How to grow a lawn if there is an existing wild grass lawn?

Q. I have a lawn that has been growing wild with just wild grass and random weeds i guess. Now I want to put down a new lawn but I want to start from seed instead of sod. The ground is really hard so tilling it might be impossible I would like to know how to go about making a new lawn. I know i have to kill the old grass but I'm not sure if I need to make a new bed for the grass to grow and add new soil to the entire lawn. Please help me. Your help is appreciated.

A. Planting Grass Seed: Step-by-Step Instructions:
http://www.tigerfdn.com/planting-grass-seed-step-by-step-instructions-part-1

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What garden plants benefit from leftover coffee & grounds?

Q. We drink a lot of fresh ground coffee everyday & have lots of leftover coffee and the grounds. We compost them usually but I've heard somewhere leftover coffee is beneficial to certain plants. Any ideas? Thanks, Julie

A. BY adding coffee grounds/coffee to the soil, you are adding some acid. Tomatoes, azaleas, geraniums, mandevillas, bougainvilleas, etc for outside plants. There are also a lot of inside plants that love coffee...spider (AKA airplane) plant, the plant that some folks call a philodendron, etc...

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Are the patio gazebos for sale sturdy to stand up to leaving out all year round?

Q. I am looking to buy an outside shade structure. They have them at big lots and Lowes for around $200- $300. They have netting to keep the bugs out and provide SHADE! But are they sturdy? Just want to make sure I won't have to disassemble every time the wind blows. Any feedback is helpful. Thanks!

A. Depends on what brand you get. I just put two of them together for a client and I wouldn't trust them to stand up to a good strong wind. Even if they were anchored down I think they'd get torn apart by the wind if the canopy were on them. Without the canopy there is little wind resistance so they might stay together then.

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What garden crops grow well in shaded areas?

Q. I have a shaded area next to my garage that is suitable for garden but it is shaded most of the day. What might grow here?

A. If it's shaded most of the day but gets a little bit of the morning sun peas will do good. I got a real good crop with bush peas under those conditions.

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What garden pond plants are best for zone 5?

Q. I have about a 350 gallon pond with a waterfall. The pond is lined.

What plants can be used with a lined pond given there is no soil at bottom to plant anything in?

A. In a lined pond, put your plants in a pot or leave them in the pot they came in. Make sure the top of the pot is about 1" below the water surface. Tropicals like lotus or tropical water lilies will not do well where you live, but there are many aquatic plants that will. Hardy water lilies will be wonderful and make it through your wicked winter. Here's an article I wrote about more hardy pond plants:
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1444302/flowering_hardy_pond_plants.html?cat=32

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I have a wrought iron patio set with 4 chairs & a table.There is rust on our patio cement,how do I prevent it?

Q. I understand after time rust will form on the patio cement underneath because it is wrought iron, but what can I do to prevent rust forming on our cement? I don't like the idea of artificial grass, etc....
the patio itself isn't rusted, but the issue is this. after time when it rains the rain drips off the wrought iron causing rust on my cement. how di prevent this.

A. First, you need to sand the rust off the metal. Then you need to paint the bottom of the table and chairs with an outdoor paint made for metal.

Home Depot or Lowe's may haves small pieces of plastic that attach to the legs of the chairs and table for a more long term solution.

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lawn mower problems turns off when I start cutting the grass?

Q. I have a Toro lawn mower(self propelled). it starts and will stay on. but once i start cutting the grass it'll turn off. but if i go slowly when cutting the grass it'll go for a while.

A. There is a kill wire that may be shorting

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