Follow These Simple Maintenance Steps For a Beautiful New Lawn

Cultivated turf allows you to enjoy a lawn of instant beauty and maturity without the usual time-consuming hassles of seeding. However, installing sod as your lawn requires more than just laying and rolling out your sod.

Proper care and maintenance are critical to the health and durability of your lawn or turf. Follow these care and maintenance instructions and your lawn or turf will be healthy, vibrant, and vigorous for years to come. The following are the basic steps to a beautiful lawn. For questions or any further recommendations for your specific situation, please contact Kingston Turf Farm today.

Measuring and Ordering

With a tape, measure the area of your planned lawn. Include these measurements on a sketch of the lawn area, with the length, width, and any unusual features. One of our professionals at Kingston Turf Farms will be happy to assist you in determining the amount of turfgrass sod you will need from your sketch.

Soil Preparation

For best result, rototill or spade the area to a depth of 4 to 6 in. Eliminate drainage problems by having soil slope away from foundations, etc.
Soil test your lawn area with the assistance of qualified service in your area. Then rake in fertilizer, lime, peat, compost, etc. as need to a depth of 3 to 4 in. Roll the area lightly with a lawn roller 1/3 full of water. Water the prepared area to settle soil and provide a moist base for turf.

Turf Installation

Install your lawn immediately upon delivery. Begin watering lawn within 30 minutes of installation. Turf is a living plant that requires ground contact and moisture to survive! Begin installing turf along the longest straight line, such as a driveway or sidewalk. Butt and push edges and ends against each other tightly, without stretching. Avoid gaps or overlaps. Stagger the joints in each row in a brick-like fashion, using a large sharp knife to trim corners, etc. After installing the turf, roll the entire area to improve turf/soil contact and remove air pockets.

Watering & Maintaining

Give your new lawn at least 1 in. of water within 1/2 hour of installation. Water daily, or more often, keeping turf moist until it is firmly rooted (about 2 weeks). Then less frequent and deeper watering should begin. Be prepared to mow your new lawn in 6-7 days. Set your mower at a cutting height of 2″ – 2.5″. Once the sod is established after 2-3 weeks, water frequency may be reduced. Due to varying soil and climate conditions, it is difficult to recommend a definite schedule. However, a deep soaking once or twice a week is usually adequate.

Fertilizing

WE FERTILIZE OUR TURF ON A REGULAR BASIS, ELIMINATING THE NEED TO ADD FERTILIZER DURING INSTALLATION.

Avoid applying fertilizer during hot, dry conditions. Apply only if you have a source of water to irrigate the turf or just prior to a forecasted rain.

There is no need to fertilize your new sod when it is installed, you can wait at least four weeks before applying. Fertilizer may be added to the soil and properly raked in to increase the vitality of your soil.

Follow instructions on the fertilizer bag for rates and application methods. The theory that more is better is INCORRECT! Follow the directions to avoid burning or discoloring your new lawn. The plant can only take as much as it needs, anything more will either hurt the plant or may kill it completely.