Nursery yard sale starts Mon Aug 24 if you want a third stop. Skip seeding past the irrigation line.
Overseed thin spots
Clear purslane / knotweed from bare dirt.
Scratch the top ¼″. Drop seed so it kisses soil.
Light compost or peat dusting on clay helps.
Keep damp 10–14 days (short morning + evening on new seed only).
Then back to city watch: ≤2 days/week, no watering 10am–6pm.
Priority patches
Rules while it grows
Mow ~3–3.5″Never take more than a third of the blade. Tall turf shades weeds out.
Leave Dutch white clover aloneIt’s in Tina’s mix on purpose. Friend under a water watch.
No cool-season seed past the water lineBack half stays dryland until zones extend with John.
Don’t use broadleaf weed killer now — it kills clover and can burn young hydroseed. No pre-emergent until spring 2027 after fall seed is established.
Trees
Existing canopyPlanned Accolade (wet)Planned bur oak (dry)Irrigation cutoffIrrigatedDryland
Pickup: Sat Sep 12 · 8am–2pm · Hoffman Mill · both from Rooted in Community ($25 each).
Existing — frontNE med deciduous by the drive · NW small–med deciduous near the W neighbor line.
Existing — backyard canopyLarge deciduous S of patio (main shade) · med–large E canopy by shed / garden / play · W dryland little spruce + 1–2 fence evergreens/shrubs · S fence young row (~3–5).
Bur oak — west dryland edge (planned)West / left on the N-up plot by the little spruce, on/near the irrigation cutoff / dryland. Original oak spot. Needs hose or temp drip 2–3 years.
Accolade elm — irrigated west-central (planned)Open irrigated lawn north of the cutoff, mid backyard west-central. ≥25–30′ from bur oak; clear of shed, Vego pad, patio doors, large existing canopy, and east playground. Prefer wet side for establishment.
Plant day
Pickup: Sat Sep 12 · 8am–2pm · Hoffman Mill, 1380 Hoffman Mill Rd. Accolade elm + bur oak · ~1–1½″ caliper · ~5–8 ft · container or small root ball (not 2″ nursery B&B).
Jobsite kit
shovel
tarp
mulch
hose / soaker or 5-gal
stakes + ties optional
Placement: Bur oak = west by spruce dry edge. Accolade = irrigated mid west-central, ≥25–30′ from oak, clear of shed / play / Vego.
1
Haul
pickup to yard
Tarp the bed · keep root ball cool · plant today if you can.
2
Dig
wide · not deep
Find the flare first · peel off excess soil on top of the ball.
3
Roots
free circling
Circling roots girdle later · open them before backfill.
4
Set
flare + backfill
Don’t bury the flare · backfill native · soak to collapse air pockets.
5
Mulch
ring · no volcano
Keep mulch off the trunk — volcanoes invite rot and rodents.
6
Water
deep soak
Front Range: slow deep soaks. Oak on dry edge needs hose / temp drip longer.
•
Stake
optional
Only if wind / wobbly. Loose figure-8 ties — don’t girdle.