I believe that the buffalo grass requires 6-8 hrs of full sun so if you have any trees in your yard it may not be the right product
Yet another Texas pool build!
- Thread starter ummgood
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According one of my colleagues, a plant ecologist and registered landscape architect, Buffalograss will do fine with 4-6 hours sun. So yes if you have a large shade tree like a ficus or something that's lets no light in, it is not the right choice.
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Well, new sod requires a lot of water; otherwise, we never had a high water bill. If ours persists we will need to check for leaks in our newly repaired sprinkler system.
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I wish we could have grass that used less water but it is what it is. My cheaper bill was the bill after the sod was installed. The high bill was during the installation of the deck. At this point I think the bill was so high because they either had my hose running all day during the deck building process or they used a ton of water to compact the sand or both.
We can't really have buffalo grass because in our neighborhood on all sides of our house is ST. Augustine. It overtakes everything. The only way to switch would be for me and all the neighbors to get rid of it all at once. I don't think that is happening. Plus my lot is 16000 sq. ft. and my house/driveways/pool/etc... might cover 4.5k of that so the other 11k sq ft would be a ton to replace.
We got tons of rain here. Pray for the people who are flooded right now. The good news is we really got to test the drainage of the lot. The pool is mostly done at this point. There is some small lawn repairs and they have to fix the shut off that is in the grass (more on that later). I have finish scheduled for Nov. 16th after my surgery. I really think at this point it will happen on that date because there is very little left. The last major item besides the plaster is the hand rail. They have bids I just don't know when that is going to happen. It shouldn't hold up plaster but it will hold up final inspection.
Anyway the valve in the yard was behind a rock and was sticking up 18" and I told them it needed to be in the grass in a box. They came and lowered it but it still wasn't in a box and I explained that my yard guy would hit it and they needed to fix it. Then come Thursday the first time my yard guy came after they put in the valve and guess what? He hit the darn valve and water was spraying everywhere. He didn't know where the shut-off was for the irrigation so he turned off the whole house. I called my girlfriend and told him he needed to get out here right now and turn off the irrigation and turn the house back on. He came right out. I guess the owner of the company was with him to check things out. I don't know why. Anyway I wish I was here so I could have yelled at him for a bit but I was stuck at work. Anyway hopefully we are at the final stretch.
We can't really have buffalo grass because in our neighborhood on all sides of our house is ST. Augustine. It overtakes everything. The only way to switch would be for me and all the neighbors to get rid of it all at once. I don't think that is happening. Plus my lot is 16000 sq. ft. and my house/driveways/pool/etc... might cover 4.5k of that so the other 11k sq ft would be a ton to replace.
We got tons of rain here. Pray for the people who are flooded right now. The good news is we really got to test the drainage of the lot. The pool is mostly done at this point. There is some small lawn repairs and they have to fix the shut off that is in the grass (more on that later). I have finish scheduled for Nov. 16th after my surgery. I really think at this point it will happen on that date because there is very little left. The last major item besides the plaster is the hand rail. They have bids I just don't know when that is going to happen. It shouldn't hold up plaster but it will hold up final inspection.
Anyway the valve in the yard was behind a rock and was sticking up 18" and I told them it needed to be in the grass in a box. They came and lowered it but it still wasn't in a box and I explained that my yard guy would hit it and they needed to fix it. Then come Thursday the first time my yard guy came after they put in the valve and guess what? He hit the darn valve and water was spraying everywhere. He didn't know where the shut-off was for the irrigation so he turned off the whole house. I called my girlfriend and told him he needed to get out here right now and turn off the irrigation and turn the house back on. He came right out. I guess the owner of the company was with him to check things out. I don't know why. Anyway I wish I was here so I could have yelled at him for a bit but I was stuck at work. Anyway hopefully we are at the final stretch.
Your pool lawn guy! I bet he was VERY surprised when water started going everywhere!
If they had done what you said...................Just think how much money your PB would have saved on your build IF things were done right the first time!
Are all of the coping pieces fixed?
Why is the rail just now getting bid and ordered now????? They sure do not plan ahead at all
Kim
If they had done what you said...................Just think how much money your PB would have saved on your build IF things were done right the first time!
Are all of the coping pieces fixed?
Why is the rail just now getting bid and ordered now????? They sure do not plan ahead at all
Kim
Zoysia takes a lot less water, but it's very expensive and can still get overtaken by St. Augustine (which has to be one of the ugliest grasses ever formed).
Easy way to get rid of the St. Augustine, it's called glyphosate!!
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Simply a personal preference. I grew up in the NE. I prefer smaller blades and softer grass. In Texas I much prefer Bermuda over St. Augustine.
St. Augustine is also,prone to a large number of diseases and issues which don't have a cure and leave your grass splotchy, off-color, or even worse, dead.
Again, this is simply my opinion.
St. Augustine is also,prone to a large number of diseases and issues which don't have a cure and leave your grass splotchy, off-color, or even worse, dead.
Again, this is simply my opinion.
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Well an update...
I had a nice trip to Europe. I got to see the Berlin wall which means quite a bit to me as my mom is full German and my great grandparents took the risk to move to the US from Germany during the war. The wall is something I'll never forget when it fell down so I feel blessed that I got to see it. I got home from my trip a week ago Sunday.
This past Wednesday I had my foot surgery. I am trying to recover here and haven't seen the pool much. They just did all the cleaning and cutting down of the pipes to prepare for plaster Wed and Thurs. The bubbler is still not centered like it should be on the tanning ledge so they are supposed to be out today to fix that. Plus my sprinklers are still turned off from the leak from the lawn mower a couple weeks ago. Thankfully we have been getting rain off and on enough to keep the grass alive. I hopefully am still scheduled for plaster tomorrow. We'll see...
