Lawn Care And Maintenance

At Rodda and Sons we don’t provide lawn maintenance services such as mowing and fertilizing. This information is included in our site to help our clients care for the lawns we installed for them.

Newly Seeded Lawns

The most important factor in getting a seeded lawn off to a good start is to keep the surface moist until the grass is one inch high, then water once or twice a day until the first mowing. Obviously rain and cool weather may help you avoid some watering, but sun and wind could dry the seed very quickly. An established lawn should be watered once or twice a week with 1″ of water per week when it isn’t raining. Test your sprinkler application rate by placing tin cans on the lawn, turn on the water and note the length of time it takes to fill the cans with one inch of water. This is the approximate length of time you should water your established lawn every week during dry weather.

Heavy traffic on your new seeded lawn should be avoided until it looks lush and green, just walking across it to set a sprinkler shouldn’t hurt it unless the ground is very damp and soft. Traffic can leave foot prints and depressions in soft wet soil.

Sod Lawns

New sod has a very shallow root system for several weeks until it can establish roots down into the soil. Therefore daily watering is critical to keep the existing roots from drying out and the sod from shrinking. During hot weather it may be necessary to water twice during the day until the grass becomes rooted. If seams show gaps or turn yellow-brown it usually indicates lack of water, more frequent watering will prevent this. Established lawns require 1″ of water per week in one or two applications. Test your sprinkler application rate by placing tin cans on the lawn, turn on the water and note the length of time it takes to fill the cans with one inch of water. This becomes the length of time you should water your established lawn per week during dry weather. More frequent on sandy soil, less frequent on clay soil.

Heavy traffic on your new sod lawn should be avoided until it looks lush and green, just walking across it to set a sprinkler shouldn’t hurt it unless the ground is very damp and soft. Traffic can leave foot prints and depressions in soft wet soil. The roots will start holding it down and knitting it together a few weeks after installation.

All New Lawns

Mow the grass when it reaches 2″ tall, or most of the grass blades are beginning to curve. Allow the soil to dry out enough so that the mower tires do not damage the developing grass. Use a sharp mower set about 1 1/2″ high. It is harmful to remove more than 1/3 the height of the grass at one cutting. This can produce a “scalped” appearance and stress the lawn.

Fertilizer was applied with your lawn when we installed it, so it won’t need fertilizing again until it is established and has been mowed twice or shows signs of turning yellow-green. New lawns planted in soil recently mixed with organic matter will require more frequent fertilizing the first 2 years, because decomposing matter ties up nitrogen in the soil (then later releases it). During the growing season, March thru November, it is beneficial to apply a 12-4-8 fertilizer or one with a 3-1-2 ratio every 4-5 weeks to an established lawn. Application of fertilizer in late fall is probably the most important time because it stimulates root growth in the dormant months. Water well after fertilizing your lawn. “Weed and Feed” type products are not recommended for use on a new lawn until it is six months to one year old. Be sure to read the manufacturers directions. A healthy lawn is your best weed preventive.

Furney’s Nursery (21215 Pacific Hwy. So.) carries a complete line of lawn care products that we have found to be good. They will give helpful advice in selecting the product that you need to control weeds, disease, insects and fertilizing.

“The men who performed the work at our home were courteous, hard-working, and did a superb job. We are very pleased and have recieved many compliments on the completed job.”

- Jeanne W.