Question
We bought a new home with no turf established in the backyard. Do you offer any advice for putting in our own yard?
Answer(s)
Establishing a lawn can be a daunting task - consider and discuss your needs and resources before deciding how to proceed.
How much money are you willing to spend? How much work and time can you devote to this job? What is your timeline? What other resources are available to you (truck, trailer, tools, etc.)
The most economical way to grow a lawn is to direct seed. You can buy seed in bulk from Granite Seed in Lehi or many other sources. Plant a blend of grass cultivars so that you will have some grass seedlings emerging quickly (to help prevent soil erosion and seed runoff), some cultivars greening up early in spring, and some cultivar(s) tolerating hot summer temperatures.
Read the USU Extension publication "Turfgrass Cultivars for Utah" at http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/HG_Grass_2004_01.pdf
University of Minnesota's Sustainable Urban Landscape Information Series describes lawn establishment very well. See their webpage at http://www.sustland.umn.edu/maint/newlawn.htm This webpage will help you decide your approach to establishing your new lawn.
One note - when possible, amend native soil with good quality organic matter. The best buy is compost from the landfill (both the Trans-Jordan and the Salt Lake City landfill sell compost). However thickly you apply the organic matter, mix it into the native soil twice that depth. This will pay off with a more vigorous and healthy lawn down the road.
Other Questions In This Topic
- I have 30 acres of dry farm high on the west side of cache valley and would like like to cover it with many trees that are likely to survive and will eventually provide shade. What should I plant?
- How do I keep my lawn green during the hot summer months?
- I have a lawn full of spiders. When I go to the flowers beds, probably a 100 spiders run out of the grass and bed. The spiders are about 3/8 of an inch long and dark brown. I would just like to get rid of them. What is the best approach?
- I have a curly willow that was topped about four years ago. Now it needs to be trimmed. Can I cut the branches back to where they were cut last?
- Last year my maple tree started losing leaves. I investigated and found it full of earwigs under the bark. I killed the bugs. The bark is falling off, Can I save my tree? It is over 20 years old.
- I purchased a white and pink dog wood from the nursery at Lowe's. We planted it according to directions about two weeks ago and I don't see any new growth on it at all yet. I broke off a few small twigs and it is still green. They are only about 4 feet high and were in pots when purchased. There were no leaves on them only bare branches. How long does it take to see if they are growing properly since they are guaranteed if they die. Thank you
- I have several Dwarf Blue Arctic Willows in my yard. This year they were full of some kind of wasp or bee. I waited until winter and the leaves dropped off to see if there was a hive or nest and there does not seem to be one. In looking for the nest I noticed some small black bugs on the wood. What should I do, if anything and are the two pests related in any way?
- Reveille grass seed. How good is this type of seed for the West Jordan area(Oquirrh shadows area)?