Last month we reviewed the process for a sustainable lawn renovation. This month we provide tips to give your new yard its best chance of thriving. The University of Maryland Extension provides excellent guidance.
Watering
- Once seed germination has begun do not let the seed dry out
- A newly seeded lawn requires daily watering during dry periods.
- If there’s a stretch of windy and dry days, your grass may require several light waterings a day.
- Sandy soils dry out quickly, require more watering, and using a light mist is best.
- Mature grass seedlings require less frequent watering, but they should be watered longer when you do.
- It’s best to water earlier in the day so the grass does not remain wet overnight.
Mowing
- Mowing lawns too short or infrequently causes grass to become susceptible to drought injury, weed infestations (especially crabgrass), and foot traffic injury.
- Mow new turf when it reaches a height one-third higher than your normal mowing height. Usually this is four to six weeks after seeding.
- Remove only one-third of the grass’s height in each following mowing. Removing too much of the leaf blade at each cutting stresses the new lawn.
- Soil should be dry enough so that ruts are not formed by the wheels of the lawnmower.
- Mowing typically needs to be done on a weekly basis during the growing season.
Fertilizing
- Follow-up applications of fertilizer are made as part of a regular maintenance program.
- Organic Lawns by LUNSETH’s organic fertilizer solution provides a proven alternative to chemically-based lawn care — delivering a number of benefits that aren’t possible when treating your lawn synthetically. Being 100% organic means our fertilizers contain a purely balanced food source and do not feature synthetic chemicals that can be detrimental to your health and harsh on your lawn. By hiring us to apply our 100% OMRI-certified organic fertilizer to your lawn, your grass won’t just look great, it’ll be healthy in a way that’s very environmentally advantageous.
Weeds
- Weeds have been resting all winter and can’t wait to shoot through and start growing. Thin or bare soil areas combined with sunlight and warm soil temperatures create a perfect opportunity for germination of many of our annual weeds.
- These weed seeds aren’t just perennials that lay dormant over the winter. They can be blown in by the wind or be carried in by our bird friends. Early spring is the time to start looking for these intruders and taking steps to reduce their spread.
- Read LUNSETH’s Blog Post, “Handle Spring Weeds Now or Pay the Price Later”, to learn about some of the most common weeds we see in Minnesota, along with our tips for getting them under control.
Traffic
- Young seedlings are easily injured. Newly seeded areas should be restricted from foot traffic for a least a month after the seed has germinated or until the new lawn has been mowed at least a couple of times.
If you’re interested in having a lush, organic lawn, contact the experts at Organic Lawns by LUNSETH to create the best program for your yard.
