Highlands lawn
Growing a healthy stand of grass in North Carolina requires a knowledge of the soil and the geographic area of the state in which the grass is grown. In North Carolina, temperature, soil and climate conditions vary widely between the highlands and mountains of the western part of the state, to the Piedmont and eastern coastal plain. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
Plant a New Lawn
1. Begin new lawn activity in early September as the fall growing season provides the very best soil, temperature and rainfall conditions for seed germination in North Carolina.
2. Consult your local North Carolina Agricultural Extension office to determine the best selection of grass seed for your geographic area of the state (see Resources below)
3. Plant cool season grass seed (tall miscue, Kentucky bluegrass and fine fescue) in the western one third of the state and warm season grass seed (Centipede, Bermuda and St. Augustine) in the eastern and southern portions of the state. In the Piedmont both warm and cool season grasses can be planted.
4. Request a soil pH testing kit from the Agricultural extension office prior to planting.
5. Take random soil samples from the location in which your lawn will be planted and submit these to the Agricultural Extension office for testing.
6. Purchase soil supplements and fertilizers recommended once the test results are received. Most North Carolina soils are highly acetic and require the addition of lime to reduce the soil pH from an average in state of less than 5, to a 6.5 to 7 pH best suited for growing healthy grass.
7. Break up hard clay or compacted soils using a tiller or aerator. (These can be rented.)
8. Spread soil supplements and fertilizers based on soil sample test results provided by Agricultural Extension. If no soils sample is taken, add soil supplements and fertilizer at the following rate per 1,000 square feet of lawn: 75 lbs. of lime, 20 lbs. of 10-10-10 fertilizer, 4 lbs. of 0-46-0 fertilizer and 25 lbs. of grass seed.
9. Cover newly seeded lawn with a heavy layer of wheat straw and water daily for the first 3 weeks. Apply 2 inches of water daily. Use a bowl to measure 2 inches of water as applied using a lawn sprinkler.
10. Do not rake wheat straw, but leave in place to hold moisture and add nutrients to the soil as it decays.
Maintain an Established Lawn
11. Mow lawn weekly to a height no lower than 2 inches.
12. Maintain a regular watering schedule that provides a minimum of 2 inches of water per week during summer months (June through September). If required level of water is not provided by rainfall, sprinkle to a 2 inch depth weekly.
13. Spread 25 lbs. per 1,000 square feet of lawn of pre-emergence weed control fertilizer in mid February to control weeds.
14. Add balanced fertilizer and lime each spring (April through May) using 20 lbs. of 10-10-10 fertilizer and 75 lbs. of lime for every 1,000 square feet of lawn.
15. Inspect lawn at the end of summer (September) for damage resulting from excessive heat, drought and weed invasion.
16. Remove weeds which have invaded lawn during the summer. Pull weeds by hand or, if invasion is heavy, apply a herbicide available in home supply stores.
17.Remove thatch and the summer accumulation of grass clippings by raking the entire lawn thoroughly. Place thatch rakings in compost pile.
18. Repair small bare spots by raking to loosen the soil and hand-sprinkling seed sufficient to cover bare areas. Cover seeded area with wheat straw.
19. Repair large bare spots by tilling up or using aerator to loosen compacted soil and raking it smooth. Over seed the area spreading 25 lbs. of seed per 1,000 square feet. Cover seeded area with wheat straw.
20. Apply balanced fertilizer and lime over the entire lawn at the rates listed in Step 4 of Section 2.
21. Water re-seeded lawn at the rate of 2 inches per week until first frost.
22. Rake lawn as necessary during fall and winter months to keep leaves and debris from accumulating on grass and preventing healthy growth.
Tags: North Carolina, grass seed, square feet, wheat straw, Agricultural Extension
