When seeding a new lawn, you know you will need some extra TLC to get those seeds off the ground, but many people still make three common mistakes that stunt the growth of their new lawn. The first is not adding fresh topsoil and just going with what you have, which may be dry or lacking in basic nutrients the new seeds will need to thrive. The second is not using the right type of seeds for the area you’re in! For example, in Indiana, fall fescue makes for the healthiest lawns. The third is not using a starter fertilizer to flush your soil with extra nutrients to encourage strong, healthy grass growth. If you avoid these mistakes, you won’t be left scratching your head about why your new lawn isn’t growing as it should. Instead, you’ll see the lush lawn you’ve always wanted grow before your very eyes!
1. Not Adding Fresh Topsoil
While it may seem like all soil is created equal, this is not the case! Soil can become dry and depleted of basic nutrients over time, which is going to hinder the growth of any new seed planted in it. Adding a fresh layer of topsoil will help ensure that your new grass seed has the basic moisture and nutrients it needs to grow. Without this baseline, you’ll need to do a lot more supplementing to get your grass growing than you may have anticipated!
If your soil is compacted, core aeration can break it up so that your new seeds have better nutrient access.
2. Not Using the Best Type of Grass Seed for Your Area
When choosing what grass seed to use, you’ll want to consider several factors including the grass’s hardiness, sun and shade tolerance, whether it’s cool-season or warm-season grass, and how all of those traits fit in with the climate in your area. For those of us in Indiana, the best turf type is fall fescue! Fall fescue is a cool-season grass that is extremely hardy and drought tolerant, perfect for our area. Make sure that you consider what traits grass will need to thrive in your lawn when choosing your seed type!
3. Not Applying Starter Fertilizer
Once your grass seeds have been planted, the best thing you can do for them besides a healthy watering schedule is to apply starter fertilizer. This will flush your soil with all the extra nutrients that the seed needs to jumpstart its growth! What’s special about starter fertilizer compared to other types of fertilizer is the high concentration of the nutrient phosphorous. Phosphorous will encourage healthy root development for your grass so that it becomes established in the soil ASAP. With this strong root baseline, you’ll find your grass is stronger, more resilient to disease, and has sure and steady growth! This makes starter fertilizer essential in the new lawn seeding process to grow healthy, strong grass.
Ongoing fertilization will help your lawn continue to thrive once it’s established!
Avoid making these mistakes. Call us today to schedule your new lawn seeding!
At Precision Cutz Lawn Care, our team is committed to producing the best results possible, and for new lawn seeding, that includes laying down topsoil, using the right seed, and applying starter fertilizer. Our team stays up-to-date on all the latest industry standards with in-house training and an exceptional passion for the trade. With us on the case, you get it all and can be confident it’s done right! We offer new lawn seeding services for commercial, residential, and HOA properties in Carmel, Fishers, Westfield, and nearby cities in Indiana. If you’re in the area and ready to get started, call our team today at 317-973-6409 to schedule!
