Click below to listen to my 2 min. Garden Bite radio show: Seeding a new lawn
How do you start a new lawn? I talked with Gertens Lawn Guru, Tom Jameson, who has 30 years of experience perfecting seed combinations and protocols.
First up, it’s very important to start with the appropriate seed mix for YOUR situation. Check with your local garden centers.
You purchased the appropriate seed mix and have seeded as recommended on the package. Now it’s irrigating! Don’t create a swimming pool, but keep that seeded area moist.
- For May, you might be watering twice a day
- In June, it could be 3 times a day.
A quick review of the color storm sprinkler:
If you did a good job watering, you should have a full stand of grass at the end of 3 weeks.
Cut back on the number of waterings per day but water longer and NOT into the evening. Fungus loves damp, warm conditions. You don’t want that!
You can use a starter fertilizer 3 to 4 weeks after seeding. Tom recommends that the nitrogen should be slow release. A follow up application of the same fertilizer about 5 weeks later is necessary, he says, to develop a good root system.
Normally I’m not one to encourage lawns but I understand plenty of folks like some slice of lawn!
Mow your grass after it has grown to 4 inches and cut it down by just an inch. A healthier lawn is 3 to 3 ½ inches tall as the grass blades absorb sunlight. It’s more critical when establishing a new lawn. Leave the clippings on the lawn as they provide key nutrients. As for weed control, there are organic products. Espoma is a good choice.
