Watering 
Newly planted seed should be kept moist at all times to promote germination.  Soaking the lawn 2-3 times a week should be adequate, but may need to be increased in hot, dry weather. 

After 2-3 weeks, watering can be reduced to a deep soaking (approx. ½-1”) every 5-7 days to encourage a deep healthy root system, and increased during dry or hot periods. Avoid frequent, shallow watering to avoid shallow roots and weed germination and growth.  It is best to water in the morning or evening to reduce the amount of water lost to evaporation.  Also, position sprinklers to avoid hard surfaces and prevent wasted water.  Watering can be substantially reduced once the lawn has been established for a few years, depending on the preference of the homeowner.

Mowing
For new lawns, once areas have grown to approximately 3” high, these areas can be mown.  With time, the rest of the lawn will fill in the shorter areas.  The optimum mowing height for an established lawn is 2¾ - 3” for a high quality lawn.  Mow regularly with a sharp rotary or reel mower, never removing more than 1/3 of the shoot growth at one mowing.

We recommend leaving the grass clippings from frequent mowing on the ground.  The leftover clippings help create a thatch layer over the soil that will add nutrients to the soil, protect the roots from drying out, and prevent erosion.  If the grass is exceptionally long, pick up the grass clippings to prevent molding. 

Thatching
Thatching is a treatment that is appropriate for older lawns.  This treatment cleans out dead parts of the lawn and renews the thatch layer of the grass.  If you plan to thatch your lawn, early fall is the best time for this.

Fertilizing 
When Prairie Tree plants your lawn, we apply a starter fertilizer (10-10-10) to help boost growth.  If weather conditions permit, a second application should be done after approximately six weeks.  This starter fertilizer should be used until your lawn has been established for one year.  After this point, a weed and feed fertilizer can be used to add nutrients and combat weed growth.  Weed and feed fertilizers should not be used on new lawns, as they inhibit the germination of the grass seeds.  

Fertilizer can typically be applied every eight weeks, depending on weather conditions.  In general, spring and fall are the best times to fertilize.  Always avoid fertilizing in hot or dry conditions that would cause the lawn to burn out.   Use a complete fertilizer containing nitrogen, phosphate and potassium.  Applying approximately 1 lb of nitrogen per 1000 square feet of lawn, 2-4 times a year is adequate.  You should always water the lawn thoroughly after fertilization. 

Overseeding 
Part of the maintenance of a new lawn includes overseeding.  This is the application of extra seed in bare spots or thin areas of grass.  Overseeding your entire lawn the spring or fall after installation will result in a fuller, thicker lawn.  You may need to add seed more often in problem areas where seed has been blown or washed away, or in areas that may have been missed when watering.  These problem areas may also benefit from using erosion matting to keep the seed in place.

Erosion Mat
Prairie Tree uses erosion matting on steep slopes and areas likely to wash out in heavy rains.  Over time, the mat and straw will degrade and become part of the lawn.  Do NOT pull up matting!  This can pull up the newly germinated sprouts from the soil and kill them.  You can set your mower at a higher level and mow over the erosion mat.  If there are spots that come up, you can cut off the excess and remove it.