JJ Wurst Landscape and Garden Center in Erie, PA

The 4 to 8 week period following seeding or sodding is critical to the survival of the new lawn. More establishments fail due to improper follow-up care than all other facets of lawn establishment. As the newly-established turf matures, it must be irrigated and mowed on a regular basis. Many new stands also need additional fertilizer and herbicide applications. Traffic must be limited since turfgrass wear tolerance during the establishment phase is extremely poor.

Watering: In the weeks following establishment, grass root systems are delicate and shallow and seedlings cannot withstand severe moisture stress. Whether the lawn is established from seed or from sod, it will probably need regular, sometimes daily, irrigation. The soil should be moist at all times, but not excessively wet. This can usually be accomplished by light, frequent irrigation. Irrigation can be reduced during rainy periods, in cool-overcast conditions, and if the seedbed is properly mulched.

Mowing: Newly-established turf needs to be mowed on a regular basis (Fig. 22). Regular removal of small amounts of leaf tissue is much less stressful to your turf than infrequent removal of large amounts of tissue. Begin mowing newly-established turf with a light-weight mower when grass plants are no more than one-third higher than the desired cutting height. Thus, if you want to mow the turf at two inches, begin mowing just before it reaches three inches.

An important consideration in mowing new establishments is how soon the turf is able to withstand the weight of the mower and the person doing the mowing. You can test this by walking onto the new turf and looking to see if the grass plants move back into an upright position where you have stepped. If they do, you can probably begin mowing. If not, you risk trampling the new seedlings into the soil.

Fertilization: Sometimes starter fertilizer applications are not enough to sustain rapid growth of new establishments and additional fertilizer is required. An application of ½ lb nitrogen/1000 sq ft 4 to 8 weeks after applying the starter fertilizer helps to thicken the new turf.

Traffic Control: Newly-established turf is very sensitive to most herbicides, and applications should be avoided unless a severe weed infestation occurs and you are absolutely sure the herbicide will not interfere with the growth of the turf. Herbicide labels usually have precautionary statements concerning the rate and length of time after seeding the product can be safely applied. Many broadleaf herbicides, for example, should not be applied until 4 to 6 weeks following establishment.

Weed Control: Keep all foot and vehicular traffic off the newly-established turf until it is well rooted and has been mowed several times. Seedlings can be bruised or uprooted if trampled in the early stages of development. Traffic on sod restricts root development and leads to thinning. If necessary, place signs and/or barriers around the lawn to discourage traffic.

Prepared by Peter Landschoot, professor of turfgrass science