A guide to Lawn Grass Development for temperate - DoFPS

5. Soil preparation
Preparing a field for lawn development is one of the most vital steps and a good seedbed
preparation is a prerequisite for successful lawn establishment. If the soil is poor, arrange
additional forest topsoil. The topsoil from broadleaved forest is preferred. Topsoil from
the blue pine dominated forest can be used but it has acidity problem. On removing
debris such as stones, wood and other items from the planting area, add the top soil and
the thickness of topsoil should be uniform both on slope and flat areas.
It is advisable to test your soil before adding any nutrient to the soil. A soil test eliminates
guessing the amount of nutrients to be added. Lawn grass species perform well at soil pH
range of 5.5 to 7. For the proper grass growth, if your soil pH is below 5.5 add lime to the
soil and if it is above 7, add sulfur. Organic matter and other soil additives such as
fertilizers can usually be mixed with the topsoil. Lawn requires a larger amount of
inorganic fertilizers mainly Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (NPK). Lawns require a
large amount of N-Nitrogen to promote growth, color and general vigor. P-Phosphorus
stimulates early root growth to ensure seedlings develop properly. Freshly seeded lawns
require a fertilizer with high phosphorus content. Also P is necessary for proper plant cell
division, which results in a strong, healthy and sturdy grass plant. K-Potassium
strengthens root structure and increases disease resistance, improving the overall
hardiness of grass plants. Even distribution of these materials of soil is most important.
Rake the surface and roll the soil with a heavy roller 90-130 kg to define humps and
hollows. Then rake surface lightly even off these irregularities and to prepare a loose
planting bed of 1/4 -1/2 inch of soil.
Photoes 4, 5, & 6: Different stages of land preparation for lawn establishment
6. Seed rate and sowing time
Seed rate while sowing depends on what lawn species one chooses and size of seeds. For
instance Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is 130kg per acre and whereas Kentucky
bluegrass (Poa pratensis) seed rate is 35-40 kg/acre is applied. Lawn can also be sown in
mixtures of 2-3 grass types. When a mixture containing seed two or more types of is
applied, it has an advantage-the strength of one grass type compensates for the weakness
of another. For this reason, a mixture is best for the average lawn. Broadcast the seed by
hand. In order to ensure uniformity distribution of seeds over a bed, use half the seeds
first and sow remaining half in a crosswise direction. It is important to remember the best
sowing time is when air is calm.
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