Lawns

A good lawn is the starting point for any successful home garden. Lawns are created for aesthetic use in gardens, and for recreational use, including sports. They are typically planted near homes, often as part of gardens, and are also used in other ornamental landscapes and gardens. New lawns can be made almost any time, however, no matter when you make a new lawn, there are certain steps that must be followed if you want a deep root system and a thick, healthy top growth.

Starting A Lawn

A lawn usually contains a combination of many grass types. It is essential to pick the right type, use a blend that is recommended for your area. Just as a plant that thrives in dry soil will likely die in a boggy spot, an out-of-place grass will grow poorly or not at all. After making a choice, you can either start grass from seeds or put live plants in the ground (that means sod). Sod is the quickest, easiest way to start a new lawn but usually the most expensive. Sod yields a usable lawn in a few weeks. You might be able to lay a section of sod yourself, but large jobs probably demand professional installation. Grass seed is generally much cheaper than sod and can be sown by a do-it-yourselfer. However, it requires extensive preparation, timing, and careful follow-up care. You’ll need patience, too, because seeded lawns can take months to establish. Sometimes some grasses just don’t even start well from seed so you have no other choice except to go for sods.

Preparation

Whether you sod or seed, your soil must be grass-friendly: deep, crumbly, fertile, and well-draining. These are essential requirements and must be adhered to before laying the grass in the lawn. Build up shallow soil with a few inches of weed-free topsoil. Improve the soil condition by working in compost, manure, or other organic matter. Solve drainage problems by changing the grade of your yard or installing a subsurface drainage system.