| LAWN MAINTENANCE* |  |
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MAINTENANCE OF MUSQUODOBOIT VALLEY QUALITY SOD
Care Taking
Like any plant, your lawn, after installation excels when provided with the proper nutrients. General maintenance of your lawn includes attention to mowing, fertilization, lime and water needs. Following our recomend care tips helps reduce problems with weeds, diseases and insects. A well kept lawn will maintaine its dense and attractive nature, providing you much more enjoyment and environmental benefits.
Water Needs
After sodding your lawn we recomend you apply 0.5 to 1 inch of water as a deep soaking every 5 to 7 days to encourage a deep healthy root system during dry or hot periods. Avoid frequent, shallow watering that result in shallow roots, permitting weed germination and growth.
Thereafter we recomend you water the lawn during dry periods, preferably in the late evening to avoid evaporation and allow the plant time to absorb water into its root system.
Mowing & Dethatching
The optimum mowing height is 2 1/2 inches for a high quality lawn. Mowing regularly (on a weekly basis) with a sharp rotary or reel mower allows clippings to act as a nutrient source for the lawn. Never remove more than 1/3 of the shoot growth at one mowing. In a mature lawn, dethatching is recomended in the early fall to reduce the environment where insects and diseases could establish themselves. Dethatching also allows for better absorption of nutrients, perculation of water, and soil to air gas exchange.
Soil & Fertilization Needs
A lawn performs best in fertile, pH (6.0 – 7.0) soil with good drainage. Supplimenting the nutrient requirements of a lawn will help maintain its hardy, thick, lush and green nature. In the spring and summer we recommend applying “Turf Builder” fertilizer that has a high percentage of Nitrogen to strengthen against heat and drought, as well as increase the lawns ability to absorb water and nutrients. In the fall (Sept-Oct) we recomend applying “wintercare lawn fertilizer” that contains a high percentage of Nitrogen and Potassium to help promote strong roots and early green up in the spring. We also recomend applying ground dolomite limestone late in the fall (Oct-Nov) at 5-10 lbs per 1,000 ft² as an addition to wintercare lawn fertilizer.
Fertilization Ratio = Nitrogen (N), Phosphate (P) and Potassium (K)
Disease, Weed & Insect Control
New varieties of Kentucky Bluegrass have improved resistance to diseases such as leafspot, stripe smut, powdery mildew, dollar spot, Typhula blight, summer patch and rusts. If broadleaf weeds need to be controlled with a herbicide, the turf should be well established and in vigorous condition. Practically all insects that damage lawns can be controlled biologically.
*All information is based on average/normal conditions; individual sites and situations may differ
