Landscaping 101

Lesson 8: Working With a Contractor & How to Start a Lawn

Preparing Your Landscape For Your New Lawn

Preparing the yard is the most important part of the entire lawn establishment process. Compacted soils and soils with low fertility will not readily foster good root development nor sustain long term healthy lawns. This is also the prime time to correct surface drainage issues prior to seeding.

If you have good quality, relatively friable well drained soil free from debris and other ad mixtures, you can loosen the top two or three inches prior to your fine grading. If, however, your soil is thin, sandy soil, lacking in nutrients, like much of the soils in our area, you may need to add two to three inches of high quality, screened topsoil. It is also quite acceptable to incorporate some organic matter such as compost or peat moss if you desire.

Typically you will do some rough grading and remove roots, rock, twigs and other debris. The next step is to apply your 2” to 3” of screened topsoil, if needed. Following this step, one should do the finished grading. This can be done by hand with a rake or mechanically with a tiller rake. We have actually seen fine grading completed with bed springs or a section of chain link fence, tethered behind a four wheeler. The secret is to have a non-compacted well groomed seedbed ready for you to incorporate your seed. Note: Similar preparation should be taken to prepare a planting bed for sod.

Best Times to Seed. In the Upper Midwest the best time to seed is from August 20 until September 20, very few annual weeds germinate at this time. April 30 until May 30 is also a good time to seed, but annual weeds are prevalent at this time. Planting too early or late is of little value. Generally the actual soil temperature has to be in the range of 52 to 58 degrees for grass seed to germinate. For other areas of the country check with your local extension agent. Note: Never use pre-emergent crabgrass or broad leaf weed prevention at the time of seeding.

Seed Selection. “You get what you pay for” has never been truer than with grass seed. Do not purchase cheap quick fix grass seed, rather select quality seed blends or mixes. Also, select seed best suited for your site conditions, whether shady or sunny. Check with your local nursery or garden center for quality seed.

For the Upper Midwest: Our recommendation is to use a mixture of Kentucky Bluegrass (2 types), Creeping Red Fescue, and a turf type perennial Rye grass (2 types) in a ratio of approximately 50% Bluegrass, 20% Red Fescue and 30% perennial Ryegrass. This is suited for sunny to medium shade areas. Percentages may vary from supplier to supplier, but remember to include all three types of grass in your mix.

Most suppliers will have a “shade mix”. Many times this is loaded with annual Ryegrass among other things. We would not recommend this except in unusual circumstances.

For other areas of the country, check with your local extension agent for seed recommendations. And always remember, you want your lawn to last a lifetime so spend the time to do the needed preparations and spend the money to purchase the best quality seed. There are no short cuts to creating a quality lawn.

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