Installation, Care and Feeding of your new Turf
To insure a good looking healthy lawn from your new turf, a few easy steps should be followed. A little care taken in the preparation of your soil will repay you many times over in the enjoyment of your new lawn.
Step 1: Plan before hand. Make sure your yard is ready before the turf is delivered. Your turf should be laid within 24 hours from the delivery time.
Step 2: Prepare the soil. Remove rocks and other debris from the area to be covered with sod. Till soil to a depth of 4-6 inches and incorporate organic matter such as bark dust, rotted sawdust or peat moss if needed.
Step 3: Grade the edges. After tilling, float down all edges to be laid with sod. Make sure they are ¾ -1 inch below walks, driveways, etc. to assure good edges all around.
Step 4: Fertilize soil. Apply a good turf fertilizer (about 5 lbs. of 16-16-16 per 1000 square feet) on the soil and rake lightly. Be sure soil is level, smooth, and watered lightly (to lower soil temperature) before laying turf.
Step 5: Install turf. Place first series of mats along a straight line using a string or sidewalk for a guide. Be sure mats are placed snugly together, but do not overlap them. Stagger joints to improve knitting speed. Use a sharp knife to trim around patios, sprinklers, etc.
Step 6: Water. Hand water each newly laid section immediately after it is installed. Do not allow turf to dry out before turning on the irrigation system.
Step 7: Roll lawn. After installation, roll lawn to establish good contact with the soil. For best results, turf should be moist and soil surface still firm. After soil becomes saturated, rolling is impractical.
Step 8: Water thoroughly. Water your newly completed lawn to assure moisture down to 6-8 inches. Water daily for the first 10 days to keep the turf moist at all times.
Maintenance of your Turf
Fertilization: Apply a good turf type fertilizer to your lawn at least 4 times a year. Select one with a 15-5-10 analysis that contains iron and sulfur. Follow package directions for best results.
Watering: Apply 1 - 1 ½ inches of water a week when rainfall does not occur. Natural water loss varies greatly depending upon wind, overcast, temperature, etc.
Mowing: Both reel type and rotary mowers work well on your turf. Make sure that your mower is sharp. Mow 2 - 3 inches in height. Do not remove more that 1/3 of the leaf blade when mowing.
Pest Control: On occasion broad leaf weeds such as dandelions, chickweed, plaintain may invade your lawn. Herbicides designed for such weeds are available at most garden centers. Insects are not normally serious pests, but if they are found consult your garden center or county agent for control suggestions.
