It’s been a while since you’ve been treated to a stunning new carpet of grass (otherwise called roll-on turf) laid down and you’re absolutely in love with it! Now the concern is what can you do to look after it so that it is strong and does not give up on you, especially during the first few weeks.
We get this question asked by worried customers frequently We will detail the best practices to follow when maintaining your new lawn.
Watering
This is extremely important and if done incorrectly could cause significant harm to your gorgeous new turf. Be aware of the care that your lawn requires and make sure you don’t have any vacations in the first few weeks following installation. Imagine getting a reticulation issue and then having dead grass!
Instant lawns or lawn runners (stolons) and lawns with seeds require at minimum a daily watering for the initial 2 weeks of establishing roots. That means you should consult with your contractor to get their advice and also have a high-quality reticulation system installed and adjusted accordingly. Make sure you know who to call if the system is experiencing issues You don’t want to be required to water the lawn manually!
Watering exemptions are provided when you have a new lawn and can last up to 45 days during summer and 35 days during winter. Make sure you’ve requested an exemption. Once your lawn is established the watering requirements apply to both commercial and residential gardens. Be certain to monitor the dates for watering here.
In order to conserve water you can reduce the amounts of water that are used but be sure to check the appearance of the lawn and if it’s becoming dry and wilting, increase the amount of water. If you notice brown patches look at the retic right away to determine if it’s missing the spot or if the issue is related to your lawn.
Mowing
Be careful not to do this until you’re certain that your lawn has grown and that its root systems are in good shape. Make sure to check this by gently pulling upwards on the edge of the turf roll. If it pulls up, stop mowing for a week or two and if it doesn’t, then it’s time to cut. This could happen in the first two weeks for lawns that are instant, therefore, arrange for a gardener to visit in case you aren’t able to do it for it.
If your lawn was over-watered, it could have grown exponentially, which could result in a rapidly overgrown lawn. If this occurs, don’t cut it down in one go, but cut it down up to about a third of its height, and gradually bring it back to the ideal length.
Be cautious not to cut too much during the first few mows. be sure to cut off only 2-3 months after it’s established.
Fertilizing
Make sure your landscaper offers turf that has been fertilized, which is usually this is the case for instant turf or if they include fertilizers when they plant. Request a two-month slow-release fertilizer, and then apply it again every two months, excluding the months of Winter June-August. It is essential that you apply fertilizer in the month of April, to give your lawn a boost increase during winter and also in August at the end to aid in spring’s recovery.
Watch to your left for…
Weeds are a sign of an issue with maintenance, so make sure you’ve got regular fertilization, watering, and mowing system in place. Brown Patches as we’ve discussed previously, these patches could be a sign of the presence of a retic issue and requires to be examined promptly before it’s too late and your lawn is dying. It could also indicate the result of a pest issue or an issue in the lawn itself.
One way to make certain that your lawn will last is to give it constant attention and maintenance during the initial few weeks. If you’re not available, be sure to find an expert gardener or professional to monitor your lawn and ensure that your irrigation system running smoothly.
Do you need help? We have experts on hand to assist you with everything from lawn selection and installation, through installation and configuration of a reticulation system as well as lawn care and general garden maintenance learn more about how we can help make (and maintain!) your garden beautiful!
