How To Prepare For A Beautiful Lawn

 

Here you will find some general information for preparing for a lawn.  I want to emphasize that creating a beautiful lawn is much like laying the foundation for the house.  Without a good base to start with, the top will not be pretty.  Consider what it is that you are looking to get out of the lawn area, and this will help you start making the right decisions for some of your prep work.  Remember, the more you put into the preparation to begin with, the better overall returns you’ll realize in the end.

 

Starting

Spray any weeds with a broad spectrum weed control.  Make sure that this does not have any residual effect on the soil (more than 2 to 7 days).  Generally, there is no reason to remove the sod or weed as long as they are dead.  They will decay and add to the organic matter in your soils.  Consider having your soils tested by a reputable lab for general nutrient/soil requirements. 

 

Tilling

Prepare the soil by roto-tilling to a depth of 4-6 inches.  If your soils are low in organic matter (almost all soils are), consider tilling in some quality compost materials.  Consider this compost as a way to feed your soil. This is a good time to work in some limestone, additional nutrients, organic matter and so forth indicated from soil tests.

 

Soil_Depth                                                                                                    

 

We recommend 3-6 inches, rolled and then raked  to final grade. Rule of thumb is 10-12 yards of soil per every 1000 square feet of area.

 

Grading

Establish your rough grade by raking and leveling the soil.  To eliminate drainage problems, slope soil away from foundations, etc.  Grade edges to approximately ¼” below sidewalks, driveways and patios to provide a smooth transition onto the new lawn.  Use a lawn roller if necessary to firm grade then finish rake or rough up the soil prior to hydroseeding.  This is the point that you will want to install you automated irrigation system if planned.  Finish grade for smooth transitions.

 

Firmness

 

Make sure that you do not have a soil compaction issue. To provide a proper seed bed you need at least the top 1/2” or more of the soil to be loose or roughed up by raking. Being compacted the roots will have a difficult time going deep and it will increase the chance of having an erosion issue due to either over watering or heavy rainfall events.

 

Hydroseeding

Hydroseeding is quickly becoming the chosen method to establish a lush green lawn.  Here's how it works.  Grass seed, fertilizer, hydro-mulch and a special bonding agent are mixed into a thick slurry which is evenly sprayed onto your prepared soil.

 

Once your lawn has been hydro seeded, the grass seed and fertilizer are protected by an attractive, green layer of hydro mulch, that seals in moisture.

 

Hydroseeding allows you to have a lush, emerald green lawn fast, grown in place to your soil conditions.   Seed varieties can be adjusted to suit your growing locations and needs.  Special additives can be tank mixed and applied with the hydroseed… providing easy application with great benefits.