Many people dream of having the perfect lawn. Your yard greatly enhances or diminishes the overall view of your home. But maintaining a lawn isn’t always easy. Spots commonly walked may wear out leaving dirt where you use to have grass. Weeds can appear from seemingly nowhere.
#1. Choose Your Lawn
First, you have to choose what kind of lawn you would like. Natural grass takes longer to set up but is cheaper. Or you could go with turf, which takes time and more money to install but is ready to go when bought. In larger areas, you may need a professional to install turf.
Planting seeds are often thought to be the better option if you’re looking for long term quality. One reason is because you have more options for which kind of grass you want to have in your lawn. Another is because grass seeds mean roots that will ground themselves into the dirt.
#2. Preparing for Turf
No matter which type of lawn you choose, you need to prepare your lawn for it. The strategies for both have some similarities but also some differences. Now that you have chosen which type of lawn you would like, you can prepare the area for it.
If you have chosen turf, you will have to measure the area where you are going to have the turf installed. Multiply the length by the width. Many people suggesting adding 5% to the square footage, especially if your yard has an unusual shape.
Next, clear the area of rocks and other debris. You may find the use of a lawn vacuum helpful for this part. A lawn vacuum sucks up twigs, rocks, and leaves. Before installing the turf make sure you have about 4-6 inches of top soil where you want your turf to go.
#3. Preparing for Grass
To prepare for grass seed, begin by turning the current soil up to about 12 inches deep. Be sure to remove any debris or weed you find. Do this for the entire area you plan on planting your grass seeds.
Next, you may want to make the area even. You can do this with a large rake. This isn’t necessary if you would like to enjoy the natural landscape of your yard. This is simply a matter of personal preference.
To eliminate any air pockets in your soil, be sure to walk on the dirt. This helps the soil to settle. After a few weeks, rake the area again before planting.
#4. Installation
Now you’re ready to install. If you’re using seeds, sow them with a lawn spreader. A lawn spreader will help you plant the seeds evenly through the area. After the lawn has been covered with seeds, gently rake dirt over the seeds.
If you are installing turf, make sure you arrange it so there are no gaps in between the pieces of turf. Once you are finished with the entire area, nail the turf into place. Make sure there is a nail in each corner, and evenly throughout the yard.
#5. Water, Please!
No matter which type of lawn you picked, at this point, you will need to water it. If you planted seeds, water lightly. Be sure to water it every other day until you notice grass poking through the dirt. It will take about 2 weeks to reach this point.
For the turf, you will need to water your lawn more heavily. The turf will need about an inch of water. The soil underneath the turf should be wet for the turf to have the amount of water it needs. The turf will need to be watered every day for the first 10 days after installation.
#6. Your New Lawn
To make sure your lawn looks its best you will still need to maintain it. It will still require water occasionally especially if you’re in an area that does not receive a lot of water. If you planted seeds, do not cut the grass until it has reached about 3-4 inches tall. For best results, use fertilizer on your lawn as well. And don’t forget to weed when they appear.
