Lawn care - Ask Extension
Have a new sod lawn installed by builder. I am used to northern NE. What treatments should I give this lawn and when to eliminate weeds, strengthen ...
Knowledgebase
Lawn care #878252
Asked July 22, 2024, 12:42 PM EDT
Have a new sod lawn installed by builder. I am used to northern NE. What treatments should I give this lawn and when to eliminate weeds, strengthen and build deep roots, green and grow?
Dorchester County Maryland
Expert Response
Just found out sod type is Tall Fescue
Welcome to Maryland. We are glad you found us.
Do you know if the builder tested the soil, amended it with any organic material and prepared the bed before they laid sod? (The soil left after building is often not great and most of the top soil is usually missing).
Here is our sod information:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/sod/
It needs to be moist during the period of establishment and not allowed to dry out.
Turf-type tall fescue, a cool-season grass, is the recommended turf grass for our area, and once established, (not this year but next) it can be allowed to go dormant during the heat of summer and will rebound and green up again when temperatures moderate and rain returns.
For this season, water the grass if you can when we don't get rain. A large part of Dorchester County is listed as 'abnormally dry' so far this season:https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MD
Going forward, here is our lawn care and maintenance information:
https://extension.umd.edu/resources/yard-garden/lawns/lawn-care-and-maintenance/,
including how to best care for your lawn and a calendar for maintenance:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/caring-home-lawn/
and:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawn-maintenance-calendar-maryland-tall-fescue-home-lawns/
Christine
Do you know if the builder tested the soil, amended it with any organic material and prepared the bed before they laid sod? (The soil left after building is often not great and most of the top soil is usually missing).
Here is our sod information:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/sod/
It needs to be moist during the period of establishment and not allowed to dry out.
Turf-type tall fescue, a cool-season grass, is the recommended turf grass for our area, and once established, (not this year but next) it can be allowed to go dormant during the heat of summer and will rebound and green up again when temperatures moderate and rain returns.
For this season, water the grass if you can when we don't get rain. A large part of Dorchester County is listed as 'abnormally dry' so far this season:https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MD
Going forward, here is our lawn care and maintenance information:
https://extension.umd.edu/resources/yard-garden/lawns/lawn-care-and-maintenance/,
including how to best care for your lawn and a calendar for maintenance:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/caring-home-lawn/
and:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawn-maintenance-calendar-maryland-tall-fescue-home-lawns/
Christine
AWESOME! Christine!
On Jul 22, 2024, at 1:46 PM, Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
Glad you are happy. :)
With a new house, often you have new trees and it's important to monitor them for the first 18-24 months of establishment for water needs. Here's how to best do that:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs/
Christine
With a new house, often you have new trees and it's important to monitor them for the first 18-24 months of establishment for water needs. Here's how to best do that:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/watering-trees-and-shrubs/
Christine
