once a week.
Pretty much all you’ll need to do, provided you have a good mower and keep your blades sharp.
Based on your picture, it looks like the Bermuda sod was laid not too long ago. It may look rough now, but over time, the grass will spread out and thicken up with proper fertilization, mowing and watering. My lawn is only 2 years old and my wife also questioned me while it was yellow and patchy the first year, Now, its one of the nicer lawn on the block. I learned everything from this subreddit and youtube. It really comes down to time and money. If you have the money and don't have the time to learn or work the yard, go the professional route. If you have time to learn and manage your own applications, I'd say keep trying to improve your yard. Its a nice hobby and 2500 sq ft is a very reasonable size to maintain.
https://preview.redd.it/ca9cfswwpezc1.jpeg?width=1210&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f2bab1726a2f36085a2426b911158f3e5891edd
I’ve done enough research I know what to do, but I just bought my first house and I’m working full time and I’m in college full time and frankly didn’t have the time needed to address everything. I hired a lawn service for this year. I’ll be finished with my degree in the winter and next season will be doing everything myself.
I’m in the same situation. Bought my house, yard looked pretty good. All I did was mow/water. 3 months later my entire yard was dollar weeds. I spent hours on YouTube and hundreds of dolllars trying to fix. I got frustrated, hired a professional for $100/month and my yard is already coming back to life. It’s been about 6 months total and I’m finally becoming proud lol
There are tons of Youtube videos and online sites on how to maintain your lawn. If you have the money and lack interest in doing your lawn, hire someone.
I was debating on hiring a professional last spring. Instead, I spent the season reading here and thelawncareforum.com, doing everything myself, and now I have my neighbors and asking me what service I use, and telling me I have the best looking lawn in the neighborhood (and I'm still planning on killing everything off this year and starting over with new seed).
You have all the knowledge right here that any professional has. The only reason to hire someone is if you really don't want to spend the time doing everything yourself, which is totally fine...this hobby isn't for everyone.
Just put down a weed and feed fertilizer in the spring, make sure the grass gets enough water in the summer and you might use a summer fertilizer , and then overseed the yard in the fall.
There are also countless YouTube videos with tips and tricks to get an above average looking lawn.
First time yard owners having no idea about lawn care? My advice is to hire someone for at least a year to stabilize. In the meantime read a lot, do s lot of research about how to take care of the lawn. Then you can decide if you want to do it or persist with the lawn care company. In the sods life in first year there is lot more scope to screw up vs down the line if you are fresh.
Having said that it does not hurt to put down soil amendments like Jonathan Green’s love your soil or something similar. This you can do wont hurt nothing.
If you’re worried about expertise, lawncare is pretty simple: Kill weeds, fertilize the grass. Mow. Water when it’s dry. If you’re worried about the labor involved, hire professionals.
Water longer but less frequently. That’s the single best piece of advice I’ve ever been given.
Its not that simple for all of us. Thats good for maintaining but improving takes more work! My lawn has fungus or gnats so more attention is needed. https://preview.redd.it/kcrthu9cfezc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6e812d6ae42cecc839b6f42b25c311864c43d4bc
Pros were once beginners. Read to be informed, do some things.. learn from mistakes and improve.
Bermuda spreads fast so it should fill in the bare spots on its own if you follow a basic warm season grass lawncare plan. I'd do a soil test to see what it needs so you can pick the right fertilizer first.
Your lawn really isn’t that bad to be honest. Just get the weeds under control. Then it just comes down to fertilize, mow (frequently), water, and heat. Do not overseed the Bermuda. It will fill in on its own.
Location?
Raleigh, NC
Currently dealing with similar issues also in Raleigh. Newly purchased house. Godspeed. But like others have said. Soil test, pre and post emergent, mow, aerate, seed, fertilize, and all at the correct times. Plenty of guides out there!
A little east of you but in the same get real area. If it’s Bermuda then I’d mow and bag everything, buy some selective herbicides that will all the weeds(make sure it’s safe for Bermuda) and then apply some good Bermuda seed. Do you have sod or did your contractor put down Bermuda seed?
Here’s a guide: https://www.thelawnforum.com/threads/bermuda-bible-the-new-testament.1651/ Mowing twice a week & watering once a week will go a long way. You can also put down milorganite which is pretty much dummy proof, meaning it won’t burn your lawn. I’d for sure put down a 10-10-10 first and then in June down milorganite.
