1. Lawn Establishment and Care Utah Agricultural Education Landscape Management

2. Establishing a New Lawn Methods of Establishing a new lawn SeedingSod Plugging and Stolonizing

3. Establishment by seeding. Advantages  Inexpensive Disadvantages  Several Months  More effort  Greater chance of failure

4. Establishment by seeding Fall Planting Preferred with cool temperatures for establishment and less competition from annual weeds. Spring Planting Similar to fall but must compete with weeds.

5. Site Preparation – Debris Removal  Removal of any objects from the top 4 inches of the soil surface.

6. Site Preparation – Eliminate Vegetation and Weeds  By only tilling the ground you may in fact be spreading perennial weeds. A non-selective contact herbicide should be used in controlling undesired vegetation.

7. Site Preparation - Grading  Ground should slope away at least 1 percent grade from the home. Make sure that there is a least a 4 inch layer of top soil.

8. Site Preparation – Soil Amending  Soil test should be made to aid in determining how to Adjust pH Add fertility correcting chemicals Incorporate organic amendments

9. Site Preparation – Surface Preparation  Free of Clods  Smooth as possible Rototill if needed  Lightly raked  Rolled to compact the soil surface.

10. Seed Selection  Select grass species recommended for your areas from an extension fact sheet.

11. Seed Selection Seed Label Information Variety Germination Rate Weed Seed% Inter Matter % Quantity

12. Seeding Techniques  Follow the label.  Plant on a calm day.  Overlap wheel tracks to prevent missing a strip.  Helps hold the seed in place.  Water and fertilizer included.  Easily can determine areas that are planted.

13. Postseeding Care  Watering: 3-4 times a day keep soil surface moist.  Fertilize: When seedlings are 1½ -2”  1 st Mowing: When seedlings exceed normal height.

14. Establishment by sodding. Advantages  Can be done anytime of the year  Instant Lawn Disadvantages  Expensive

15. Site Preparation  The same methods exist for sod as they do for seed.

16. Laying Sod  Laid as soon as possible.  Stagger the strips  Use a lawn roller when is it laid.  Water thoroughly once laid.

17. Establish by Stolonizing and Plugging  These methods are used on vigorous grasses such as Bermuda grass and creeping bent grass. (Not common in Utah)