New Grass is UP! Don’t Make These Mistakes With Your New Lawn, by Elias Lawn Care on YouTube. 21 min 39 s.
- Video length
- 21 min 39 s
- Time to do it
- About 1 hour of work spread ov
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Keep fallen leaves off the new grass. Rake them lightly or blow them on the lowest setting so you never pull up young seedlings by the roots.
Wait until the new grass is about 3 inches tall before the first mow. Set the mower high and cut no more than one third of the blade.
Move from light daily watering to deeper, less frequent soakings so roots grow down instead of staying near the surface.
Once the grass has thickened and filled in, apply a light feed of ammonium sulfate 21-0-0 at a low rate. Water it in after spreading.
Put extra seed only on bare patches, not over the whole lawn. Scratch the surface first so the seed touches soil.
Keep all weed killer away from young grass until it has been mown several times and is well established.
Stay off the lawn when it is frozen or frosty. Mark the edges with reflective stakes so nobody walks across the new grass by accident.
Use a grass-safe ice melt on nearby paths and driveways, and never pile snow that has been salted onto the lawn.
Tips and common mistakes
The real danger is the ground freezing and thawing, which heaves shallow roots upward, not frost sitting on the blades.
Keep the mower blade sharp so it slices cleanly instead of tearing young grass.
Read the fertilizer label and wear gloves. More product is not better on new grass.
If you miss the window before the ground freezes, look into dormant seeding instead of forcing late growth.
Questions
Can I mow new grass before winter?
Yes, once it reaches about 3 inches. Mow high and take off only the top third so the young plants keep enough leaf to recover.
Should I put weed killer on my new lawn?
No. Young grass is easily damaged, so hold off on weed killer until the lawn has been mown a few times and is thick.
How do I stop frost from lifting my seedlings?
Keep foot traffic off the lawn, avoid compacting wet soil, and let the grass establish deeper roots with less frequent, deeper watering.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
