Creating a New Lawn With Sod
The most important considerations in establishing a new lawn are:
drainage, quality of the soil, preparation of the seedbed, your
choice of seed, fertility and moisture.
If you choose to plant your new lawn in the spring, begin just
as soon as the solid is dry enough to work, preferably mid-April
to mid-May. This will give your new grass time to get well established
before the hot dry weather sets in.
Fall is also an excellent time to start your lawn, from mid-August
to the end of September. Your seedbed is less likely to dry out
at this time of year, and the grass should be well established before
winter.
Choosing and planting the seed
It pays to select good quality seed mix. Select based on sun and
shade conditions in your yard.
Don’t skimp when seeding. Apply liberally with a mechanical
spreader, although small areas may be hand seeded. Try to broadcast
the seed as evenly as possible, applying half the seed travelling
back and forth and then crossing your first pattern at 90 degrees
with the balance of the seed.
Rake lightly, then use a lawn roller to ensure that the seed is
in firm contact with the soil. Water slowly and evenly until the
top 2.5 cm of the soil is thoroughly moist and keep it moist until
grass seedlings are well established. Avoid creating puddles.
Tending the new lawn
Cutting a lawn frequently stimulates the growth of leaves and a
healthy root system. When new grass has grown to a height of 6 to
8 cm it may be cut, but not shorter than 4 or 5 cm. Do not let the
grass grow so long that it will not stand upright. Ensure that your
mower blade is sharp to avoid unnecessary bruising of the new plants.
Using a mulching mower eliminates the need to remove grass clippings,
is beneficial to the lawn and is environmentally friendly.
Feeding a new lawn
If you start your lawn in the spring it will require feeding again
in early summer and again in fall. For this first feeding use half
the rate recommended on the fertilizer package. Use the full recommended
rate for the fall feeding.
What about weeds?
If you have been careful to put down good topsoil, weeds during
early growth should not be a big problem. Some careful hand weeding
is best for the few weeds that may appear during the first 4 to
6 weeks.
After a new lawn has been cut at least twice you may apply a chemical
weed control if necessary, but be sure to follow the directions
on the package very carefully.
Over-seeding can improve your lawn
Over-seeding will continue to improve your lawn over time if you
follow these simple rules:
1. Keep your lawn free of weeds either by hand weeding or with a
chemical weed control.
2. Fertilize your lawn at least three times a year, following directions
on the package.
3. Each spring or fall, after cutting grass very short, rake thoroughly
and if necessary, add a little top dressing. (‘Pro-Mix’
is excellent for this purpose)
4. If the soil appears hard and compacted, try an aerating roller,
then top dress and apply seed.
5. Try and keep your lawn cut to about 5 cm in height and avoid
leaving cuttings longer than 12 to 15 mm on the lawn after mowing.
NEXT: Mowing Your Lawn
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