A Detailed Guide to Lawn Planting Techniques and Maintenance Management Methods
Lawn is a common type of grass found in parks and green spaces. It not only has high ornamental value but is also easy to plant, and some people even plant it specifically on rooftops. So what are the techniques for lawn planting and maintenance management?
1. Site selection and soil preparation
Lawn root systems are relatively well-developed, so generally choosing good soil for planting is sufficient. Before planting, first clear weeds and stones from the land, then plow the soil, level out uneven areas, and finally spread base fertilizer. Replace poor or mixed soil.
2. Sowing and raising seedlings
Lawn planting methods include sowing grass seed, planting, laying sod blocks, and laying turf rolls, among which sowing grass seed is the most common in daily life. The specific method is as follows:
(1) Seed selection: Choose high-quality, qualified seeds. Before sowing, conduct a germination test and pre-germination treatment to determine a reasonable seeding rate. The grass seed used for sowing must be the correct grass species to ensure a high germination rate. Generally, grass seed purity is required to be above 90%, and the germination rate above 50%.
(2) Seed treatment: The seeds of Carex capillaris (fine-leaved sedge) can be washed with running water; Zoysia japonica (Japanese lawngrass) seeds can be soaked in a 0.5% sodium hydroxide solution for 24h, then removed and rinsed clean with water, and finally placed in a cool, dry place to dry the seed coat before sowing; Buchloe dactyloides (buffalo grass) seeds can have their hard shells rubbed off mechanically. There are 2 treatment methods for Eriophorum (cottongrass) seeds: one is washing with running water for 96h; the other is soaking in warm water at 40-50°C while stirring with a stick, then rinsing with water after the water cools to remove the waxy substance on the outside of the seed coat, and drying the seed coat before sowing.
(3) Sowing: The sowing period is mainly determined by the grass species and climatic conditions. Sowing grass seed can be done from spring to autumn. Due to different climatic conditions in various regions, the most suitable sowing time should be chosen according to local conditions. In areas where winter is not particularly cold, early autumn sowing is best, as soil temperature is higher at this time, root development is good, cold resistance is strong, and it is beneficial for overwintering. In areas where lawn overwintering is difficult, only spring sowing can be used. However, spring-sown seedlings tend to grow upright, so the seeding rate should be slightly higher. The broadcasting method is generally used for sowing. First, make strip beds 3m wide on the ground and irrigate to soak the ground. After the water penetrates and the soil dries slightly, use a specially made spike-tooth rake (rake tooth spacing 2-3cm) to make crisscross furrows with a depth of 0.5cm, then mix the treated grass seed with 2-3 times its volume of fine sandy soil and evenly broadcast it into the furrows. It is best to first broadcast 1/2 lengthwise, then broadcast the other 1/2 crosswise, then lightly sweep once with a bamboo broom to sweep as much grass seed as possible into the furrows, and level with a flat rake. Finally, roll once with a 200-300kg roller (wet and sticky soil should not be rolled). For slopes and large-area lawn establishment, the hydroseeding method can be used. To make grass seed emerge quickly and grow well, it is best to mix in some quick-acting fertilizer at sowing, applying ammonium sulfate 250kg/hm2, superphosphate 500kg/hm2, and potassium sulfate 125kg/hm2.
3. Post-sowing management
After sowing, spray water promptly. The water droplets should be fine, dense, and uniform, slowly soaking through the ground from top to bottom, penetrating 8-10cm into the soil layer. The first 1-2 sprayings should not use too much water. After spraying, check, and if grass seed is found to have been washed out, promptly cover with soil and level it. After 2 irrigations, increase the water volume, frequently keep the soil moist, and do not interrupt spraying. In addition, the lawn must be fenced off to prevent severe uneven emergence caused by people trampling on it.
Overall, lawn is very easy to plant. As long as you choose good land, sow good seeds, and do a good job in maintenance management such as watering, fertilizing, and pest and disease control, it will be fine.