Use and Care Manual

America’s
Natural Choice
FREE
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Mow for the first time on day 14 to 3 inches. The blades
must be dry. Never remove more than 1/3 of the blade
in any one mowing. The lawn must be well established
before a riding mower is used.
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Feed new lawns for the first time after 30 days. Use a
balanced fertilizer (16-16-16 i.e.)
■
Feed every 4-8 weeks April through September
Water requirements can vary for locales with greater
precipitation. The guidelines below are for warm weather and/
or drier climates. The necessity is that the sod base and soil
remain evenly moist for the first two weeks for rooting to occur.
First 14 days
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60°-70° 8 am, 1 pm, for 15 minutes
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70°-90° 6 am, 12 pm, 3 pm for 20-25 minutes
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90° + 6 am, 10 am, 2 pm, 4 pm for 20-25 minutes
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If run off is excessive, or sod is soggy, reduce the length
of time; not the frequency
After 14 days
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6 am daily for 20-25 minutes. Shaded areas may require
less water
After 30 days
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10 am 2-3 times weekly for 30 minutes. Shaded areas
may require less water.
Helpful hints
■
Do not water lawns of any age at night; it may promote
disease.
■
During periods of extreme heat or dry winds, the lawn
may require additional water.
■
The object is to water deeply, less frequently to
encourage deep rooting.
Mowing guide lines
Fertilization
Irrigation and maintenance
Bermuda
Bluegrass
Centipede
Fescue
Ryegrass
St. Augustine
Zoysia
1 ½” CA 1”
1½-2”
2”
1½-2”
1½”
3” CA 1”
2”
Variety Mowing Heights
Turfgrass
Installation & Care Guide
Trouble Shooting Guide
BROWN AREAS
Water Deprivation
Sprinkler heads must rise above lawn level. Confirm water
is reaching edges along sidewalks and spray patterns
overlap.
Helpful Suggestion: Before delivery, test the irrigation
system on the installation surface; identifying dry areas.
Replace or adjust sprinkler heads, as needed.
Poor Contact
Soil may have settled, creating air pockets. Pull back the
new sod, fill the area with clean soil, and ensure contact
between sod and soil. Hand water the area thoroughly.
Helpful suggestion: Use a roller twice; in the final stage
of soil preparation, and after sod is installed. (The roller
should be 1/3 full).
Installation Error
Sod seams must be tight and abut driveways and
sidewalks. Airspace causes dryness. If the lawn adjoins a
flowerbed, edges must have soil pushed against them.
Helpful suggestion: Begin installation along edges. See
the “Installation” section of this guide.
SOGGY AREAS
Standing Water
Poor drainage or an air pocket under sod allows water to
pool. A small area can be remedied by aerating with a
screwdriver, then leveling the pocket with clean soil.
Helpful suggestion: Improve drainage with amendments
recommended in the “Preparation” section of this guide.
Night Watering
Adjust the irrigation schedule, allowing the lawn to dry
before nightfall.
THINNING
Inadequate Sunlight
Helpful suggestion: Prune or thin trees or shrubs prior to
installation.
Over Watering
Frequent, shallow watering of established lawns, leach
nutrients and prevent proper oxygen absorption.
Helpful suggestion: If the lawn is mature, feed with a
balanced fertilizer and schedule irrigation to be deeper
and less frequent.