Newly Seeded Lawn
What to Expect…
With proper care your seeded lawn can become
a thick carpet of grass. But this will not happen
overnight. In fact, when starting a lawn from seed,
it may take up to 2 years to get to the full luscious
lawn you desire. Regular watering, fertilization,
weed control, and overseeding will help speed up the
positive results
What We Did…
We prepared the soil for seed germination by raking
and grading the soil to the proper depth and applying
the proper amount of seed and starter fertilizer.
We use a high quality seed mix and apply straw or
fiber-mulch to protect the seed, hold in moisture, and
protect against erosion.
What You Need to Do…
You take it from here...
Water 2-3 times per day for the first 21 days until
germination. Figure on watering enough to keep
½” to 1” of moisture in the soil without running the
water so long that it creates streams of water running
over the soil and pooling (which washes away the
seeds). After germination or 21 days, you can begin
to scale back on the watering. Water less frequently
but for longer periods of time, which encourages
root growth. Reduce the frequency on irrigation
systems too. Continue with mowing and fertilization.
Watering Schedule (Example)
• Weeks 1-3: water lawn 2-3 times per day
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Week 4: water lawn 2 times per day
Week 5: water lawn 1 time per day
Week 6: water lawn every other day
Continue pattern until you are watering the
lawn once a week, putting down about an
inch of water over the entire lawn area.
***Watering guidelines are general. Watering
requirements will vary based on climate and rainfall.
Newly Sodded Lawn
What to Expect…
Installing sod gives you an instant lawn and will save
you 2-3 years of growth over a seeded lawn. But sod also
requires immediate and consistent water to get the sod to
take root.
For All New Lawns
Mowing…
You may mow your lawn for the first time when it
reaches 3 inches in height. Make sure your lawn mower
blades are sharp and do not cut of more than 1/3 of the
height of the grass.
What We Did…
We prepared the soil for proper root stimulation by
raking and grading the soil to the proper depth and applying
the proper amount of starter fertilizer before laying down
the sod.
What You Need to Do…
Sodded lawns require watering approximately 1”
immediately and then every 1-2 days depending on weather
until the sod is rooted. This typically takes 2 weeks. It is
important not to water log the soil. Once the sod is rooted,
gradually decrease the frequency to 1” of water weekly with
1-2 applications. Remember to take weather conditions into
consideration. Continue with mowing and fertilization.
Signs Your Sod is Too Dry…
•Color Change – watch out for a shiny,
silvery sheen or brown patches
•Shrinking Segments
•Seams Separating
Watering Tips:
*Set a coffee can in the sprinkler coverage area to see
when 1/2”-1” of water has accumulated.
*Water in the mornings and evenings to lessen the
evaporation.
*New lawns receiving lots of water benefit from more
frequent fertilization.
Fertilization…
After the first cutting you should apply a starter fertilizer
to promote root growth. Begin a regular fertilization
regiment 3-4 weeks after that first mowing. Apply 4-8
lbs of slow release lawn fertilizer per 1,000 sf. Apply
fertilizer 4 times a year in late May, early July, early
September, and early October. Do not apply any weed
control products until the lawn has been mowed at least
3-4 times.
Need Maintenance Help?
Contact Breezy Hill Nursery for help
maintaining your landscape, mowing,
fertilization, irrigation (262) 537-2111.
Plant Maintenance
Watering Guidelines…
•Trees water weekly through the heat of the
summer and every 2 weeks during milder spring and fall
temperatures. Let the hose trickle at the base of the tree
for about an hour.
•Shrubs water every 3 days through the heat of the
summer and once a week during spring and fall. Hold a
watering wand over the shrub for 30-60 seconds before
moving to the next.
•Perennials & Groundcover water every other
day through the heat of summer and every 2-3 days in
spring and fall. Hold watering wand over plant for 30-60
seconds.
•Conditions Plant needs will be determined by
climate conditions and soil type. Clay soils will need less
frequent watering and sandy soils will need more frequent
waterings.
Plant Maintenance Continued
Fertilizing (in April-June)…
•Trees should be fertilized with a granulated fertilizer
such as 10-10-10 at a rate of 1 cup per 2 caliper inches of the trunk (diameter of trunk one foot above the ground.)
Ensure that the fertilizer has at least 50% slow released
nitrogen. Spread fertilizer around the tree at the drip line, or at
the outer edge of the root ball.
•Shrubs ½ cup of slow release granulated fertilizer per
shrub.
•Perennials use either an instant fertilizer like MiracleGro which will only last 7-10 days and will need to be applied
with each watering in the Spring. Or use a time-released
fertilizer like Osmocote which will be applied once a year.
Lawn and Plant Maintenance
An Abbreviated Guide to Maintaining Your
New Lawn and Landscape
*Tip: You never want to prune off more than 1/3 of the
live wood on any shrub.
Pruning…
•Trees and Shrubs A good rule for pruning flowering
trees and shrubs is to prune them after they have flowered.
Dead, dying or diseased branches can/should be removed as
soon as they are noticed. Pruning is used to shape the plant
and encourages new growth, but be careful not to over prune.
•Perennials should be cut down in the late fall or early
spring.
•Guides look at breezyhillnursery.com, arborday.org or
hort.uwex.edu to find more specific guidelines.
*Tip: Over watered plants will die just as quickly
as under watered plants. Pull back the mulch and
dig into the soil 3” for shrubs and 6” for trees. If
the soil feels saturated, hold off for a day and test it
again tomorrow.
*Tip: Winter is the best time to prune deciduous trees
and shrubs if you can stand the cold!
Benefits of Mulch….
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Insulation for the roots
Holds in moisture
Helps prevent weeds
Provides nutrition as it decomposes
Mulch should be replenished every 1-3 years.
Keep at about a 3” mulch depth. Do not cover
plant stems or trunks.
Breezy Hill Nursery
7530 288th Ave. Salem, WI 53168
Office: 262-537-2111
www.breezyhillnursery.com
[email protected]