From D9 to Lawn

[randomq]

What's the best way to get from D9 ripping and rolling to a 1/4 acre low maintenance lawn?

And later when I want to plant citrus/avocado/banana/lychee, will I need to dig big holes for them, or just plant them in the lawn?

Thanks.

[shave_ice]

I would plant the fruit trees right away, before the lawn. It will take awhile to get fruit, but grass fills in quickly. You should think about edible landscaping/ground covers too. Either instead of grass, or in addition to the grass. That way you don't have to mow and you get food.

[Malapuaao]

1. clear, then cut rip lines at maximum depth (about 4-5 feet)
2. crush rip, then fill the lines back in flat.
3. unless you go with a hydroseeder on soil, use grass plugs of the flat bladed orchard grass at least one plug every 100sf...right on the black rock, this kind of grass will grow on it.
4. re dig up the holes in the rip line with tractor.
5. order soil from sanfords or Bryson, ask for black cinder with mac nut husks and mix it up with manure. Order calcium carbonite and your organic fertilizers then plant the trees.

aloha

[SoCal_to_Hawaii]

Just my two cents - you may want to rethink a lawn. More vegetation means more maintenance, more bugs, plus grass holds then evaporates moisture making your property seem more humid. I've kept my lot cinder (not as pretty, but...) and planted only edibles (well away from the house).

[VancouverIslander]

Even the red cinder on my driveway has picked up seeds blown in and is now like a lawn.

Just call me Mike

[SoCal_to_Hawaii]

"Even the red cinder on my driveway has picked up seeds blown in and is now like a lawn."

Understood - the jungle wants her land back! Some selective spritzing with herbicide now and then has so far worked for me.

[leilanidude]

What is wrong with a more natural look? Isn't that what you like about Hawaii anyway?

[Guest]

The natural look is a bit overrated with the recent additions of fire ants, coqui frogs, semi- slugs, rats, pigs, and now dead or dying ohia for trees.

Rip the 1\4 acre clear and and level it if possible, very hard if its solid blue rock. Then order a load or two of 6 " minus cinder from Sanford's large trucks to help fill in your low areas. Then Buy 3-4 loads of 1" minus Black cinder from sanfords to cover your area with 1-6 inches. Some kind of fert should be laid down a week or so before your grass seed. Then Buy about 20 bails of peat moss to help cover your grass seed and hold in a little moisture. You shouldn't count on the rain, so have a back up plan on how to keep your grass seed wet for two weeks. A couple of popular grass seeds right now in the area are centipede and zoysia. The zoysia would cost you about $500 more for your lot size, but it has its advantages.
Have fun harvesting blue rock, watering, and watching your grass grow, good luck. If you have excess or waste rock left from the rip you can try craigslists( people are always looking for fill rock) rock wall garden beds can be nice too. Sounds fun!