Do you have a lawn that needs a make over? Choosing the right lawn can be a very important decision. There are 5 things to consider that can make the decision process easier.
Choosing the right turf for your lawn will be one of the most important lawn decision you will ever make. Curb appeal is one of the main reasons we choose our lawn grass. Although this isn’t often there are variables to consider.
What to consider when deciding on what turf to grow for your lawn.
1. Property location
Haven’t you already heard this saying location, location, location. Although this usually is pertaining to businesses and property investors, it is the same with your lawn. The success you have in one region of the country won’t particularly be the same in another. Let’s say you live in Georgia which is a very warm climate. It would be best to pick a more adaptable grass such as Bermuda, centipede, or zoysia. Although you can grow cool season grasses in Georgia in a more shady area and you are going to spend more money fight funguses, drought, soil problem etc. You will spend more money and time trying to keep it alive than enjoying it. So, knowing your soil ph and your climate, especially in the colder regions.
2. Budget
If you are considering starting with a new lawn you will need to put aside a budget. If you are working with a budget that you really need to choose a turf that is almost self reliant. You will also did to choose whether to lay seed or install sod. Both are very simple to do but there is a price difference for sure. For a lawn that is between 10,000 and 20,000 square feet you will need around 225lbs of seed to spread. That is about $150 – $200 per 50lbs bag of seed. Depending on the pureness of seed to filler ratio. Each bag will cover about 5000 square feet depending on the thickness of seed you apply.
If your plan is to sod this then this may cost you in the neighborhood of $200 per 500sqft pallet. That is a whopping $4,000 – $6,000So as you can see a budget needs to be ready to handle the cost of either.
3. Traffic
The amount of activity on your lawn will definitly be important in choosing the type of turf. If you have kids and they love to be outside then your lawn will go through some harsh times. If this is the case then a turf that is very resilient to foot traffic will be key. You will want to to lean more toward turf that spreads and repair its self. Some of these are your Zoysia, Bermuda and Centipede. Now on the other hand if you don’t expect a lot of traffic then a cool season grass will be your best bet. Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass aren’t very tolerable to traffic and will need help in repair when any type of damage occurs.
4. Maintenance
This is a very important question to ask yourself when choosing the right turf for your lawn. If you want a lawn that doesn’t take a lot of your time and you are in the right zone then centipede grass is the ticket. This has the nickname last man’s grass. Why? Because you only have to cut every 10 days and if you go on vacation for a week you don’t come back to a jungle. Centipede is not a very green grass but it is very durable and it also repairs itself to any damage or heavy traffic. Bermuda and Fescue out of all turfs will keep you on your toes. Bermuda during the summer will need to be mowed twice a week. So if you have a small yard or you have time to kill then this is the grass for you. Not a lot of fertilizing needed but appreciated. Fescue will need attention daily for weed invasion and fungus infections during heavy times of moisture. If you live in the southern part of the country then you will need to have plenty of water to keep it alive during the summer. Overseeding and fertilizing fescue is a must to keep the thick dark green look. Be sure to educate yourself on any turf you choose. The work you put in before you decide will surely pay off later.
5. Sunlight
The amount of sunlight is the main factor in determining what grass fits your needs. Look for large trees in your lawn and try and notice at different parts of the day how much sunlight is allowed through the canopy of the tree or trees. A good rule of thumb is the area you plan to plant grass must get 6 hours of sun.