My girlfriend gave his two weeks notice on Friday He really has been the only reason I have been not going completely crazy on the company. I hope he can get everything done before he leaves.
I had a nice trip to Europe. I got to see the Berlin wall which means quite a bit to me as my mom is full German and my great grandparents took the risk to move to the US from Germany during the war. The wall is something I'll never forget when it fell down so I feel blessed that I got to see it. I got home from my trip a week ago Sunday.
This past Wednesday I had my foot surgery. I am trying to recover here and haven't seen the pool much. They just did all the cleaning and cutting down of the pipes to prepare for plaster Wed and Thurs. The bubbler is still not centered like it should be on the tanning ledge so they are supposed to be out today to fix that. Plus my sprinklers are still turned off from the leak from the lawn mower a couple weeks ago. Thankfully we have been getting rain off and on enough to keep the grass alive. I hopefully am still scheduled for plaster tomorrow. We'll see...
My girlfriend gave his two weeks notice on Friday
He really has been the only reason I have been not going completely crazy on the company. I hope he can get everything done before he leaves.
I hope so too! If they plaster tomorrow, things should be good.
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The only major cost item left after the plaster is the hand rail. That seems held up for some reason...
What a wonderful trip for you! What a memory you will have forever from the trip.
Maybe your foot will be right after this surgery. I am sure you cannot tell yet if it is "fixed".
OH NO on your girlfriend giving notice! Does he have another job lined up? Does HE think your pool will be done before he leaves? (although they have not done anything in a timely manner yet so........)
Kim
Maybe your foot will be right after this surgery. I am sure you cannot tell yet if it is "fixed".
OH NO on your girlfriend giving notice! Does he have another job lined up? Does HE think your pool will be done before he leaves? (although they have not done anything in a timely manner yet so........)
Kim
Ummgood!!!! It's so great to see you back on the forum!!!! We've missed you!
Follow the doctor's orders. You don't want to go through this again. Ditto on Kim's questions.
What a wonderful and memorable trip for you! I'm glad you had something nice like that this fall and right before the surgery. Send us a picture from your trip when you get a chance.
I am so sorry your girlfriend is leaving. He must be as frustrated as you - I feel badly for him. I'm sure he will do his best to get your things done before he leaves. He seems to be that kind of guy. As you said, thank goodness he came along when he did.
Ok..... so now we're all keeping fingers crossed for the plaster as scheduled. The weather front with rain that's due late tomorrow and early Tuesday (for us in Houston) may get in your way, but it should be good the rest of the week.
You've certainly had more on your plate than most people. Keep hanging in there - you're doing great!!!
Fingers crossed!
Suz.
Follow the doctor's orders. You don't want to go through this again. Ditto on Kim's questions.
What a wonderful and memorable trip for you! I'm glad you had something nice like that this fall and right before the surgery. Send us a picture from your trip when you get a chance.
I am so sorry your girlfriend is leaving. He must be as frustrated as you - I feel badly for him. I'm sure he will do his best to get your things done before he leaves. He seems to be that kind of guy. As you said, thank goodness he came along when he did.
Ok..... so now we're all keeping fingers crossed for the plaster as scheduled. The weather front with rain that's due late tomorrow and early Tuesday (for us in Houston) may get in your way, but it should be good the rest of the week.
You've certainly had more on your plate than most people. Keep hanging in there - you're doing great!!!
Fingers crossed!
Suz.
Update my girlfriend and his brother were out and fixed the bubbler so it would be ready for tomorrow. I feel really bad for those guys they are trying to make sure I am happy but it is so obvious the company is totally being a pain. Not sure why but today they couldn't get supplies at Home Depot because of an account issue.
Still on for plaster tomorrow hopefully and then some cleanup and railing and then we are done. I will upload photos from my trip to photobucket. I travel quite a bit so I don't tend to take a lot of photos anymore. I have tons from London so I didn't take too many this time. Oh and right outside my hotel in London they were filming the next Bourne movie with Matt Damon. I didn't see him but there was a ton of people out and about for that.
Still on for plaster tomorrow hopefully and then some cleanup and railing and then we are done. I will upload photos from my trip to photobucket. I travel quite a bit so I don't tend to take a lot of photos anymore. I have tons from London so I didn't take too many this time. Oh and right outside my hotel in London they were filming the next Bourne movie with Matt Damon. I didn't see him but there was a ton of people out and about for that.
It sounds like the company is already shutting them out of the accounts since they turned in their notice. That is so wrong when they are still working and doing the right thing to help finish up pools and help keep the company's name from being too tarnished in the end.
Your girlfriend and his brother are stand up guys. So nice to see someone that still cares.
Ummm do you travel for work? What do you do for a living?
Kim
Your girlfriend and his brother are stand up guys. So nice to see someone that still cares.
Ummm do you travel for work? What do you do for a living?
Kim
Suz, isn't Umm a pilot? I know Flounder is, but I thought someone else was also a commercial pilot. But, I'm probably just confused! LOL!
Marla,
No, Umm isn't a pilot. Appelbe (in the Klein/Spring area) is a pilot. Maybe he's the one you're thinking of. Right now, I can't think of anyone else.
Suz.
No, Umm isn't a pilot. Appelbe (in the Klein/Spring area) is a pilot. Maybe he's the one you're thinking of. Right now, I can't think of anyone else.
Suz.
Suz, of course! That's my old brain at work! I knew there was someone else besides Flounder (who we haven't heard from in a long time). Thanks for reminding me it is Appelbe.