Healthy Lawn Maintenance

A good, healthy lawn should look attractive and inviting. If your lawn has several patches of brown grass or is embedded with weeds, invasive grasses or fungus, you may want to consider starting a new lawn.

Getting Started

First, take a soil test. A soil test will tell you which nutrients your soil needs and whether you need to adjust your soil’s pH. Next, till the earth to a depth of 4 to 6 inches. This allows you to work in fertilizers and pH-adjusting materials and also aerates the ground so that grass roots can get better established. Rake the soil thoroughly to remove rocks and debris and to create a smooth, level planting surface. Now you must decide how you will to plant your new lawn. You can sow seed, lay sod or install sprigs.

Sowing Seed

Following the instructions on the seed package, use a drop spreader and sow seeds. Be sure to evenly distribute seeds over large areas. Sow half the seed in one direction, then sow the rest perpendicular to the first set. Firm the soil after planting to help seeds germinate. Mist the seeds lightly with water and cover with a thin layer of straw or hay. This retains moisture in the seeds and protects them from harsh elements and birds. There is no need to remove this mulch as it will disappear as the grass grows, adding nutrients to the soil.

Sodding

Prepare your lawn for sodding just as carefully as you would for seeding. Level the surface area of the soil and be sure there is enough moisture to encourage rooting. Place the strips of sod in a staggered pattern as the end seams should not form a straight line. Make certain the strips fit together tightly. Tap sod into soil to make sure there is a good connection. Trim the lawn edges with a spade.

Planting with Sprigs

Many people opt to plant with sprigs because it is a less expensive method than planting with sod. By sprigging, you can help avoid unwanted weeds from invading your lawn. Sprigs can also help create a deep, solid root system for your yard.

Make certain that sprigs are cool and moist when you purchase them. Plant them as soon as possible in rows about one foot apart. Dig a 1 to 2 inch furrow in each row and insert the springs 4 to 6 inches apart. Cover sprigs with soil and water immediately.

Maintaining Your New Lawn

Lawns should be watered daily until a rooting system has been established . Wait 6 to 8 weeks after planting for the first application of fertilizer. Be careful not to overfeed. Locate a slow-release fertilizer designed for blade growth in the spring and root growth in the fall and feed twice yearly. Organic sources of nitrogen such as cottonseed meal and fish meal will provide nutrition throughout the growing season. Each spring or fall treat the entire lawn to an application of rich, organic compost.

It is important to aerate your lawn. This should be done every year in early spring. You can rent a machine and aerate your lawn yourself or you can hire a lawn care professional to do the job for you. Remember to water your lawn infrequently but heavily. About 1 inch of water is needed weekly during the growing season. It is best to water in the early morning so that the lawn has a chance to dry before sundown. Grass that remains wet overnight is prone to diseases. Grass that is watered in the heat of the afternoon is not benefited because the moisture evaporates too quickly.

Working with Your Old Lawn

Sometimes it is just not possible to start over and create a new lawn. You can renovate an old lawn by overseeding in the spring or fall. Cut the grass to about 1/2 inch long and vigorously rake to remove thatch and weeds. Apply a layer of compost and apply seed at one and a half times the recommended rate for new lawns. Tamp soil to ensure seed contact, mulch and mist. Be certain to keep seeds moist.

Patch bare spots on your lawn by removing dead grass. Apply a smooth layer of compost, and sow seeds. Mulch and keep seeds moist until new grass appears. Repair damaged turf abutting a path by cutting and stripping out an appropriately-sized section. Turn section around, replace and repair as you would bare spots.