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Published byTaylor Marshall Modified over 11 years ago
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Establishing a Lawn
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Lawns are a major part of the home landscape
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Reasons for Establishment Ad beauty to the landscape Used as play areas for sports or for relaxation Provide cover to help control soil erosion
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Soil and Grading First consideration is the present condition of the soil
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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?
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Grade Builder will establish the rough grade Usually slopes away from foundation Six inches of top soil should be spread over the surface
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Grade Topsoil is tilled to loosen and break up clods
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Slope General slope for the lawn after the topsoil is spread should not exceed 15% Slopes greater than 15% are unsafe to mow
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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.
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Drainage Good drainage ensures a balance between air and water in the soil. This balance encourages proper root growth
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Establishing proper drainage Install drainage tile about three feet below the surface of the soil to drain the subsoil
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Establishing proper drainage Make use of the slope of the land to drain surface water away
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Soil Preparation Good loam soil is best for most grasses If loam is not available, increase the organic matter (o.m.)
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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
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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
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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.
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Fertilizer Starter fertilizers are manufactured with high P content Some soil test reports may indicate a need for lime
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Lime Changes the pH of the soil by reducing the acidity Can be applied in several forms
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Lime Calcium Carbonate Calcium Oxide Calcium Hydroxide
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pH If pH of the soil indicates a alkaline soil, sulfur or iron sulfate may be used to lower the pH
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pH Ideal pH range for lawns is between 6.0 and 6.5
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Spreading Fertilizer Spread in two different directions, half of the recommended amount in one direction and the remainder perpendicular to the first application
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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
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Starting a Lawn Two ways Seeding Vegetative
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Sprigging Sodding Plugging Strip planting
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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
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Selecting seed Information on where this type of seed grown best Purity – gives the make up of the seed by percent of each type
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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
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Selecting Seed Inert matter – material that will not grow Seed pieces, sand or dirt Inert ingredients add weight to the package and little else
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Selecting Seed Weed Seed – not desirable in lawn mixtures Many weed seeds are difficult to remove because of their size
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Selecting Seed Law requires that the manufacturer list the percent of weed seed present in the package
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Selecting Seed Noxious Weeds – each state has a listing of noxious weeds Weeds that are difficult to control
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Selecting Seed Noxious Weed listings are very specific as to the number and type of seeds per ounce
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Selecting Seed Year tested – commercial seed is tested each year for germination results
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Selecting Seed Company name and address Lawn specialists should be contacted to determine the best seed mixture for your lawn
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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
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Seeding Seeding is done in two directions just as fertilizer application is Lightly cover the seed by hand raking
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Seeding Seeds must be covered and in close contact with the soil
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Mulching Applying alight covering of weed free clean straw or hay will help hold in moisture and prevent seed from washing or blowing away.
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Mulching Straw also helps to hide the seed from birds.
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Watering Keep new seedlings moist until well established Once germination begins, seeds must not be allowed to dry out
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Watering Avoid saturating the soil as too much moisture can result in a fungal disease called damping off
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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
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Vegetative Zoysia, Bermuda Grass, Centipede Grass, Creeping Bentgrass and Velvet Bentgrass
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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.
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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
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Sodding Sod is the most expensive option Ideal for steep slopes or terraces where erosion may be a problem
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Sodding is used when the home owner wants a complete, instant lawn
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Sodding Sod should not be cut more than one inch thick. Thin sod will knit itself to the soil faster than thick cut sod
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Sodding After sod is laid and tamped down or rolled lightly, it is topdressed with a small amount of top soil
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Sodding Sod must be kept moist until the roots have grown well into the soil
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Strip Sodding may also be used strips of sod 2-4 inches wide are planted one foot apart
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Plugging small plugs of soil with grass plants in them are planted in holes evenly spaced throughout the yard
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Plugging The close the plugs are planted together the faster the area will fill with grass
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Sprigging planting of individual plants, runner, stolons, or cuttings at evenly spaced intervals.
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Stolonizing Shredded stolons are spread over the area and topdressed with soil. Used for larger or very specialized areas such as golf course putting greens
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Factors Climactic conditions: temperature and available moisture
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Geographical regions US is divided into six regions with respect to the best types of grasses South Dakota falls in regions 1 and 4
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South Dakota Common grasses for our area include Kentucky Bluegrass Red Fescue
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. Colonial Bentgrass Tall Fescue Bermuda Zoysia
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. Crested Wheatgrass - SD state grass Buffalograss Blue Grammagrass
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