Lawn Installation

Key Stages of Lawn Installation

At first glance, creating a well-groomed green lawn may seem simple and straightforward (just beautiful grass grows), but to achieve a lawn resembling a dense turf, considerable effort and care are required. Begin lawn installation only after major site works are complete: pathways laid, lighting installed, and drainage system established.

Lawn installation is labor-intensive and costly, but also highly rewarding. It involves several sequential stages:

• Choosing the lawn type and installation method,
• Preparing the site for seeding or laying roll sod,
• Selecting appropriate grass seeds,
• Actual seeding or laying pre-grown sod rolls,
• First mowing and irrigation.

Each stage includes several sub-steps, briefly described in this article. Following all recommendations ensures a beautiful landscape design and improves local microclimate: stabilizes soil, increases humidity, and reduces dust.

Choosing the Lawn Type

First, decide what kind of lawn you need. There are three main types based on purpose:

• General-purpose (residential-park),
• Decorative (parterre),
• Special-purpose (sport, erosion control, etc.).

Combination of types is common in practice. The most widely used lawn type—used in 99% of dacha and private home gardens—is the general-purpose (residential-park) lawn, also known as semi-sportive. It withstands frequent foot traffic and recovers quickly even after heavy mechanical stress.

The decorative (parterre) or elite lawn is better suited for areas along walkways, near house facades, or in decorative corners—areas meant for viewing, not walking.

Special-purpose lawns (sport, erosion control, etc.) are designed for specific tasks: sports fields, slope stabilization, and embankments.

Installation Method

After deciding on the desired lawn type, choose the installation method. You can either: seed a grass mixture on a prepared site (more cost-effective), or use modern technology to lay pre-made sod rolls (faster but more expensive).

Site Preparation

The most labor-intensive stage is site preparation, which determines 90% of success. The process includes:

• Clearing debris and weeds,
• Leveling the ground,
• Installing drainage if needed,
• Soil tilling,
• Loosening and leveling the topsoil with a roller,
• For seeded lawns, include a resting period and additional leveling before sowing.

Seed Selection and Sowing

Choose seeds based on the lawn type. Packaging must include:

• Type of grass or composition of the seed mix,
• Year of seed harvest,
• Country and address of the manufacturer.

Seeding is done in early or late autumn, and spring. Can be done manually or with a seeder. The process is simple but has nuances.

• Apply starter fertilizer one week before seeding to support germination.
• Before sowing, mix seeds with sand or dry soil. Sow on dry, windless days.
• After sowing, rake the area to embed seeds 2–3 cm deep, then irrigate using sprinklers or overhead watering.

Laying Sod Rolls

Sod installation (also called "derm") follows the same preparation steps as seeding. Use high-quality sod. Quality is judged by color, evenness, density, absence of weeds, and tensile strength after mechanical stress.

Water the site and apply nutrient-rich soil 1–2 days before laying sod. Carefully unroll and align the pieces, lightly covering the joints with topsoil to ensure good contact.

While sod installation saves time, it's more expensive—so most homeowners still prefer seeding.

First Mowing and Irrigation

After seeding or laying sod, maintain proper irrigation and mulch regularly. In hot weather, water every other day. In autumn, reduce watering due to frequent rain.

First mowing is done when seedlings reach 10 cm in height. Use a lawn mower or sharp scythe to cut the top growth, leaving 5–6 cm of grass. Ensure tools are sharp. Always water after mowing.

Thoughtful landscaping and proper maintenance ensure a lush, green lawn from early spring to late autumn.