Establishing the Lawn

Original PowerPoint Createdby Howard Henderson

Modified by the Georgia Agriculture Education Curriculum Office

June 2002

Reasons forEstablishing 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.

Soil and Grading

• Consider soil conditions:– 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.

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% for mowing

safety

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.

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.

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.

Starting the Lawn

• There are three ways to start a lawn:– Seeding– Sodding– Plug or Strip Planting

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.

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

Seeding the Lawn

• There are several steps involved in seeding a lawn:– Sowing the seed– Covering the seed– Mulching– Firming the seed– Watering

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.

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.

Reference

Introductory HorticultureFourth Edition

H. Edward Reiley & Carroll L. Shry, Jr.