| what types of grass grows best in my zone, and how do I best prep it to grow? |
| The most common turfgrasses for your area are St. Augustine grass, zoysia grass and centipede grass. These are warm season grasses which will remain green while the temperatures are warm but will go dormant when temperatures are cool. To have a green lawn all year around, you'll want to overseed your warm season turf with cool season grass seeds such as fescue, bluegrass or ryegrass. Typically, you'll get your lawn going in the spring with a warm season grass and as it begins to brown out in September or October, you'll overseed with a cool season grass. You'll want to prepare the soil prior to planting by first removing all debris from the location to be planted. This includes rocks, bottles, large roots and old tree trunks. Rototilling loosens compacted soil and improves the speed and depth of rooting. A tractor-mounted or self-propelled tiller will adequately till the soil. After tilling, rake the area level, roll your sod, plant your sprigs, or broadcast your seeds. Keep the area moist to help with germination and/or root establishment. Best wishes with your new lawn! |
