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Starting a Lawn: Do I buy sod
or do I sow seeds? |
| The first decision of what
kind of grass to plants was pretty easy - most people around Lubbock plant Common Bermuda.
It's biggest benefit is that, unlike Kentucky Blue that I had in Colorado, Bermuda doesn't
require a great deal of water. My understanding is that I need to water about 1" every
6-7 days. That sure beat watering every 3 days like I did in Colorado. |
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| Bermuda grow by putting out
runners and as a result could be a challenge to keep it out of the flower beds.
The advantage is that the runners appear to be above ground so that may be easier to pull
out. Bermuda is also the disease and drought tolerant. |
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| Starting a lawn
from seed will be the most economical for us. The nursery attendant suggested that I
sow about 1 pound per 50 sq ft. And that I can sow until the temp drops below 65
degrees Fahrenheit. That's well into the fall around here. He also
said that the Bermuda will go dormant in the winter and I have the option to overweed with
an annual ryegrass or a perennial ryegrass in the winter. Theoretically the
grass will be green all year. |
| I need to sow
annual rye 1 pound of seed per 150 square feet. Annual rye grass normally germinates
in 7 – 10 days. |
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| Planting Instructions: |
- Remove or Kill all existing weed -- that means
either hand pulling or applying a weed killer. Not many weeds so I'll
pull by hand.
- Till the soil from 4 - 6" deep. Work in some
peat or compost. The land looks clay to me, so I'll mix in 100 pound of
gypsum per 1000 sg ft. Now is the time to re-condition the soil.
- Level the surface and remove clods, rocks, etc.
Add top soil to fill in holes. Water gently. Add more top soil if
needed.
- Apply a "New Lawn" fertilizer. Get one with
a higher middle number.
All fertilizers use a three number rating system, like 15-15-15, or 21-7-14. The
first number represents Nitrogen - promotes vigor - green; the second is Phosphorous
- roots, flowers, fruit; the third is Potassium (or Potash) - gives plant strength
to survive.
- Scatter the seeds. Use a hand-held seeder
for the best results. The one used to distribute fertilizer will work.
Make two passes - seed half the recommend amount going east-west. Then
seed the other half going north-south. Top lightly with peat or compost - can
be dropped from a push spreader.
- Water - keep the soil moist. Water
deeply (4-6") initially, then several times during the day to keep the soil moist.
NEVER LET THE SOIL DRY OUT or all your work will have been in vain.
- Mow when the new lawn is about 3" hight.
- After the first mowing apply the same starter
fertilizer.
- Don't use chemical weed killer the first year.
- Fertilize in the fall. This will strengthen the
root system and prepare the grass to emerge in the spring.
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