New homeowner with brand new lawn -- looking for fresh start tips

[Green Kombucha]

Hi-
In about three weeks we are going to take delivery of a new home from the builder. The lawn is brand new, in the sense that the builder laid down sod squares throughout the property. The grass itself doesn't appear to be of any particularly special quality, and I'm sure the builder or subcontractor just used whatever was readily available.

The property is located in northern virginia if that helps, and we're talking about 1/3 of an acre homesight so it's not a large amount of grass.

So basically what I'm asking for is insights on initial lawn maintenance and care. For example:

1) Because this sod/turf has recently been put in place, is there anything special I need to be aware of? For example, should I refrain from walking on it, or keep the dog off it, etc?

2) The grass is kind of yellow in certain places, I suspect as a result of being on a truck for a period of time. Is there anything apart from watering I can do to turn this around?

3) Any insights on fertilizers would be helpful. In the past (at a previous home, much smaller lawn) I've used those blue crystals from home depot.

4) Should I refrain from using pest control for any period of time?

thanks!!!

 

[Oddball]

Congrats on the new house. I guess by now you're moving in or about to. I'm not a lawncare guru or anything, so take this for whatever its worth. Being in Northern VA, I'm guessing you don't have a warm season grass like Bermuda. Most likely you have a cool season grass like Fescue or maybe Kentucky Bluegrass. I don't really know much about KBG, but I do know some of the same rules apply to it and Fescue. Mid summer is the worst time for Fescue and KBG. They do most of their growing in the Spring and Fall and just kind of tolerate the Summers. Fertilizing or using other chemicals during the high stress time of Summer can be detrimental. I think you'd be better off keeping it watered about an inch once a week for the rest of the Summer and keep human and pet traffic to a minimum. Wait until daytime temps drop into the 70's before you fertilize and use any form of pesticide or herbicide. If you do have Bermuda or some other warm season grass (one that turns brown in the winter) then Summer is the best time to fertilize, etc. because the grass is actively growing and not only can make use of the fertilizer, but can also benefit from and withstand herbicides and pesticides.

 

[Green Kombucha]

Thanks, Oddball. I will follow this advice. The tree the builder planted died like after 2 days, so that should say something about the advisability of planting grass during July in Northern Virginia.

Man this is a slow moving forum.

 

[Oddball]

Good luck, and I hope you've asked him to replace the tree. And ask him what kind of grass it is. You'll need to know if you want to follow a proper maintenance schedule. What part of Northern VA are you in? My in-laws and some of my wife's other family are in Winchester. Yes, sometimes its slow. Sometimes the questions you'd think would bring tons of immediate responses don't get answered for a while and posts that are just funny or nonsensical get pages of responses in a couple of days..

 

[Green Kombucha]

The most interesting thread I've seen so far on this forum is the one about carrying a firearm while on a ride on mower. I see his point (snakes) but christ that's weird.

This is Chantilly. Winchester is about I think 30 or 40 miles west from where we are. Can't say I've ever been out there.

Yeah, we're meeting with the builder today to run through some final things, such as the tree replacement.

Thanks for your information. I've never had to deal with a "brand new" yard before, and growing up in Texas I assumed yellow grass will eventually turn green again on its own. Next step is buying a mower.

 

[Oddball]

The most interesting thread I've seen so far on this forum is the one about carrying a firearm while on a ride on mower. I see his point (snakes) but christ that's weird.

This is Chantilly. Winchester is about I think 30 or 40 miles west from where we are. Can't say I've ever been out there.

Yeah, we're meeting with the builder today to run through some final things, such as the tree replacement.

Thanks for your information. I've never had to deal with a "brand new" yard before, and growing up in Texas I assumed yellow grass will eventually turn green again on its own. Next step is buying a mower.

Ah, been to Chantilly on the way to Dulles a few times. Seems like there's a big interchange off Hwy 50 right in Chantilly that we take to the airport. Hwy 50 goes straight through Winchester. Its right at 50 miles. It used to be a fairly small town but has boomed in the last 20 years or so and is suffering from urban sprawl now. Still, some pretty country all around. Wouldn't mind a summer home there, but can do without the winters. Their big claim to fame is the Apple Blossom Festival at the beginning of May. They always have someone famous as the Grand Marshal. Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, etc. have been the Grand Marshal in the past. Can't remember who it was this year. I really don't keep up with it, but the in-laws do.

I was born in TX, but moved here when I was 2. Still have family friends in Dallas that we go see every few years. I wouldn't mind moving to TX when we retire.

Living in GA and having always had fescue lawns, I'm quite familiar with yellow grass that doesn't turn green again. I love fescue because it stays green all year, well, its supposed to anyway, but I've finally come to the conclusion that most sane people around here reached a long time ago. That its just too hard to grow in the Atlanta area, especially in drought conditions with watering bans in effect. It can be done, but its high maintenance to keep alive in the heat and have to reseed every fall to thicken up the thinned out areas.