I’m extremely happy with the positive response we’ve received from our readers in the first month of our “sod blog.”  It is great to see that many of you are passionate about having a healthy lawn! 

Today I’d like to talk about some of the most popular questions that are asked of me on a weekly basis.

Q: Is there a way to keep your dog from damaging the grass?

A: There is not a simple answer for this question.  The reality is that there has not been a product that has been found to acidify the dog urine and keep it from burning. The nice part of BOBSod (and several of the dense bermudagrasses we grow) is that they recover faster than say “Midiron” which has an open canopy, and doesn’t have as aggressive of a growth habit. You can always fill the weak or damaged areas with sand and this will aid in giving the grass a better growing medium.

Q: What is the best grass choice for the shade?

A: The best bermudagrass for the shade is BOBSod.  But it does need at least 3-4 hours of sunlight between 10 am and 3 pm in the summer months. On a scale of 1-10 BOBSod is a 4-5 in the shade, and all the other bermudagrasses are a 0-1 in shade. If you have full shade you will have to use St. Augustine, but keep in mind this is a grass that does not like to be overseeded and it will go “off color” in the winter.

Q: How do I make sure my roots grow deep and my grass will survive during the hot summer months? 

A: The best way to maintain a deep root system is to keep the potassium level high and water deep and infrequently. Potassium is the 3rd number on a bag of fertilizer such as a 0-0-50. When you are watering it is better to water 2-3 days per week for 20-30 minutes per cycle than to water everyday. If you water daily your roots will stay in the top few inches of the soil and never grow deep. Remember that too much water is just as bad for your lawn as is too little water.

Q: Do I have to water my lawn in the winter if I don’t overseed?

A: The answer is yes, but you only need to water about every two weeks for around 30 minutes to maintain soil and plant moisture, and to prevent any winter desiccation. 

Q: When is okay to cut my newly overseed lawn for the first time?

A: The ryegrass is usually ready to be cut after 10 days or when it reaches a 1 ½” – 2” height. You will want to mow at a higher setting, and gradually take your heights down in the coming weeks to your desired height of cut.  After your “first mow” is a great time to put your second fertilizer application down (15-15-15). I have posted pictures of my lawn after it’s first mow yesterday so you can see the height your lawn should be mowed at.

I will post a few questions and answers every week or so on my blog so you can stay updated, and informed on the turf industry. Feel free to send me your questions to the “Ask Jay” section on my blog, and I will answer your questions that day.

I can say I won’t have time to blog tomorrow as it is “Penn State Saturday,” and I will be pacing in front of the TV trying to tell Coach Rodriquez what plays to call through my TV (I assume I am not the only person that does this).  They should really give me a remote headset with direct access to the Coach.

Have a good weekend and I will blog again soon!

Jay