Lawn Care

All About Lawns

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to have a beautiful lawn, look no further. Our experts have put together advice to help you learn to grow a new lawn, improve your current lawn, and maintain it with proper care.

LINKS
Planting New Lawns from Seed
Installing Sod
Overseeding
Dethatching
Aeration
Lawn Care Products

~ Planting New Lawns From Seed ~

The best time to plant lawn seed is when daytime temperatures are between 60 – 70 degrees. Grass seed needs mildly warm temperatures to germinate successfully.

1. Remove existing grass, weeds, large rocks and debris.
2. Test the pH of your soil. It should be between 6 – 7.5. If it is low, which is common in the Pacific Northwest, add pelletized lime to adjust the pH.
3. Loosen the top 2 – 6 inches of soil and till in 2 – 3 inches of 3-way soil mix. For clay soils, till in 2-3 inches of sand. Level the soil and grade it away from foundations and structures.
4. Choose the appropriate seed. For mostly sunny areas, use our sun mix. For partly to mostly shady areas use our sun/shade mix.
5. Apply at a rate of 6 – 10 lbs. per 1,000 square feet. Make two runs over the area with a spreader. On the second run, adjust the spreader as needed and go over the area at a 90-degree angle from the first run to achieve consistent coverage.
6. Apply 16-16-16 fertilizer. Rake in the seed and fertilizer to a depth of ¼ inch. Roll or tamp down the soil for compaction.
7. Spread a thin layer of fine bark or turf mulch over the area at no more than ¼ inch deep. This will help retain moisture, keep birds out of the seed, wind from blowing it away and runoff when watering. Water lightly but frequently, 2 – 3 times a day.
8. Germination can take anywhere from 5 – 20 days, depending on conditions. Upon germination, gradually transition to less frequent but heavier watering. Reseed any bare spots.
9. Avoid foot traffic as much as possible until grass has reached 3 inches. At 3 inches, begin mowing. After you begin mowing, you should be watering 2 – 3 times a week. Do not mow to less than 2 inches and do not cut off more than 1/3 of the blade at a time.

~ Installing Sod ~

Sod can be installed almost any time of the year. However, the best times are early to mid-fall  and spring when temperatures are cool but grass is growing. 

1. Remove existing grass, weeds, large rocks and debris.
2. Loosen the top 2 – 4 inches of soil and till in 2 – 3 inches of 3-way soil mix. Level the soil and grade it away from foundations and structures. Water lightly to compact the soil. Apply 16x16x16 fertilizer.
3. Test the pH of your soil. It should be between 6 – 7.5. If it is low, which is common in the Pacific Northwest, add pelletized lime to adjust the pH.
   
4. Lay sod. Water thoroughly daily. Water to keep moist, preferably in the morning.
   Try to keep foot traffic to a minimum.
5. After three weeks, cut back watering and water as needed. When grass reaches 3 inches tall, begin mowing. Do not mow to less than 2 inches and do not cut off more than one-third of the blade at a time. After 3 – 4 weeks of growth, fertilize again with 16-16-16.
   

Sod is available to order.
For details please call us at 360-573-7172.

~ Overseeding ~

Overseed your lawn when there are bare spots or patchy areas. These spots can appear from too much foot traffic or heat. 

1. Mow lawn down to 1-2 inches and collect clippings.
2. Give the existing turf a hard rake to remove any thatch and to loosen the top layer of soil.
   
3. If overseeding a very thin lawn, you may want to add a ¼ inch layer of our 3-way soil mix.
4. Choose the appropriate grass seed. For mostly sunny areas, use our sun mix. For partly to mostly shady areas use our sun/shade mix.
5. Spread the seed at a rate ranging from 2 – 5 lbs. per 1,000 square feet. Application rate varies depending on the state of your lawn.
6. Water lightly two to three times per day.
7. Upon germination, transition to less frequent but heavier watering.
8. Avoid foot traffic as much as possible. At 3 inches, begin mowing. Do not mow to less than 2 inches and do not cut off more than 1/3 of the blade at a time.

~ Dethatching  ~

Dethatching removes the layer of dead grass and roots between your healthy, green lawn and the soil. It is important to dethatch so air, water, nutrients, and fertilizer can reach the soil more efficiently. Dethatch when the thatch layer is more than ½ an inch thick.  A thatch layer ½ inch or less can be beneficial, insulating the soil from sunlight and reducing evaporation.  Dethatching should be done in spring or early fall when temperatures are cooler. Avoid dethatching in hot temperatures,  drought or very cold temperatures.  

1. Mow lawn down to 1 – 2 inches. 
2. Run a dethatching rake or a rake with hard tines over the lawn in 2 directions at 90-degree angles.  Thatch will separate from soil and lift to the surface.  Rake again to remove thatch.
3. Lawn may look ragged after dethatching.  Reseed bare spots.
4. Fertilize with appropriate seasonal fertilizer.
5. Keep lawn well-watered.
6. If dethatching in spring, apply pre-emergent herbicide such as Hi Yield Weed & Grass Stopper to prevent weeds and crabgrass after dethatching.
7. Proper, watering, fertilizing, mowing and aeration can prevent thatch build-up.

~ Aeration ~

Aeration allows oxygen, fertilizer, nutrients and water to reach the lawn  roots.  It also loosens compacted soil, breaks up thatch and prevents thatch build-up.   Aeration is ideal in areas with clay soil, where water pools after rain, high traffic areas, patchy or bare areas, areas where thatch is more than ½ inch thick.  The best time to aerate is in spring and fall when the temperatures are mild. Clay soil should be aerated annually. Aerate prior to fertilizing.  Do not aerate in drought or high heat.  Do not aerate new lawns for at least one year.  

1. Water lawn to soften the soil.
2. Using proper tools, make holes in the lawn by pushing short spikes, approximately 3 inches, into the soil.  This method is best for dethatching purposes. 
3. For more compact soils, using the proper tools, extract small plugs of soil, approximately 3 inches.  This is also known as coring.
4. Leave the plugs in the lawn to decompose or remove with a rake.
5. After aerating, water the lawn a few extra times than normal.