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Like a good house, a good lawn needs a good foundation. If
your lot was stripped of topsoil in preparation for building,
any grass will perform better if you replace this soil with an improved soil or conditioner. Bulk topsoil (many definitions as to what 'top soil' really is) from offsite 'mined' sources can be infested with crabgrass and other weed seed. Blending the subsoil with a weed free, uniform, humus compost like SOIL3 greatly enhances your opportunity for successful establishment and long term enjoyment of your lifetime lawn.
Preparing the Seedbed
Grade and level the lot, removing all sticks, stones, and
pulverizing all large clumps of earth. Be sure that
drainage is away from all buildings and that grades are
established as you desire them because once your grass
is planted any change will be difficult and expensive.
Add SOIL3 Humus Compost to a depth of 1 to 2 inches and smooth over the landscape (approximately 1 to 2 SOIL3 cubes per 1000 sq ft). Next add 10 to 20 lbs. per 1000 square feet of a complete fertilizer such
as 5-10-15 or 10-10-10, and approximately 25 to 50 lbs. of dolomitic
limestone per 1,000 square feet. For Centipede use only
Starter & Centipede Formulation fertilzer or half as much complete fertilizer and no limestone.
Mix the soil amendments, fertilizer and lime into the top 4 to 6 inches by tilling.
Drag or rake the surface smooth making certain that grades have not changed.
Don't skimp on good seedbed preparation.
Solid Sodding
Sodding has become amore attractive product for new lawn projects because of the cost efficiency and the immediate ground cover - preventing erosion and working mud into the house.
Typically the sod is harvested in blocks 16" wide and 24"
long or in strips 16" wide and 81" long which are rolled
for easier handling. The thickness runs 1" to 1-1/2",
of which about 1/2" is soil and the remainder is grass,
so that for solid sodding the grades around sidewalks and
drives should be approximately 1/2" lower than the paving. |
Laying solid sod is fairly simple. Schedule delivery
only after you have prepared a seedbed and are ready to
install, and then insist on prompt delivery after harvest. Start
laying along the longest edge-curb, driveway or building.
Stagger blocks or strips as if laying a cement block wall. Butt
sod firmly and stretch each piece so that the roots will
lay flat against the soil. In dry, hot weather, lightly
wet the surface before laying, and soak each small area
immediately (within one hour) after laying. Roll the sod once all has been installed to insure good soil root contact.
Water at least once each afternoon until the sod is firmly
rooted.
HINT: When lawns with steep slopes are seeded, it is a good idea
to lay strips of solid sod every six to ten feet across
the slope to assist in erosion control. "Nail" the
sod to the ground by using long, wooden spikes.
Seeding
TifBlair® Centi-Seed Centipede and Zenith® Zoysiagrass are improved southern lawn grasses that can be established from seed and sod. One pound per 2,000 to 4,000 square feet of Super-Wrapped TifBlair™ or one pound per 1,000 square feet for Zenith® is all that is required to establish these quality grasses. The cost of seeding is less than establishing
any of the better grasses by sodding, and only a few dollars
more for the average lawn than the cost of using grass seed
mixtures or bermuda seed. TifBlair™ Centi-Seed and Zenith® Zoysia seeded lawns start slowly, but usually produce coverage quicker than plugs.
Best results are obtained when TifBlair™ or Zenith® Zoysia are
planted in early to late spring, but they may be sown throughout
the summer and until about 60 days before frost.
Broadcast TifBlair™ Centi-Seed and Zenith® Zoysia on
a 'well prepared' seedbed with a Cyclone type spreader. Use
a narrow flow-gate opening; apply half the seed traveling
east to west and the other half traveling north to south
to insure uniform distribution. Rake lightly
to mix the seed into the top quarter inch of
soil.
Water well
and keep the surface moist.
Water seeded areas frequently enough to keep the surface
moist until the tiny seedlings have a well established root
system. Hasten coverage by topdressing with a nitrogen
fertilizer, beginning when the seedlings have about four
leaves. Be certain to water well to avoid possible chemical
burn.
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