1. Establishing the Lawn Original PowerPoint Created by Howard Henderson
Modified by the Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office
June 2002

2. Reasons for Establishing a Lawn
They add beauty to the landscape:
A well-kept lawn is very appealing and inviting.
They are used as recreational areas:
Baseball, picnics, football, sun bathing, golf, etc…
They provide an excellent cover:
They help control erosion and allow movement of air and water to the roots of trees and shrubs in the soil below.

3. Soil and Grading Consider soil conditions: Consider lot grading:
Is this an area in which all of the topsoil has been graded?
Is the slope appropriate for a lawn?
Is the drainage adequate?
Consider lot grading:
The lot should be graded to slope away from the house. This prevents water from entering the basement.

4. Soil and Grading continued
Spread at least 6” of topsoil over the surface.
Till to loosen and break up clods.
Slope should not exceed 15%.
No more than 15 feet of drop for every 100 feet of lawn area.

5. Proper Drainage
Ensures a balance between the air and water in the soil.
Encourages proper root growth.
Can be established by installing a tile 3’ below the surface to drain the subsoil.
The slope of the land can be used to drain surface water away.

6. Fertilizer
A complete fertilizer with high phosphorus content is recommended for establishing new lawns.
Some companies manufacture “starter fertilizers” for new lawns.
Prior to applying fertilizer, a soil test must be done to determine the correct level of nutrients to add.

7. Fertilizer continued The pH level should be between 6.0 and 6.5.
Spread the fertilizer in two different directions to aid in proper distribution.
Follow up with a hand rake to work the fertilizer into the soil surface.

8. Starting the Lawn There are three ways to start a lawn: Seeding
Sodding
Plug or Strip Planting

9. Selecting Seed
Select and purchase a high quality seed in order to establish a high quality lawn.
New varieties are being developed constantly for specific conditions.
Check with a local lawn specialist for recommendations for your specific needs.

10. Selecting Seed continued
Lawn grass seed is required to have the following information on the label:
Name
Purity
Percent of Germination
Other Crop
Inert Matter
Weed Seed
Noxious Weeds
Year Tested
Company Name
Name: The law requires that the seed package give the correct name of all the seeds included in the package. Information on where this type of seed grows best – in a shaded area, partial shade, or full sun is also provided.
Purity: These figures give the makeup of the seed by percent of the different grasses included in the package.
Percent of Germination: This figure indicated the percentage of seeds in the package that will sprout when planted. The higher this percentage is, the more seed there is that will germinate.
Other Crop: The percentage of other crop seeds is important to consider. Crop seeds such as wheat, barley, orchard grass and timothy are undesirable seeds for lawns.
Inert Matter: This is material that will not grow. It includes pieces of seed, sand particles and chaff from the seed. All of these things add weight to the package, but they do not germinate. This type of material is undesirable.
Weed Seed: A weed is any plant that is growing where it is not wanted. Weed seeds are not desirable in a lawn grass mixture. Some weed seeds are very small and difficult to remove from the desirable seed. Most packages of seed contain some weed seed, but the manufacturer is required by law to list the percentage present in each container.
Noxious Weeds: Certain weeds have been declared by each state as noxious weeds because they are particularly difficult to control. In some cases, these weeds may be harmful. This material is listed on the package by a specific number; for example, on listing might read: four garlic per ounce.
Year Tested: Commercial seed must be tested every year for the correct germination percentage. The month and year that the seed was tested may also be included.
Company Name: The name of the company selling the seed and its correct address must be given on the label. This is done so that anyone having problems with the seed can contact the grower.

11. Seeding the Lawn There are several steps involved in seeding a lawn:
Sowing the seed
Covering the seed
Mulching
Firming the seed
Watering
Sowing Seed Seed may be planted by hand or with a mechanical seeder. To obtain uniform distribution, the seed is mixed with small amounts of a carrier, such as sand. The mixed material is divided into two equal parts; one part is sown in one directions, and the other part crosswise to the first sowing.
Covering the Seed The seed is lightly covered by hand raking. Large seeds are covered with ¼ to 3/8 inch of soil and small seeds with 1/8 to ¼ inch of soil. It is important that all seed is covered by and in close contact with the soil.
Mulching Mulching with a light covering of weed-free straw or hay helps to hold moisture and prevent the seed from washing away during watering or rainfall. Straw also helps to hide the seed from birds.
Firming the Seed The seeded area is firmed by rolling it with a light roller or cultipacker.
Watering New seedlings should be kept moist until they are well established. Once the seeds have begun to germinate, they must not be allowed to dry out, or they will die. Avoid saturating the soil, however; excessive moisture is favorable for the development of damping off, a fungus disease.

12. Sodding
Sod is grass and roots in a thin layer of soil which is removed from the areas in strips.
Sodding is very expensive, so should only be done on steep slopes or where coverage is needed immediately.

13. Plug or Strip Planting
Plug Planting: the planting of small plugs or blocks of sod at measured intervals.
Strip Planting: the planting of strips of sod end to end in rows that are 1 foot apart.
Plug Planting: The plugs are spaced from 8 inches to 1 foot depending on how rapidly the area is to be completely covered. The closer the plugs are set, the faster the lawn will be completely covered with grass. The plugs are fit tightly into prepared holes. They are then tamped firmly into place. Zoysia grass is started in this way.
Strip Planting: The sod strips should be 2 to 4 inches wide. Firm contact with surrounding soil is necessary.

14. Introductory Horticulture
Reference
Introductory Horticulture
Fourth Edition
H. Edward Reiley
& Carroll L. Shry, Jr.