If you had a sprinkler system installed, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about, your irrigation controller is pre-programmed by one of our landscape technicians. We’ll take you through the necessary steps and watering schedules. If your lawn was seeded, you should small green sprouts in about 1 week, depending how warm it’s been. You should be able to mow your new lawn after one month since the seed was sown. Starter fertilizer is also applied at the same time. After one month, we will inspect your lawn for bare spots usually caused by washouts from heavy rain and we’ll re-seed areas at no charge if needed. We recommend applying a slow-release fertilizer at this time as well. Remember, if you chose not to install sprinklers, we cannot re-seed free of charge! If you had sod installed, you will need just as much water as a seeded lawn.
As much rain as we get here in the Northwest, we still get some very dry summers. In order for lawns and plants to stay healthy and green, water should be applied almost daily. Our sprinkler systems will take the hassle out of dragging hoses all summer so you can sit back and relax or take a vacation without worrying about your lawn drying up. Our controllers are easy to use, and if you install a rain sensor, you could even save money on your water bill. We also use water saving sprinkler heads to conserve our precious resource.
Seeded or hydro-seeded lawns can be installed as early as March and as late as November. However, sod can be installed any time of year, as long as the ground is not too wet and there’s no snow on the ground. We include a starter fertilizer with our seed, and it is applied before we lay sod as well.
Deciding between these three is a matter of doing a little cost-benefit analysis.
Sod is the premier choice as it provides you with an instant lawn that can be mowed 1-2 weeks later, and requires less initial maintenance. It is also the most costly, added to the price up to 8 times more than that of a seeded lawn.
Hydro seed is cheaper than sod (adding to the price 2-3 times that of a seeded lawn), but does not provide an instant lawn. It is, however, more aesthetically pleasing, is not as susceptible to washouts, and holds moisture much better than seed.
Seed is the cheapest route to take, but also requires much more initial maintenance. Wind and excessive water will cause the seed to erode, especially on slopes. It also must remain moist, requiring short frequent watering up to 6 times a day on hot sunny days. Weed seeds that constantly invade the lawn area also have a much better chance of germinating is the bare earth.
The best time is fall. However, proper planning by our landscape team enables us to do planting in virtually every month of the year. Adequate irrigation in the summer will provide for healthier turf and plants.
We do offer wide range of design services. Please contact us for information and pricing.