Turf Restoration Update - 4/25/23

City staff identified properties that need additional work by the City’s contractor to achieve satisfactory turf establishment.

The contractor is anticipating starting work in the project area in early May for the properties that need additional work.

To achieve optimal turf, we ask that you help by

• Do not add any fertilizers or herbicides in the areas the City has previously worked. If these are present when the contractor begins work, no further restoration will occur at your property.
• Completing your typical spring lawn clean up in the areas the city disturbed, prior to work starting May 1, 2023. This work may include raking, dethatching, turning on your irrigation system, etc.
• Help supplement watering of the new seed if the soil appears to be dry. It is important that the soil stays damp, not dry or over saturated. Continue watering, along with the City Contractor until the seed has reached a height of approximately 2”. After reaching 2” in height, water these areas like you would water the rest of your lawn.
• Do not mow these areas until the grass has reached a height of 6”, only mow a maximum of 1/3” of the height of the grass.

One or two of the following three methods will occur at your property depending upon the current condition of the turf.

1. Brillion seeding. A small tractor pulls a machine behind it that drops seed onto the turf, the seed is then pushed into the ground by a metal disc.
2. Slit seeding. Like brillion seeding, but is a smaller machine, typically self-propelled.
3. Hand raking. Smaller areas will have the soil scarified by raking, seed will then be distributed of the area and the area will be raked again.

Following any of the methods listed above, hydromulch will be applied to the restored areas. The hydromulch will help keep the seed and soil moist and prevent erosion and seed loss.

The hydromulch mixture will include a starting fertilizer and herbicide that will help minimize cool weather broadleaf weeds and prevent germination of weeds while the new turf is growing.

We thank you for your patience through this process and understand any frustrations that you may feel. We understand how important a well-maintained lawn is to the aesthetic appeal of your property and the personal pride many of you take in your lawn, we regret that we fell short of your expectations.