Wain Landscaping is providing these instructions for the care of your newly seeded lawn. Following these instructions will result in ultimate germination. Wain Landscaping will guarantee all lawn areas seeded establish a healthy lawn only providing these guidelines are precisely followed. Wain Landscaping will not warrant lawn areas, which are not cared for as directed. Upon Wain Landscaping completing your lawn seeding it will be the responsibility of the homeowner to care for the newly seeded lawn area.
The 4 to 8 week period following seeding or sodding is critical to the survival of the new lawn. More establishments fail due to improper follow-up care than all other facets of lawn establishment. As the newly-established turf matures, it must be irrigated and mowed on a regular basis. Many new stands also need additional fertilizer and herbicide applications. Traffic must be limited since turfgrass wear tolerance during the establishment phase is extremely poor.
Watering:
In the weeks following establishment, grass root systems are delicate and shallow and seedlings cannot withstand severe moisture stress. Whether the lawn is established from seed or from sod, it will probably need regular, daily, watering. The soil should be moist at all times, but not excessively wet. This can usually be accomplished by light, frequent watering. Watering can be reduced during rainy periods and in cool-overcast conditions. The lawn should be evenly watered, as this will affect seed germination. Upon starting the watering program the entire lawn area must be watered every day.
Water all lawn areas every day until the lawn germinates and grows to 3”
Failure to water the lawn on a regular basis will affect the lawn germination. Upon grass seed germinating and drying out the seed will die and reduce the quality of your lawn. Failure to water the lawn every day will void the warranty by Wain landscaping.
Germination Timeline
Seed germination varies depending on seed varieties. Some Annual Grasses can germinate in 6 to 10 days; however, some species of Blue Grass will take 21-28 days to germinate. Due to the variation in seed germination it is important to water the lawn according to the above guidelines. Failure to water the lawn continuously will result in less germination and void the warranty by Wain Landscaping.
First Mowing:
Newly-established turf needs to be mowed on a regular basis. An important consideration in mowing new establishments is how soon the turf is able to withstand the weight of the mower and the person doing the mowing. When the lawn reaches an average of 3” it is time to perform the first cutting. Prior to cutting the lawn for the first time allow it to dry for 48 hours, this reduces the chance of the lawn mower leaving ruts in the yard. At this point the grass is young and not well rooted so care must be taken not to tear up the new turf. Bagging grass clippings at this point is a good idea. This will help keep any weed seeds from being distributed back onto the lawn. Immediately following the first cutting it is important to water the lawn.
Watering after first cut
Up until the first cut the lawn should have been watered 2 to 3 times a day. Now that the grass is starting to grow it will help to shade the soil thus helping the soil to retain moisture. After the first cut watering, the lawn can be reduced to every other day. Every other day watering should continue until the lawn is ready for a second cut. Allow the lawn to dry out for 48 hours prior to cutting. After the second cutting watering, may be reduced to every third day. This schedule should continue until the lawn is full.
Fertilization:
Sometimes starter fertilizer applications are not enough to sustain rapid growth of new establishments and additional fertilizer is required. An application 4 to 8 weeks after applying the starter fertilizer helps to thicken the new turf.
Weed Control:
Newly-established turf is very sensitive to most herbicides, and applications should be avoided unless a severe weed infestation occurs and you are absolutely sure the herbicide will not interfere with the growth of the turf. Herbicide labels usually have precautionary statements concerning the rate and length of time after seeding the product can be safely applied. Many broadleaf herbicides, for example, should not be applied until 4 to 6 weeks following establishment.
Traffic Control:
Keep all foot and vehicular traffic off the newly-established turf until it is well rooted and has been mowed several times. Seedlings can be bruised or uprooted if trampled in the early stages of development. Traffic on sod restricts root development and leads to thinning. If necessary, place signs and/or barriers around the lawn to discourage traffic.