*** Quoting Dave Gostl from a message to All ***
DG> Hello ALL! I'm new to this echo and have problems planting a lawn in 
DG> New Orleans.  Has anyone planted a lawn in southeastern USA that 
DG> actually grew?????
Yes!  Both here in Norfolk, and in more 'southerly' areas like yours.  Trick 
is several things depending on your lawn's current condition.
If you literally have *no* lawn, like is seen sometimes in a new housing 
complex.  Easiest way is to by sod flats.  Caution:  Buy a grass type that 
grows well in your area and is relatively carefree for your area.  Kentucky 
Bluegrass for example is probably a poor choice for your area.  You need not 
cover every single inch.  Get some good topsoil and fill in the gaps with it 
and the grass will eventually cover it all over.  Doesnt hurt to let a batch 
of eathworms loose in it (use a local fishing tackle/bait shop for best 
price).
Established lawn let go bad:  Get a good grade of seed for your area.  Ask at 
the local stores (several of them).  It may be more expensive, but then 
again, it may NOT be.  Beware the store trying to seel you only the 20$ per 
lb bags.  The 1.99$ bags are also a poor choice unless just fleshing out 
existing grass which is already mixed in type.  Now use a decent grade of 
fertilizer for your area type needs.  I like the granule type and spread it 
by hand (wearing gloves) every month or so.  I just toss handfuls about 
lightly being careful to not overdo it (classic error as too much will burn 
the grass).  Then I water it gently in the evening.
Established lawn, mostly good but a bad area or two: Get seed that looks like 
the rest of the lawn, sprinkle this and a bit of fertilizer in the patches 
where the help is needed.  (This is my lawn today but I started with the 
'established let go bad' 1.5 years ago).
Mistakes commonly made:  Cutting grass TOO short.  You may like the looks of 
really short grass, but it isnt likely to be healthy.  Cut to the 
medium/higher settings of your mower.  Rake clippings only loosely as they 
are what replace the nutrients in the soil.  Another mistake is watering in 
the morning/afternoon.  The water never gets to do any good that way.  Never 
fertilize unless you are ready to water right away.  The lawn fertilizers 
that come with the hose attachement work very well but be cautious of the 
type that also kill 'weeds' as some of your best flowers and shrubs may not 
do well with that .
Last note:  If you have any food bearing trees or garden things, or your 
close neighbors do, please be kind.  Your lawn preparations such as 
fertilizer or bug killers (weed killers too) will leach into the groundwater 
and be taken up by those other plants.  Trees that bear nuts or fruits are 
all part of this.
                                       xxcarol
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