Congratulations on your new lawn. Now comes the care following installation.
This is divided into three categories:
- Initial Care - 1st month
- Secondary Care - 2nd & 3rd months
- Long Term Care - 4th month and after establishment
Initial Care
Water as soon as the turf is installed. The quicker the first watering the better. Saturate evenly and thoroughly, try to water everything a little if limited watering capability is at the install site. Failure to water enough initially can damage the outward appearance of the grass and\or retard the establishment of the new grass, if severely neglected it could kill the grass. Several factors play a part in how much time after installation water is needed. These factors include air temperature, ground temperature, type of soil at jobsite. Direction & speed of wind, the species of turf involved and the time of year of installation. If there are any questions please call before installation occurs or very soon afterward. After initial saturation frequent light watering will be required. Again pay attention to the variables mentioned above. Frequent could mean as many as five times a day the first three days. Again consider all the variables involved. A watering error at the initial stage can result in increased care time and extra watering later. Only re-saturate if a gap occurs in the frequent watering pattern.
Secondary Care
Change watering pattern to one of saturation and wait until grass shows slight stress. This will force the turf to toughen up. Again remember all the variables, as there is no one rule for frequency of watering. A light fertilizer application will also be needed at this stage. This may also be a good time to get professional yard care if you do not feel qualified to maintain your turf.
Long Term Care
Similar to secondary care but with end of season fertilizer and early spring fertilizer needs. Post-emergent and Pre-emergent herbicides may also be necessary to stop or prevent weeds and undesirable grasses during this time. Keep in mind that your lawn area may have been a weed patch or meadow or wooded area only months before. The first year will naturally have more weed intrusion than subsequent years. If you are unsure of what to do please contact a lawn care professional. Most care procedures are fairly easy but prompt timing can make a huge difference in the results.