Lawn Installation

When establishing a new lawn, the question often arises, “Should I seed or sod?” While both require the same preparation, they each have their advantages and disadvantages. There are some important factors to consider when establishing the lawn such as:

• Type of grass to use
• Evaluating the location
• Maintenance of new lawn (low vs. high)
• Timing (time of year)
• Time necessary to develop a mature, healthy turf

Seed

Advantages:

• More grass types and varieties to choose from
• Less expensive than sodding
• Stronger root system development

Disadvantages:

• Takes longer to establish a mature lawn
• Time of seeding is limited- spring and fall are the best time
• Moisture is critical for new seedlings

Sod

Advantages:

• Instant Establishment
• Weed Free
• Good for sloped areas
• Can be laid any time

Disadvantages:

• Expensive
• Small selection of the kind of grass, especially shade tolerant

Preparation of the soil is crucial to the development of a new lawn and will ensure the lawn will be properly supplied with moisture and oxygen its root system needs to function. Our team of professionals will take the necessary steps to develop and establish your new lawn:

• Grade existing sub-base to within 4” of finished grade to allow for topsoil
• Haul in topsoil and spread a 4” layer, while ensuring proper slopeage away from the house
• Work the soil in by rototilling the topsoil with the existing sub-base
• Re-grade soil with Harley rake to smooth out areas and eliminate any debris
• Final grade with landscape rakes to make the soil smooth and free of high and low spots
  • Soil will be left down ½” from final grade for seed and 1 ½” for sod
• Apply a starter fertilizer to the soil

Seeding a Lawn

• Apply seed by drop spreader at the suggested rate based on type of seed used
  • Depending on time of year that seed is applied it might be necessary to apply Siduron- a pre-emergent herbicide that prevents crabgrass from growing and chocking out the new seedlings
• Apply Penn Mulch, which is a seed accelerator that conserves moisture to improve seed establishment
• Sow in seed with cultipacker to ensure proper seed-to-soil contact
• Program irrigation controller to water lightly and frequently never letting the soil surface dry out
  • 3x a day for short durations (depends largely on soil and site conditions)

Sodding a Lawn

• Roll out sod, while curling the edges to ensure proper knitting
• Cut areas as necessary
• Lightly hand rake the new sod
• Program irrigation controller to water lightly and frequently never letting the soil surface dry out

Within 4 to 6 weeks after installing the new lawn, our team of professionals will follow up and apply another round of fertilizer to promote growth and prevent any deficiencies. At this time we will also adjust the irrigation controller as necessary.  Once the grass is tall enough to mow, we will hand mow your lawn.   Once the lawn has been cut three times we are able to apply a post-emergent herbicide to eliminate any weeds that have come up through the lawn. With any lawn we that we install, we will provide three mowings, an application of fertilizer and a application of weed control.  This will ensure that we can properly monitor the establishment of your new lawn and make adjustments as necessary, and ultimately lead to a healthy, thick turf for your family to enjoy.