1. “Sowing the seeds of love.” -Tears for Fears 38.00
Lawn Bed Preparation
“Sowing the seeds of love.”
-Tears for Fears
38.00

2. Methods Used to Start a Lawn
Seeding
Sodding
Plugging
Sprigging and Stolonizing

3. Seeding Most common Inexpensive
Seeds are sown by hand or with a mechanical devise

4. Seeding continued
Seeds can be spread by machinery like a cultipacker seeder or a hydroseeder
Hydroseeder is a sprayer that applies seed, water, fertilizer, and mulch… SWEET!

5. Sodding Using established turf (grass and roots and some soil)
Turf is cut into thin layers and removed from the growing area in strips

6. Sodding continued
Strips are rolled or cut and stacked and taken to new lawn and rolled out and fitted together
More expensive than other methods
Provides and instant lawn and works on slopes (seeds wash away here)

7. Plugging
Use small plugs or blocks of sod to plant in holes about one foot apart
This method is very time consuming
Used for many warm season grasses that are poor seed producers

8. Sprigging and Stolonizing
Uses plant runner, cuttings or stolons without soil attached to start new lawns
Sprigging is slow if done by hand
Sprigging and stolonizing can be done by broadcasting plant parts

9. Sprigging and Stolonizing continued
Plant parts are rolled or disked into the soil
Usually used on larger areas such as a golf course

10. Steps involved in preparing the seed bed
Grading
Drainage
Conditioning the soil
Planting the Lawn

11. Grading
Slope away from the house to drain water away from house and basement
Slope should not be over 15% for lawn grasses… why?

12. Drainage Necessary for proper root growth Slope affects drainage
Drainage tile below surface can be used

13. Conditioning the Soil
Six inches of topsoil should be spread over subsoil or use well-rotted or decayed organic matter
This organic matter should be added and mixed into existing soil.

14. Conditioning the Soil
Roots, stones, dirt clods and other trash (metal, Joe David, etc) should be removed

15. Conditioning the Soil
Soil should be tested for pH and nutrient recommendations
When do you take your soil sample?
What depth should your soil cores or slices be taken?

16. Conditioning the Soil
Lime and fertilizer should be added to make the pH of and meet the fertilizer recommendations of the soil test

17. Conditioning the Soil
All soil additives such as lime, organic matter, fertilizer, pesticides, etc. should be worked into the soil
Soil should be tilled to break the soil into small particles
Never till when wet!

18. Planting the Lawn Plant at the proper time of the year
Warm season in spring
Cool season in early fall or very early spring

19. Planting the Lawn
Choose the correct high quality seed for the climate and use

20. Planting the Lawn
Sow one-half recommended rate of seed in one direction and sow one half across the lawn at a 90° angle to the first half

21. Planting the Lawn
Cover seeds by lightly raking so that seeds will have contact with the soil

22. Planting the Lawn
Mulch with light cover of straw or use commercial mulching material
Especially necessary for slopes

23. Planting the Lawn Water to keep seeds moist and new seedling moist
Must continue to water until they are well established