Making a New Lawn
Making a New Lawn
The key to making a new lawn is good preparation. Good soil structure and fertility is critical to a healthy lawn. Make any necessary improvements a month or two in advance of laying sod or sowing seed. It is much easier to do any improvements before the lawn is established.
The site should be firm, level and free from bumps, hollows, and perennial weeds. If the site was dug over, compress the soil. Rake the area to remove stones and lumps, leveling the surface. A top dressing of organic fertilizer or Organic Compost Plus can be raked in Sod or Seed- Seed is cheaper than sod, involves less work, and gives a greater choice of grass mixes but has distinct disadvantages: - Weeds may overwhelm grass seedlings - It could take up to 1 yr before the lawn can take hard use - Seed is more dependant on good weather Sod gives an immediate effect and the lawn can be used in a few weeks, there is also no need to protect sodded areas from birds or other animals, as with seeded ground. However - Sod must be laid within 48 hours of arrival - The choice of grass more limited - Quality sod can be difficult to find and is expensive
Designing in practicalities- Areas of lawn used for access can soon show signs of wear and tear, so stepping-stones, pavers or a path may need to be installed. Edges of lawns can be protected by sinking an edging strip along them. These usually come as flexible rolls of plastic or metal, and must be pushed well down so that they will not damage the mower.
Where the border plants spill over onto the lawn, consider laying an edging of bricks or paving slabs flush with the lawn surface This will act as a path for wet weather as well as allowing the mower to be run over the edge of the grass and onto the paving when cutting the grass The best and most beautiful lawns are made with many different grasses, offering different growth characteristics that together make a greener lawn. Choosing the right mixture of grasses is important in growing an organic garden. The grasses for your lawn should be chosen based on climate, soil type and use.
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