How to create the perfect lawn – step by step instructions

Grass is an ideal universal plant for any garden. You know the saying “it grows like grass” but to turn grass into a lawn you need to put in some efforts. If you want to create a new lawn, the ideal time is spring – usually April, when the temperatures exceed 10°C. If the soil is dry enough, you can start working. Another good time is the end of summer. Do not forget that a lawn needs sunlight too. So, if you want to grow lawn under a canopy of trees it may be very problematic.

Soil preparation

Before planting you need to prepare the area properly. Get rid of all “stuff” that does not belong in the soil. All of it. For example, leftover material from construction work, stones, old plants or even old roots. If you prepare the area carefully and maintain it properly, you will not be dealing with fungal diseases and weeds so much. Before sowing grass seed, you may use a suitable herbicide against weeds, but make sure you do it 3 to 4 weeks before sowing.

Photo: Pixabay

Soil quality

If you can, find out the pH of the soil – the optimum is 5.5 to 6.5. If the soil is too acidic you may see plenty of moss later and getting rid of moss is difficult. To reduce acidity, use calcium fertilizer and if your soil is too alkaline, use sulfur fertilizers or acidic peat. Start adjusting the pH about a week before sowing. If you have too much clay, add sand and gravel with a grain size of 0 to 4 mm. And finally, if you have a sandy soil, add peat.

Terrain leveling

To create a perfect lawn you need to loosen the soil to a depth of approximately 20 cm. Use a spade or a rotavator if the area is too large. Then use a rake to remove the remains of the plants and level the area. Now, you need to do some “rolling” to compact the top layer of soil. To level it, you may use a little trick. “Flood” the entire area with water and you will see where the water tends to stand. Finally, you need to fertilize the soil with a universal granulated fertilizer (a week before sowing).

Sowing

Make sure there is no wind when sowing and that the weather is warm and humid. Slightly level the top layer with a rake right before sowing. This will let you cover the seeds easier. The recommended dose is about 35-50 grams of seeds per 1 m². Cover the seeds with soil. 1 cm is enough. Roll the surface and then water. Use a diffused stream of water.

Care

About two weeks after sowing, you can use fertilizer for the first time. After about two weeks, the lawn will start to sprout. Do not walk on the area of the lawn – for about for 4 weeks. Once the grass is about 10 cm tall, you can mow your lawn down to 4 to 6 cm for the first time. Regular mowing supports grass growth and makes your lawn denser. During the first months you should mow your lawn twice a week. Regular watering is also very important.

Source: https://www.ziemovit.pl/

Preview photo: Pixabay