I am a first time home-owner, and I just bought a new house where they
only landscaped the front yard. I want to ensure that when I do the
backyard, I do it properly, right down to the last detail. When my
neighbor did hers, she just brought in topsoil and laid sod right on top
of it and that was it. I'm sure a professional would do more than this.
Am I right?
Nope, in fact most don't even bother with the topsoil. Bad mistake.
I can't tell you how true this is. Unfortunately, the "professionals" are
actually minimum-wage workers who don't know squat about soil science or
horticulture or even grass cultivars. The homeowner inevitably pays for
this lack of knowledge. Think of your lawn as analogous to your home; the
soil is the foundation. Would you blow money on a home with a poor
foundation? (People do this all the time, true, but would YOU?)
So you're on the right track. First, find out who sells the "pros" their
grass seed. It is well worth the drive to find the warehouse and talk to
the most knowledgeable person there. This will usually be whoever does all
the troubleshooting for the company. Ask them what the best cultivar is for
your area. If they seem very knowledgeable, venture on and as about the
ideal soil prep for this cultivar. Next, send a soil sample off to have it
analyzed for your cultivar's needs. Grass is incredibly hardy stuff, that's
why it puts up with all of our abuse, so focus mainly on the pH. Nitrogen
is the mainstay of grass, and you can adjust that with fertilizer. Make the
adjustments the lab recommends, then establish a good O horizon. I could
write reams here about appropriate topsoils, but you're better off simply
checking some university websites. Inquire with your extension agent -
they're usually there more for the agricultural community, so often the
extension agent has some good knowledge on soil science. Ask a few polite
questions about the individual's background; if they lack the appropriate
knowledge, keep the conversation short, and forget anything he/she has said.
If the agent has a background appropriate to your inquiries, pepper him or
her with questions. People love to be asked about their specialty; take
advantage of that fact.
Try google.com if you already haven't. Do specific searches on each step of
the process: evaluating soil; correcting soil conditions; establishing a
good O horizon; cultivar appropriate for your area; initial planting
considerations, specifically timing (autumn is usually best) and irrigation
(water frequently while establishing your lawn, ease off when it is in full
vigor); and finally, PROPER MAINTENANCE. That means not watering every day,
no matter how hot it is. It's tough to beat this into everybody's heads.
We regularly get 100 degree summers here, and people think they have to
water every day. This is a fallacy, and it is actually bad for your lawn.
The roots won't grow deeply, and your lawn stresses more easily. Diseases
and insect problems will surely follow. Irrigate DEEPLY and INFREQUENTLY.
When your lawn changes from a bright green to a dull green, it is signaling
you for water. Timed sprinklers are great if you have the same temperature
and rainfall every day of the year. You don't, I'm sure, so be forewarned.
When you irrigate, water until a pan set under the sprinkling pattern fills
up with a one inch depth of water. Don't water again until the lawn tells
you that it is time. Water early in the morning; too late in the day will
lose water to evaporation, and too late at night will leave your lawn wet
all evening, resulting in one of dozens of lawn fungi (corticium red thread
is a local favorite). Don't butcher your lawn, either. Sharpen your mower
frequently, and follow the recommended height for your cultivar. Mowing too
low deprives your soil of shade, resulting in moisture loss, and it stresses
the grass. Grass doesn't really WANT to be mowed; it is purely an aesthetic
practice on our part. Err on the high side, and don't mow more than 1/3 of
the height of the grass at any time.
Good luck, and don't despair of learning everything at once. There is a
great deal of science behind a lawn, really, and no one specializes in it
all - that's why I haven't offer much in the way of specifics.
Keep that thumb green!
chris
---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (
http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.552 / Virus Database: 344 - Release Date: 12/15/2003