Pro are just for the labor if you don't want to do it. They won't make it a nice lawn you have to do that yourself
You could hire a service but they won’t do anything that you couldn’t quickly figure out on your own. Bermuda spreads stupid fast and your lawn isn’t all too bad so you could really have that lawn looking nice in a month or two if you put a little time in. Hit it with some fertilizer, mow regularly (at least weekly), and water deeply when it needs it. Figure out what types of weeds you have and get an herbicide that will work for it. Spectracide has a weed killer that’s safe for lawns that will take care of most weeds. Avoid a weed and feed product because they just have mediocre results unless you time them perfectly. If you do a little research (YouTube channels Lawn Care Nut and Budget Lawns are great info) and spend an hour or two a week on the lawn you will surely have great results.
You’ve got this. A few hours of research on here or any lawn forum and you’ll be able to come up with a much better gamelan than any pro would have the time to do for you. Then you’ll be able to decide what you’re willing to do yourself, and what you may want to hire out - even if you hire everything out, it’s useful to know what to ask for and to understand if you’re getting what you need. I know it seems daunting at first, but I’d recommend making a calendar in excel or on paper, then research one topic at a time (start with fertilizing) and add it to your calendar - what product, what time(s) of year, how much. You’ll start to notice there are only a handful of things you really need to do each year, and you won’t have to devote the same mental energy next time. Then it will start to get fun when you can focus on the small tweaks!
The beginning of my second spring/summer I was mowing my ugly, uneven lawn when an old man stopped by and gave me a crash course very specific to our area. (He lived across the street and a couple houses down). He’d stop by and check on it or come over and BS when he saw I was out working. He left a binder for the people who bought their house when they moved to be closer to kids and grandkids and the lawn still looks ALMOST as good as ours. TLDR; find the nicest lawn on your block and ask that old man what he’s doing. He’s probably got a plan he’s been working on for a decade plus.
That pic you shared, looks like weeds poking through your new sod. It will 100% destroy the entire lawn if you don’t act fast. Get out there with a Fiskars weed puller and make sure you get as much of the roots out as possible. Then spray a selective post emergent spray that is safe on Bermuda. After that, water twice weekly, for long durations. And mow at least once a week. Pretty much all you’ll need to do, provided you have a good mower and keep your blades sharp.
Lurk here for one season and become a lawn pro yourself.
Based on your picture, it looks like the Bermuda sod was laid not too long ago. It may look rough now, but over time, the grass will spread out and thicken up with proper fertilization, mowing and watering. My lawn is only 2 years old and my wife also questioned me while it was yellow and patchy the first year, Now, its one of the nicer lawn on the block. I learned everything from this subreddit and youtube. It really comes down to time and money. If you have the money and don't have the time to learn or work the yard, go the professional route. If you have time to learn and manage your own applications, I'd say keep trying to improve your yard. Its a nice hobby and 2500 sq ft is a very reasonable size to maintain. https://preview.redd.it/ca9cfswwpezc1.jpeg?width=1210&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f2bab1726a2f36085a2426b911158f3e5891edd
I’ve done enough research I know what to do, but I just bought my first house and I’m working full time and I’m in college full time and frankly didn’t have the time needed to address everything. I hired a lawn service for this year. I’ll be finished with my degree in the winter and next season will be doing everything myself.
I’m in the same situation. Bought my house, yard looked pretty good. All I did was mow/water. 3 months later my entire yard was dollar weeds. I spent hours on YouTube and hundreds of dolllars trying to fix. I got frustrated, hired a professional for $100/month and my yard is already coming back to life. It’s been about 6 months total and I’m finally becoming proud lol
There are tons of Youtube videos and online sites on how to maintain your lawn. If you have the money and lack interest in doing your lawn, hire someone.
I was debating on hiring a professional last spring. Instead, I spent the season reading here and thelawncareforum.com, doing everything myself, and now I have my neighbors and asking me what service I use, and telling me I have the best looking lawn in the neighborhood (and I'm still planning on killing everything off this year and starting over with new seed). You have all the knowledge right here that any professional has. The only reason to hire someone is if you really don't want to spend the time doing everything yourself, which is totally fine...this hobby isn't for everyone.
Just put down a weed and feed fertilizer in the spring, make sure the grass gets enough water in the summer and you might use a summer fertilizer , and then overseed the yard in the fall. There are also countless YouTube videos with tips and tricks to get an above average looking lawn.
First time yard owners having no idea about lawn care? My advice is to hire someone for at least a year to stabilize. In the meantime read a lot, do s lot of research about how to take care of the lawn. Then you can decide if you want to do it or persist with the lawn care company. In the sods life in first year there is lot more scope to screw up vs down the line if you are fresh. Having said that it does not hurt to put down soil amendments like Jonathan Green’s love your soil or something similar. This you can do wont hurt nothing.