Question
Hello there...  I have a project underway - I'm breaking up and removing a very large concrete pad that is behind our house.  I want to establish lawn where the pad is now.  The area is fairly large, about 25 feet x 35 feet.  Problem is, that by the time I have removed the pad with a tractor, get fill dirt/topsoil and have it all graded, it'll be a month from now, about mid November.  I wonder how I can get something growing at that time of year with the cool days and even cooler nights?  I don't want to leave the bare soil for the remainder of the fall and all winter because it'll become a muddy mess and will erode (slight slope).  Any ideas what types of grass(es) I may be able to use that will take under the circumstances?  Prime lawn establishment time has passed here in VA, so I wonder what to do now?  Any advice appreciated!  Thanks - Mason

Answer
NEVER leave open ground unplanted.  If it doesn't erode, the Soil will become a happy new home for every homeless Weed on the planet.

You may be looking at some badly compacted soil if you are running heavy equipment over wet ground.  Every visit with a tractor or even too many feet presses out air and fills in spaces that will have to be put back if you are going to grow good, healthy Grass in that plot.

Best advice: I would get a lot of Alfalfa seed and grow it all over the bare Soil.  Alfalfa is a cool-season perennial legume that goes dormant in the winter.  It grows quickly this time of year as long as you have moisture and a bit of heat.  It should germinate a minimum of 6 weeks before you expect the first freezing temps to hit.  Non-germinated seed will begin growing the next Spring, but you don't want these to face competition with Weeds; they'll do better if they establish in the Fall.  Odds are, your topsoil was delivered with plenty of Weeds just waiting to move in.

Alfalfa's worth it.

What's so great about Alfalfa?

If you mow down, or till in, a stand of Alfalfa 3 to 4 weeks before you put down Grass Seed, you will have soil with incredible organic content, excellent soil structure and superior microbial populations.  Alfalfa roots are so effective for this it is scary.  They pour Nitrogen into the soil, and they penetrate the hardest, most compacted Clay without breaking a sweat or disturbing the Soil structure.

I know you can't wait to get started on this new Lawn.  You're looking for a shortcut.  The shortest cut here is to pick up some Sod and slap it down.  It will solve your erosion worries, and the Sod roots will have just enough time to make contact with your trucked in topsoil, going dormant on schedule and returning next Spring like it was born there.  The Soil however will probably still need work.  And the Sod will be complaining loud and clear about it.

Your call.  I always recommend a Soil test as well.  But you probably have your hands full.  If you'd like to supply your Zipcode, I'll get you the contact details for your local Cooperative Extension. Virginia has an excellent service.  Your tax dollars at work.  Thanks for writing -- your thoughts invited.