Establishing a Lawn

1. Establishing a Lawn

2. Establishing a Lawn • Lawns are a major part of the home landscape

3. Reasons for Establishment • Ad beauty to the landscape • Used as play areas for sports or for relaxation • Provide cover to help control soil erosion

4. Soil and Grading • First consideration is the present condition of the soil

5. Questions to ask: • Has the builder graded off all of the topsoil? • Is the slope too steep to establish a lawn and mow it safely? • Is drainage adequate?

6. Grade • Builder will establish the rough grade • Usually slopes away from foundation • Six inches of top soil should be spread over the surface

7. Grade • Topsoil is tilled to loosen and break up clods

8. Slope • General slope for the lawn after the topsoil is spread should not exceed 15% • Slopes greater than 15% are unsafe to mow

9. Slope • If a slope of greater than 15% cannot Be avoided, the surface should be planted with plants that do not require mowing such as ground covers.

10. Drainage • Good drainage ensures a balance between air and water in the soil. • This balance encourages proper root growth

11. Establishing proper drainage • Install drainage tile about three feet below the surface of the soil to drain the subsoil

12. Establishing proper drainage • Make use of the slope of the land to drain surface water away

13. Soil Preparation • Good loam soil is best for most grasses • If loam is not available, increase the organic matter (o.m.)

14. Soil Preparation • Add well rotted sawdust, weed free manure, or peat moss at a rate of 6 cubic feet per 1000 square feet of land

15. Soil Preparation • Work O.M. well into the soil with a rototiller, rake and remove stones • Seedbed should be firm and smooth but not have a powder fine surface texture

16. Fertilizer • Soil should be tested to determine the correct amount of fertilizer to apply • Complete fertilizer with a high P content is recommended for establishing lawns.

17. Fertilizer • Starter fertilizers are manufactured with high P content • Some soil test reports may indicate a need for lime

18. Lime • Changes the pH of the soil by reducing the acidity • Can be applied in several forms

19. Lime • Calcium Carbonate • Calcium Oxide • Calcium Hydroxide

20. pH • If pH of the soil indicates a alkaline soil, sulfur or iron sulfate may be used to lower the pH

21. pH • Ideal pH range for lawns is between 6.0 and 6.5

22. Spreading Fertilizer • Spread in two different directions, half of the recommended amount in one direction and the remainder perpendicular to the first application

23. Spreading Fertilizer • This ensures uniform distribution of the fertilizer • May be applied with a spreader or in a liquid form with a garden hose attachment

24. Starting a Lawn • Two ways • Seeding • Vegetative

25. Vegetative • Sprigging • Sodding • Plugging • Strip planting

26. Selecting Seed • All lawn grass seed is required by law to have the following information on the label • Name – the package must give the correct name of all seeds in the package

27. Selecting seed • Information on where this type of seed grown best • Purity – gives the make up of the seed by percent of each type

28. Selecting Seed • Percent germination – this identifies how well the seed will sprout and grow • Other crop – percentage of other crop seeds, wheat, barley, orchard grass, and timothy are undesirable

29. Selecting Seed • Inert matter – material that will not grow • Seed pieces, sand or dirt • Inert ingredients add weight to the package and little else

30. Selecting Seed • Weed Seed – not desirable in lawn mixtures • Many weed seeds are difficult to remove because of their size

31. Selecting Seed • Law requires that the manufacturer list the percent of weed seed present in the package

32. Selecting Seed • Noxious Weeds – each state has a listing of noxious weeds • Weeds that are difficult to control

33. Selecting Seed • Noxious Weed listings are very specific as to the number and type of seeds per ounce

34. Selecting Seed • Year tested – commercial seed is tested each year for germination results

35. Selecting Seed • Company name and address • Lawn specialists should be contacted to determine the best seed mixture for your lawn

36. Seeding • Seed may be spread by hand or with a mechanical seeder similar to a fertilizer spreader • Seed is mixed with a carrier such as sand to ensure uniform distribution

37. Seeding • Seeding is done in two directions just as fertilizer application is • Lightly cover the seed by hand raking

38. Seeding • Seeds must be covered and in close contact with the soil

39. Mulching • Applying alight covering of weed free clean straw or hay will help hold in moisture and prevent seed from washing or blowing away.

40. Mulching • Straw also helps to hide the seed from birds.

41. Watering • Keep new seedlings moist until well established • Once germination begins, seeds must not be allowed to dry out

42. Watering • Avoid saturating the soil as too much moisture can result in a fungal disease called damping off

43. Vegetative Planting • Sprigging, Strip Planting, Plugging and Stolonizing • Used for grasses which are difficult to grow from seed or for which seed is not available

44. Vegetative • Zoysia, Bermuda Grass, Centipede Grass, Creeping Bentgrass and Velvet Bentgrass

45. Vegetative • Material must be kept moist until well established • During first year light applications of N every two to four weeks helps to speed the spread of new grass.

46. Sodding • Sod consists of grass and grass roots in a thin layer of soil which is removed from the growing area in strips and rolled for transport

47. Sodding • Sod is the most expensive option • Ideal for steep slopes or terraces where erosion may be a problem

48. Sodding • is used when the home owner wants a complete, instant lawn

49. Sodding • Sod should not be cut more than one inch thick. • Thin sod will knit itself to the soil faster than thick cut sod

50. Sodding • After sod is laid and tamped down or rolled lightly, it is topdressed with a small amount of top soil