Your new lawn has been carefully installed and will require continued maintenance to become an established turf. The success and results of a seeding project depend largely upon attentive post-planting care. Therefore, it is critical to the success of your lawn installation or renovation that the following watering and mowing instructions are followed.
PLEASE NOTE:
➢ 1 Maintenance Practices (0-10 days):
Water each day for at least 10-15 minutes in each area of lawn (according to how much water your sprinkler emits). Water the soil to a depth of about ¼”. Watering a second time each day is recommended if the temperatures are over 65° and sunny. You are watering to keep the seed moist. Full sun areas may require more water than shady areas. Germination Vigor: Turfgrass mixes contain many seed varieties. Each seed variety has a different germination speed. Seed mixes will take from 10 to 35 days to germinate all seed varieties. Consistent moisture and evenly distributed watering must be maintained for 35 days to achieve complete germination. Allowing the lawn to dry out will result in partial or even total seed mortality.
➢ 2 Maintenance Practices (10-28 days):
The early germinating grasses (rye and fescue types) will develop first, followed by the slower germinating (blue grass) types. Continue to water every day, gradually increasing the duration of the watering each day. Water to a depth of about ½”. Do not allow the lawn to puddle. Begin mowing as soon as the turf can withstand traffic. The lawn will need to be cut once it reaches about 3-4” in height. Only remove 1/3 of the leaf tissue per cut. In other words, when seedlings reach a height about ⅓ higher than desired lawn height and can withstand traffic, begin to mow. Discontinue watering for one day before mowing to let the lawn dry out. A light sprinkling of the lawn is OK to cool it down in hotter, drier weather. Water after mowing the lawn for the first time.
➢ 3 Maintenance Practices (4 weeks and on):
Continue to cut the lawn as needed, typically once every five to seven days. Be gentle on the new turf. Collect the clippings initially. Wait until after 3-4 mowings before regular use of the lawn resumes. Remember, blue-type grasses take 21 to 36 days to germinate so continue to water diligently. Water the lawn approximately twice per week, making sure to apply 1” of water each week. If you are applying fertilizer, follow the instructions carefully and use a rotary spreader. Look for a fertilizer that has a nutrient ratio of 3:1:2 which indicates the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK).
Care for New Seed Lawns
Water | Mowing | Fertilizer | Additional Applications | Recommended Practices | |
Prohibit all traffic on the lawn until a solid stand of grass has developed (three weeks or more) after which do not allow playing or heavy use until after six weeks of growth or after three lawn mowings. | |||||
0-7 Days | Frequent, light | No | No | No | No |
8-14 Days | Frequent, light | No | No | No | No |
15-21 Days | Frequent, light | First Cut (when plant reaches second leaf stage) | No | No | No |
4-6 weeks | Frequent, longer periods | Cut to height of 2.75” to 3.5” | Apply a fertilizer with a 3:1:2 ratio of up to ¾ lbs. Nitrogen per 1000 sq. ft. | No | No |
7-10 Weeks | Less frequent, longer periods | Cut to height of 2.75” to 3.5” | No | No | No |
3 Months | 1” a week | Cut to height of 2.75” to 3.5” | Next regular application | First pesticide application | No |
6 Months | 1” a week | Cut to height of 2.75” to 3.5” | Aerate | ||
1 Year | 1” a week | Cut to height of 2.75” to 3.5” | Thatch | ||
Notes: | Frequent, light watering, at least twice a day will not only keep the top ½” of soil moist, but will help spur germination. As seedlings begin to emerge, the intervals between watering can be lengthened. | Do not water the lawn one to two days preceding the first lawn mowing. Continue watering cycle after first cut. Sharpen mower blades regularly. | Apply fertilizer at half the normal rate in shady lawn areas. | Put off making chemical weed control applications for as long as possible. Most herbicides can be toxic to young seedlings. Use pesticides sparingly and only as needed. | Aerate at least once per year, twice is preferable. |