CARING FOR YOUR NEWLY SEEDED OR RENOVATED LAWN
WATERING-- Keep evenly moist, not soggy. Do not allow to dry out.
- Water gently: by hand is best; sprinklers o.k.
- Water for a few minutes 1 - 4 times per day: once if cool and cloudy;
two to three times if warm and sunny; three to four times if hot or windy.
- Continue until fully germinated--about three weeks.
- Taper off gradually to one inch 2 - 3 times a week.
- Stop watering if raining.
GERMINATION--...your lawn is a mixture of grass types.
- Rye/bluegrass/red fescue blends germinate in 1 - 2 weeks; different types sprout unevenly at first.
- Blends of tall or dwarf fescues may take up to 3 weeks.
- Germination is slower in cold weather.
TRAFFIC-- NO traffic during germination.
- In an emergency step on boards laid on the grass.
- Normal light traffic after 3 - 4 mowings.
MOWING-- Sharpen your mower before you cut tender new grass.
- Mow first after 4 - 6 weeks, when 3 - 4 inches tall.
- Cut to two inches.
WEEDS-- Weed seeds are everywhere. Some will sprout.
- Many annual weeds will be killed by mowing.
- Some weeds may need chemical treatment.
- We are happy to ID samples and recommend the right spray materials.
FERTILIZER-- Starter fertilizer was probably applied at the time of planting.
- Fertilize again in 2 - 3 months.
- Feed regularly March, May, Sept., Nov., and Jan.
- Ask us before applying fertilizers with pre-emergents to kill weed seeds or weed-killers to kill existing weeds.
PROBLEMS--
- Wind: check watering 3 - 4 times/day when windy.
- Fungus can kill newly sprouted grass
- Damage from kids and pets usually can be repaired if done quickly.
- Insects can eat new sprouts rapidly
© 2008 Don Shor, Redwood Barn Nursery, Inc., 1607 Fifth Street, Davis, Ca 95616
www.redwoodbarn.com
Feel free to copy and distribute this article with attribution to this author.
Click here for Don's other Davis Enterprise articles