Caring For Your New Lawn: A Guide to Managing Your Turf Areas

Caring For Your New Lawn: A Guide to Managing Your Turf Areas

Caring for a new lawn is going to take some "TLC" in the weeks to come. Just like any garden or crop, your new grass is fragile, especially in the early days. When we plant a new lawn, we either place straw netting or loose straw over the seed; this helps to keep the seed in place and lock in moisture when you water it. The good news is that even the netting is biodegradable, so there is no need for it to be removed, even after the grass has begun to grow.

Watering is Key

One of the most crucial aspects of caring for your new grass is watering. For tall fescue, it requires one to two inches of water per week to thrive under normal conditions. To ensure proper hydration, I recommend watering newly seeded areas once in the morning and once in the evening to keep the top inch of soil moist. As the seed germinates over the next 7 to 21 days, and seedlings begin to appear, you can lengthen the time between watering to once a day, preferably in the evening.

Limit Traffic on Your New Lawn

To promote healthy growth and establishment of your new lawn, it is essential to limit the amount of traffic you allow on it. Try to keep people and pets off until the grass is established and you begin to mow your lawn regularly.

Mowing Tips

Once the blade length of the grass reaches at least 6 inches, you can begin to mow. At this time, it should be safe to mow at your regular frequency and cut at whichever height the current season and temperature call for.

By following these caring tips, your new lawn will flourish and provide you with a beautiful, healthy outdoor space to enjoy!