You should use a starter fertilizer that is low in Nitrogen and higher in Phosphorus and Potassium. This “transplant friendly” regimen will help reduce the shock and minimize disease.

Insecticide and broad-spectrum fungicides are fine to put down on newly installed grass. Wait on any herbicide applications until the grass is rooted in or established. Putting down herbicide before establishment can be harmful to the grass.

Mow within 10 days of installation and bag clippings for the first few mowings. New installations are often uneven, and care should be taken not to “scalp” any high spots.

An established lawn needs approximately 1 inch of water per week, either from natural rainfall or irrigation. In shady areas it will not need as much water. However, for soils with heavy sand content, it’s possible that the grass will need more than 1 inch per week because the soil won’t hold enough moisture.

No grass is immune to the effects of pet urine. Some varieties will recover from damage faster than others. There are supplements on the market now that can be added to your pet’s food to help neutralize the high pH levels in urine that can damage grass. However, we haven’t tried these and aren’t sure of their effectiveness. They make a wide variety of different varieties that you can find at your local pet store or online.