|
Services
>
Lawn Maintenance
|
|
|
Lawn "Refurbishing"
Refurbishing Your Lawn
|
|
Refurbishing a lawn usually happens when your lawn has been destroyed by insects, weeds, and has been neglected or the turf grass has run out. If you have sufficient topsoil, you can kill the existing grass/weeds and start over with new seed without putting down more topsoil. If your lawn has to be reseeded and you don’t have sufficient topsoil, new soil will have to be added to the existing soil.
Determined the area of your lawn: measure the length x width. This will give you the square footage of the area. The square footage will determine how much soil, seed or sod, fertilizer, and lime you will require. Soil is measured by cubic yards. This is determined by: Length x Width x Depth of soil in feet (divided by)/ 27 = cubic yards of soil. Everyone that sells soil can figure out what you need, as long as you know the length, width and depth of soil.
As always, it is a good idea to get a soil sample. Most people don’t get soil samples. If you’re in that group, put on one 18kg bag of lime per 1,000 sq ft in the spring or fall of each year.
The best time for seeding is August 15th to September 15th. If you seed early or in the been scarfed by the dethatcher. You will not be able to hit all the soil, but that’s fine. You will have to remove all the dead grass the dethatcher took up.
When this is completed, put down one 18kg bag of lime per 1,000 sq ft and turf starter. Now you’re ready to put down seed. The seed you use will determine how much you will be putting down. Don’t skimp on the seeds. The number one reason for lawns not coming in thick is because not enough seed was put down. Water is the key with this procedure. You need water to wash the seed into the ground. If the seed is not on the ground it will not develop into grass. Sometimes it’s a good idea to put on a lot of seed to be assured enough makes contact with the ground.
It makes no difference what goes down first, the lime or the fertilizer. They go on back to back with no waiting time between the lime and the fertilizer. You can’t put down too much fertilizer or lime as long as you use a spreader. Give us a call and we can walk you through the procedure. We loan our spreaders out at no cost to our customers.
After the grass has been up for two weeks, go over the area with more turf starter at a quarter rate. Every two weeks put on the turf starter fertilizer at a quarter the rate. If you can water by all means water. If you can’t water, you will have to wait for rain.
You will have to mow when the grass gets to the mowing height. Because the grass seeds do not germinate at the same time, you will be mowing while there is still seed on the ground.
Scenario two: If you have less than 3 inches of topsoil, you will have to add more soil. The first step would be to kill the lawn and then mow it down as close to the ground as you can mow. You will have to remove the grass that was mowed.
Check around for prices on top soil. Make sure the soil is dry when it is delivered. You will not be able to know what you are buying without a soil sample. The best you can do is take the sample when the soil arrives. When you receive the sample results you can make the corrections. Most people do not get soil samples and usually call us for advice.
Stake off all the water lines, septic system, buried electric wires and all other buried items. Now have the soil delivered and dumped in a location that will not be in the way of building the lawn. Don’t dump the soil in the middle of the lawn to be planted. You are ready to spread the soil. If you are moving 12 yards or less you can use a wheel barrow. Moving top soil with a wheel barrow is only for those with a young heart. Ask around for someone with a machine that will charge it out by the hour. Keep in mind when the machine arrives you are in charge. For this type of job get a small machine. Advise them where all the buried items are on the property. Nobody wants to drive through a septic tank or crush a field bed.
When this is completed, put down one 18kg bag of lime per 1,000 sq ft and turf starter. Now you’re ready to put down seed. The seed you use will determine how much you will be putting down. Don’t skimp on the seeds. The number one reason for lawns not coming in thick is because not enough seed was put down. Water is the key with this procedure. You need water to wash the seed into the ground. If the seed is not on the ground it will not develop into grass.
It makes no difference what goes down first, the lime or the fertilizer. They go on back to back with no waiting time between the lime and the fertilizer. You can’t put down too much fertilizer or lime as long as you use a spreader. Give us a call and we can walk you through the procedure. We loan our spreaders out at no cost to our customers.
After the grass has been up for two weeks, go over the area with more turf starter at a quarter rate. Every two weeks put on the turf starter fertilizer at a quarter the rate. If you can water by all means water. If you can’t water, you will have to wait for rain.
You will have to mow when the grass gets to the mowing height. Because the grass seeds do not germinate at the same time, you will be mowing while there is still seed on the ground.
If you would like a quote on us refurbishing your lawn please give us a call.
|
|
|
|
|
|
5 Ohio Road, Shelburne, Nova Scotia, B0T 1W0
Tel: 1-877-870-3055 | 902-875-3055 | Fax: 902-875-3023
info@novascotiagardening.com
|
