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MULawnCare.com is an informational website for Columbia,  Missouri lawn care.  MU Lawn Care provides information about landscaping and lawncare for the cities of Columbia, Missouri and the surrounding areas.  All of Boone County is included.  This site will include tips for growing and maintaining a healthy lawn in Columbia, Missouri.  You have come to the right place for Columbia, Missouri Lawn Care.  If you need help finding a good lawn service in Columbia, MO feel free to contact me.

Starting a Lawn in Columbia, Missouri

There are a few ways to start a lawn.  Sod is one way to start a lawn in Columbia.  Grass Seed is another way to start a lawn in Columbia.

Starting a Lawn in Columbia, Missouri with Sod

Sod offers the visual appeal of having an instant lawn.  Additional benefits of sod include utilizing the lawn more quickly, reducing the amount of mud and dirt tracked into the house, immediate erosion control, and establishing a lawn during less-than-optimal seeding times.  Sod can be laid as long as there is sod available from the sod farms.  If the sod farms are still cutting sod, then you can put sod on your lawn.  Sodded lawns need special attention before and after establishment. Using proper establishment procedures and post-establishment care can help to ensure success in producing a healthy, beautiful lawn.

Site preparation is the most important part of putting in sod.  The site preparation should begin with removing construction debris, rocks, etc. from the area.  Grade the area to make sure of proper surface drainage.  It is best to contour the area so it slopes away from buildings.  Also make sure there are no low spots to avoid puddling.  You may want to till up the soil to loosen compaction.  It may also be necessary to  bring in compost and topsoil.  Have the soil tested and fix any nutrient deficiencies or pH levels.  The soil should then be allowed to settle.  Then rake to achieve a finished grade. 

Once you have a finished grade apply a starter fertilizer to encourage root development.  Be sure to apply a starter fertilizer that is high in phosphorus, but low in nitrogen and potash.  This will promote root growth without over stimulating top growth. 

Once you have the site prepared you must select the sod that you want.  The best type of grass for Columbia, Missouri is a tall fescue blend.  Tall fescue is a turf type fescue that is a great cool season grass and very shade tolerant.  Columbia, Missouri is the cool season grass zone.  Cool season grasses will stay green throughout the winter.  Tall fescue will thrive in the spring and fall.  Hot summers may stress fescue, but this is nothing that can’t be repaired in the fall through aeration and overseeding.  Some other things to consider while choosing the sod that you are going to put on your Columbia, Missouri lawn is the freshness of the sod.  You want to get the freshest sod possible.  It is also very important to not let the sod get too dry.  If you are not going to lay the sod immediately after delivery, you may want to sprinkle the outer rolls with water to keep them moist.  When you are getting ready to lay the sod, lightly moisten the area where you are going to lay the sod, but avoid over watering.  Lay the sod in a staggered pattern so the edges are in different positions each row.  This will reduce seams.  Make sure the edges of the sod are touching each other to avoid drying.  If you are laying sod on a slope, start at the bottom and lay the sod perpendicular to the slope.  A steep slope may require sod staples.  The final step is to roll the sod with a lawn roller.  This will ensure good soil contact with the new sod. 

Once the sod is put down it is now time to water.  Water the sod so that the surface stays moist for the first seven to ten days.  If the weather is warm or hot, as it sometimes gets in Columbia, Missouri,  you may need to water even more to avoid having the sod dry out.  After seven to ten days check for root development by grasping the grass blades and pulling up on the lawn.  If the sod resists being lifted, usually 10 to 14 days. During ofpimum weather conditions, the frequency of irrigation should be reduced, but the amount of water applied should increase.  Water the sod deeply so the roots have to search for water.  This will allow the roots to dig into the ground and firm up the lawn.  Begin mowing the lawn when the toprgrowth develops and the lawn is firm.  But keep watering and keep the traffic level at a minimum.  Remember that once the sod is established it must still be fertilized and aerated yearly. 

Sodded lawns will give you that instant lawn, but may cost more than lawns that are started with a grass seed. 

Starting a Lawn in Columbia, Missouri with Grass Seed

Seed is an alternative to sod.  Starting a lawn from grass seed will be cheaper than starting a lawn with sod. 

Just like with sod you must prepare the soil where you are going to plant the grass seed.  Break up the soil with a tiller.  The soil must be loose to allow for roots to dig deep into the soil.  Once the soil is broken up apply a starter fertilizer, which is a fertilizer that is high in phosphorus.  Then spread a good amount of compost over the seed bed and starter fertilizer.  Till the soil to incorporate the compost and starter fertilizer into the soil.  After tilling the soil, remove all rocks and other debris and rake to level it out.  To avoid problems with excess water runoff, make sure that any site grading you do allows water to flow away from your house.

Now you must decide what kind of seed you want on your lawn.  Columbia, Missouri is in a transition zone.  This means that cool season and warm season grasses will grow.  Although for warm season grasses to grow they must get full sun.  Your best bet is to go with a turf type tall fescue.  This is a cool season grass that is heat and shade tolerant and grows very well in Columbia, Missouri.

Once the soil is prepared it is time to apply the seed.  Apply the seed with a spreader.  Apply 1/4 of the seed walking four different ways.  This will ensure even seed distribution.  After you spread the seed onto the soil, rake the soil lightly to cover the seed with a thin layer of soil. 

After you apply the seed you are not done working.  Now you must water.  It is very important to keep the seed moist at all times.  Water three times a day for about 10 minutes each time.  Make sure not to over water.  Over watering will wash the seed away and will ruin your lawn.  Follow this watering regimen for about  three weeks, or until the lawn grows to about 2 to 3 inches.  When the lawn reaches three inches cut watering back to one time per day and allow the surface to dry between watering.  This will establish deep roots by making the roots dig into the ground and search for water.  This will also firm up the surface and allow you to mow the lawn. 

Now that the lawn is established, remember to keep up with a good fertilizer program, weed control and proper lawn mowing.

Columbia, MO Sod  -  Columbia, MO Grass Seed