A brand new turf has just been laid at your home, providing a beautiful green transformation of your yard. Proper lawn care is vital at this early stage for the survival and flourishing of your turf. Here are a few tips from the Glenview Turf team to ensure a healthy lawn.
Watering Your New Turf
Water your new turf as soon as possible after installation, thoroughly soaking it so that the dirt below can grow roots. Your new turf needs a great deal of water in the first couple of weeks to survive. Try to do this as early in the day as possible so that less water evaporates. Watering during the middle of the day in the hottest months can cause the water to heat up and scorch the grass in the sun’s hot rays. It is also bad to water your lawn in the evening, which risks disease and fungus development.
Getting the balance right is important, as too much water can lead to the development of shallow root systems, increasing the risk of grub damage and heat stress. It is also important to never let the turf dry out. This means you need to adjust your watering according to the weather at the time of planting. In peak summer periods, a watering regime of 10 minutes, 4 times a day is required for the first week. In milder temperatures, once or twice a day will do.
Implement two deep waterings per week by the fourth week. It is important to monitor the lawn for signs of stress or dehydration, which can be noticed by a drying out and yellowing of the leaf matter. If this happens, immediate lawn care and remedy is required by increasing watering frequency to prevent any damage.
Mowing
Wait 10 to 14 days after installation to do your first mowing, as the lawn should be firmly rooted into the soil. You can test this by going to a corner edge of a turf roll, grabbing a handful of the grass and pulling it upwards to make sure the lawn stays fixed to the soil by its roots. Mowing should commence when the grass is around 6cm high.
A new lawn can have large amounts of growth in the first few weeks if taken care of properly and depending on the type of grass. Make sure the lawn is dry before you mow to avoid making tracks and set the mower on its highest setting to avoid scalping the plant, sending it into shock.
Ensure you don’t remove too much leaf material in the first few mowings. Keep your cuts high until about two or three months in, depending on climate and growth rates. In any case, you shouldn’t cut more than a third of the length off your grass.
For more tips on lawn care and maintenance for your new turf, consult one of the friendly experts at Glenview Turf.