Welcome Miao's Sod Farm

Maintenance

The amount of fertilizer for any particular lawn depends on the fertility of the natural soil, the degree of growth you want, and the type of grass that you are growing. Bluegrass requires from 2 to 3 kilograms of actual nitrogen: 1 to 1.5 kilograms of actual phosphorous, and the same of potasium per 100 square metres per year. Fertilizer applications are determined by the amount of nitrogen they contain, because nitrogen is the most difficult of the three materials to handle. We recommend any special turf type fertilizer made by a reputable manufacturer using a controlled release nitrogen. This will provide you with a well balanced feeding for your lawn and the fertilizer will release slowly. You should apply about half the annual amount in the spring, and the remaining half in the early summer and fall. Be sure to follow the instructions on the bag. Always water the fertilizer in to prevent burning.

Mowing is one of the most important operations in the maintenance of a fine lawn. Proper mowing will make a good lawn look better, improper mowing can ruin a good lawn in just a few weeks. The most important point to remember is to keep the mower blades sharp. Nothing defaces grass more quickly than a dull mower. Remove all objects from the lawn before you mow, to prevent injury to others, and to prevent damage to the mower. Don’t let your lawn grow so tall that it falls over, for it will be difficult to mow and it will smother out. Never remove more than 3 cm. of the leaf height at any one time. We recommend mowing of Bluegrasses and Fescues at a height of 4 cm. You can determine the height of your mower blade by placing it on a driveway or sidewalk, and measuring the distance between the blade and the sidewalk. You should remove clippings that clump so that they don’t smother the grass.

In the summertime, lawns generally require about 25 mm. of water every week. Bluegrass however, does go dormant during dry seasons – the grass may turn brown, but will green up again when it is watered. A good rule to follow is this: If you water, do it regularly. Apply 25 mm. every week (including rain) at one setting of the sprinkler. Water evenly and slowly enough so that it penetrates without run off. Too much water can be as harmful as not enough. Soil that is continually soaked does not allow air to reach the root zone where it’s required. Avoid frequent light waterings which result in shallow rooting.

The best weed control is a good, healthy turf. When your lawn is thick and vigorous, weeds simply have no place to get started and you have no problem. In renovating lawns, however, or even in established lawns that have had lapses in maintenance, weeds do have a way of intruding.

Healthy turf will withstand infestation and recover faster than neglected turf. Here are some guides for healthy turf.
Use enough fertilizer to keep grass growing vigorously – but avoid the extreme of over stimulation.
Mow before the grass gets too tall.
Cut no more than 3 cm. of the leaf surface at any one time.
Keep your mower sharp.
Don’t allow clippings to accumulate to the extent that they form a mat.
Remove thatch as required.
Avoid frequent waterings which tend to keep the grass wet.