Installment 2:  Getting Ready / Planning:

When getting ready to put in a new lawn, you will want to start with a little planning.  You will first want to measure the square footage on your lawn.  This will be necessary for you to figure out how much seed to get, or how many plugs to order.  Next you should figure out your planting zone.  This will help you determine the best time to install the plugs or spread the seed (depending on what you choose to do).

This is also the time that you will want to assess the area that you are looking to put your turf grass.  Is it a new development with no pre-existing grass?  Are you replacing a pre-existing lawn?  There is preparation that will be needed for either case, but that information will be covered in the next installment.  

Different grasses have different functions.  You will want to decide what is important to you and what your needs are.  Some do not tolerate shade well, while others will.  Some grasses hold up better to traffic and some require less water.  There will be some give and take.  For example, you may have to mow more frequently with grasses that have a higher tolerance to traffic.  You will want to try and rate (the best you can) the importance of mowing frequency, disease / insect resistance, traffic tolerance, shade tolerance, and watering frequency.  These will be the factors that will help you decide which grass is right for you.  Installation will be the topic of the next installment.