Turfgrass installation is the quickest way to have a healthy green lawn. These pictures, taken less than 24 hours apart, show how quickly you can go from bare to beautiful. And turfgrass is easy to install. Our step by step suggestions will help guide you through the
process.

Soil Preparations

• Remove rocks or other debris, control weeds and establish a rough grade.
• Take a soil sample if time permits. Soil testing kits are available at Texas Plant and Soil Lab, Inc..
• Install sprinklers - automatic sprinklers save time and water. 
• Add 1-3 inches of compost or peat moss if possible. This reduces compaction and improves water and nutrient retention.
• Apply amendments such as high phosphorous fertilizer to stimulate root development. Apply gypsum at a rate of 50 lbs per 1000 square feet to help with PH levels and allow nutrients to be more available to your grass.
• Rototill to a depth of 4 to 6 inches.
• Rake and smooth soil. Keep finished grade 1" below sidewalks or sprinkler heads.

Turf Installation

Install the turf as soon as possible after delivery or pick up - within 12 hours. Protect unlaid turf by covering with moist burlap (not plastic) or sprinkling the edges with water.

Turf Tip...If installing turf in the summer heat be sure to cool your grade with a light sprinkling of water. Do not make it so wet you can't walk on the grade but it must be cool to your touch.

• Begin installing turf along the longest straight line. Push edges and ends tightly against each other without stretching. Stagger joints in each row, in a brick like pattern. Avoid gaps and overlapping. Turf may be cut with a knife to conform to curved boundaries.
• Never let installed turf lay for more than 30 minutes without watering. If you have a large area to install, water installed areas as you continue to lay turfgrass.
• After installation, water thoroughly to a depth of 6 inches.
• The turf needs to bond with the soil. After the initial watering you may need to roll your lawn to eliminate any air pockets and insure good soil contact.
• Continue to water your new lawn daily applying enough moisture to soak through the turf and keep the soil below it wet to a minimum depth of 2 inches. You may need to water several times each day if wind and heat conditions are extreme.
• When it becomes difficult to pick up a piece of turf (2 - 3 weeks) you can reduce watering frequency but should soak your soil more thoroughly to encourage deep rooting. As a rule of thumb, turf in full sun can use up to .4 inches of water per day in warm dry conditions.

Watering
After the turf has rooted, (you can no longer pick up a piece of turf) water every third day to a depth of 8 inches.

Mowing
The first mowing should occur within 2 weeks of installation. Be sure to set the mower at the proper height for the particular lawn variety you have installed. Thereafter, cut only the top third of the grass blade at any mowing. Keep mower blades sharp so that you are cutting the grass, not tearing it.

Foot Traffic
The turfgrass is ready for foot traffic as soon as it's installed. However, because the soil under the grass has been watered, it tends to be "soft" and vulnerable to foot prints and indentations. Protect the grade and allow the turfgrass to root properly by keeping foot traffic to a minimum for the first two weeks.