Once your new LivingLawn has arrived and been installed, there are a few best practices that you should follow to make sure that the turf thrives in its new environment.
For at least the first month, follow these key steps!
Establishment
- Avoid concentrated traffic on your new lawn. This allows the roots to bed down and knit together.
- It is important that the soil remain moist at all times. Be careful not to over water in shaded areas and not to under water in full sun areas.
- Allow four weeks for your lawn to settle in before you mow it.
Mowing do’s and don’ts
- Do: mow your lawn at the recommended height.
- Do: Set the mower on the highest setting. This allows for the grass canopy to grow tall, creating the lush feel. It helps keep the soil well shaded which in turn prevents weeds from germinating and improves moisture retention in the soil.
- Do: leave your grass clippings. Your grass clippings break down and feed the bacteria in the soil, these then die and become natural nutrients for grass.
- Don’t: rake your lawn. Raking can damage rooting in areas that are already sparsely planted.
- Don’t: use brush cutters on your lawn as they can damage the grass.
- Don’t: cut more than 1/3 of the leaf off your grass. Low mowing of your lawn can leave it damaged and susceptible to weed invasion.
- Don’t: mow in extreme heat.
Watering
Keep your lawn in tip-top condition by watering it regularly. It is best to water early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Watering in the heat increases humidity, which can encourage the development of grass diseases.
Dry periods: Note that it is better to water once a week to a depth of 15 cm in dry periods rather than doing more frequent watering with less water. If you water just a little bit daily the roots get lazy and grow very shallow. Deep watering helps to produce a good, deep root system and keeps the lawn healthy.