Lawn - The Full Story
What is required when installing a new lawn...
SOD:
"Green side up" Instant Lawn. Instant Landscaping distributes Fresh Mcpheeters Turf.
Little risk of failure, top quality product guarantee and follow up support.
SEEDING A LAWN : Can be Less expensive. Very low success in native Central Oregon soil.
After all the soil amendments and extra labor required
May save homeowner 25% and usually requires two seasons for full and durable lawn.
High failure rate = possible higher costs . Seeding is very challenging and labor intensive.
SOIL PREPERATION:
Test for the basics: Can you sink shovel in ground 6-8 inches?
Hose flood your area and make sure it drains readily?
Fresh McPheeters Turf : Remove gravel, consider soil amendments and McPheeters pre-plant ( 16-16-16-7 ) fertilizer
re- level and dampen soil. Irrigation systems are recommended.
Seeding a lawn in Central Oregon : To lessen the risk of failure amend your soil with " Garden Mix" or
"Soilrich Topsoil". Also use McPheeters quality seed, preplant fertilizer. Top dress with 1/4 inch of " Garden mix".
INSTALLATION OF FRESH MCPHEETERS TURF:
PLEASE ! Have all prep work completed !
For maximum color and strength install Turf immediately upon delivery.
Turf is much like fresh flowers and best installed in 24 hours @ 60-70 degrees;
Less heat 48 hours is possible, over 80 degrees always lay same day !!!!!!
Dampen hot dry soils before installation of Sod, yet avoid getting area muddy.
Always stagger the end seams and cover exposed edges to keep them from drying.
On sloping ground always lay across horizontally not vertical to prevent erosion.
POST INSTALLATION:
Fresh McPheeters Turf, although a cut plant with tender roots, is very durable when cared for properly.
Remember you can kill your new lawn if you do not keep it watered and you can kill it if you water too much.
Call us promptly if Your new lawn is "NOT STANDING UP".
If the blades of grass are laying flat please rake your new lawn with a light duty leaf rake.
Call
(541) 389 – 9663! We can get you through your lawn stress !Please call sooner than latter, we will help You !
WATERING:
We assume you installed on damp ground so on the first day please do not over water. One inch of water is a normal watering amount for each day you irrigate. Please take the time to utilize the complimentary watering gauge from McPheeters Turf Inc., play with it and have family members
know how long it takes to put down one inch of water with your system.We recommend only in the beginning one inch of water daily for first week.
The second week if at moderate temperatures water one inch every other day.
The roots will usually start to attach in 10-14 days. In this time period you can mow, but not short. If it is not too soggy light traffic on lawn can take place. Now the lawn is starting to mature and we want you to
" WATER LIKE A FARMER". Water deep when you water, this lets the roots dive deep on off water days. Water every other day and when wet weather permits skip more days. This will train your roots to keep growing strong. Please learn how to shut off your irrigation controller and how to change and operate your controller on a manual mode. Dynamic changes in weather and seasons require you to help your lawn get its one inch of water per watering and not over watering that compacts soil.
FERTILIZING/ MAINTENANCE:
Please always use McPheeters Brand fertilizer for your first application
one month after installation. McPheeters Brand is so accurate that the application rates are very low, insures your success and our complimentary follow up service.Organics VS Commercial fertilizer:
The guy with the best lawn on the block year after year may very well utilize both.In our opinion organics can be good if you start with a very healthy lawn, yet they do not perform quick enough for a weak lawn. If you are temped to go organic please consider a very effective combination of Milorganite and McPheeters brand together. McPheeters fertilizer gives you dependable performance everytime even at very low application rates and the Milorganite will offer a low cost organic back up that holds base npk elements in the months you do not normally fertilize.
Learn to fertilize prior to color loss ! Always in Spring, Summer and Fall . Lighter applications more often is the trick !
Mid season if you have trouble with fertilizing prior to color loss mark on the calendar to fertilize around each summer holiday.
Leave the blades of grass as long as possible in hot months and as short as possible in the winter.
Mowing to two inches is recommended in the growing season.
Instant Landscaping Company recommends thatching as needed but not normally every year.
We do advocate annual aerating ( plugging ) ! Remember your soil is the key ! Healthy soil fights disease and grows strong roots !
Lawn Articles from OSU
http://www.extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story_search.php then type lawns into search box.