Lawn Care/New Grass/Establishment/To Seed or to Sod
Which is better to seed or to sod? The answer depends upon what you would like and expect. With sod you'll get an instant lawn. However it is more expensive to install and maintain (water costs) at first. Sod is also made up mostly of bluegrass which gives it that deep green color, but it tends to be a little less drought resistant. Seeded lawns call for more patience. Most seed is a combination of fescue (which tends to be more pale in color), bluegrass, and rye. The rye dies off after the first year. Rye grows quickly and helps to establish a seed bed for the other two varieties. Because of the fescue, seeded lawns tend not to have the deep green color of sod, however after a year or so of good care, few people can tell the difference. Keep in mind, even sod was seed at one time! The truth is both types will flourish if you maintain and water them correctly. It really comes down to 2 factors; speed and expense.
Seed
If
you have irrigation we usually recommend
against using straw on a new lawn. Straw serves 2 purposes.
If you have a system you have moisture on demand. It still may be a good idea to use straw on uneven or sloping contours to prevent erosion. Straw can prevent needed sunlight from reaching new seedlings, therefore inhibiting growth. At first, water your new seed 2 or 3 times daily during the daylight hours for brief periods. The idea is to keep the soil moist (not wet) to encourage germination. A week or two after initial germination (which should take about a week with good conditions) change the watering regimen to encourage root growth. Watering once in the early morning for a longer period. During this initial period, avoid walking on the yard. After about a month, your new lawn may be ready to mow for the first time. You'll have to judge this based on it's growth. Make sure it is fairly dry so as to not make ruts or damage the grade. Set the mower to around 3". Don't be discouraged if there are patches of bare soil here and there, this is normal. Once you've mowed the grass for the first time, re-seed any areas that have been washed out or haven't come in. It is highly recommended to fertilize the new lawn at this point. The lawn is in a state of transition and will benefit greatly from the boost. Use 12-12-12 for this application. Within the next month you'll see your new lawn look more and more established, but be patient. It takes a full season of growth to truly establish a seeded lawn.
Sod
An
irrigation system is a very good idea if you are going to sod your new lawn.
Establishing new sod is very water intensive. Sod needs to be watered as soon
as it's installed. This first watering should completely saturate the turf
and the soil below. You must insure that the sod doesn't dry out. Avoid walking
on the yard for the first few weeks. After the initial soak, you should begin
watering 2 to 3 times during the daylight hours for moderate to heavy periods
(rotors: 20 to 30 minutes/zone, sprays: 10 to 15 minutes/zone). Approx. a week
after installation, lift up a corner of the sod. You should see small white
roots protruding from the underside of the sod. Over the next weeks these will
begin to attach the sod to the soil. Maintain your watering program. Keep checking
the sod in this way (different places) until it begins to feel like "Velcro"
when you lift it. There should be many roots visible at a length of 1/2"
to 1" long. When you observe these conditions, it is time to reduce your
watering to one early morning cycle at 40% of your total during the 3 times
a day regimen (i.e. 3 x 30min. = 90min., 40% of this total which is 36min. once
a day). If the weather is hot and dry, a syringe cycle is recommended to cool
the grass and prevent stress. If the lawn begins to turn a silvery/gray color,
simply run a complete cycle manually. The initial process should take 2 to 3
weeks, at this point you are ready for your first mow. If the yard still feels
wet, reduce the time or stop watering for 1 day so you don't make ruts. Do not
wait too long to mow for the first time. This is a common mistake. If the lawn
looks like it needs to be mowed, trust your instinct and mow it. Try to anticipate
when you should reduce the water in preparation for the first cutting. If you
are not aggressive and wait too long, the grass will become too long, preventing
moisture from escaping the thatch layer. Then it becomes very difficult to dry
the lawn out without damaging it. With sod you should fertilize 1 month after
installation with 12-12-12, you want to maintain the fertilization that the
sod came with from the sod farm.