Lawn Seed Starting Tips
When trying to decide which type of grass seed to sow on your lawn, there are some points to consider. Some varieties of grass plant seeds need little or no mowing, while others require frequent mowing. Some also require more moisture than your climate provides, so watering may be necessary.
You will need to till the area, if you are starting from seeding scratch, in order to remove old clumps of roots and then rake it until you get the level you desire. Let’s look at the pros and cons of seeding your lawn, to help make the process easier.
seeding
What seeds should you buy? You must take your local climate into consideration when making this decision. Take a look at your yard and figure out whether the area is wet or dry, if it is shady or gets full sun exposure. You also need to determine what type of soil you have. This will help you make the right choice for your lawn.
You will need to add some sand to the mixture before planting the grass seed if your soil doesn’t drain well. This will keep the ground from becoming waterlogged and drowning your seeds. Be sure to check the pH level of your soil. Most lawns ideally thrive with a pH level of 6.5 to 7.0. If your soil is not in this range, you may need to adjust it to attain this level.
The real work now lies ahead. The first step you should take after preparing the site is to add a layer of organic material to your topsoil. Some people don’t use topsoil, and instead, use peat moss. Compost and manure, at a minimum of one inch thick should do the trick. Make sure you leave the mixture loose so that the roots can spread out. Consult planting guides or ask questions at a local gardening center if you have any questions.
garden guides
Fertilizer should be spread on your yard approximately one week before you plan on seeding your lawn. As a general rule, when you are preparing your soil to plant seeds, that is the best time to fertilize. Before planting time, read the information the seed company provides on the package as to how much seed to sow and when.
To begin sowing your lawn, you can do it by hand or you can use a spreader, it is completely up to you. It may be easier to divide your lawn into sections and sow each section one at a time.
To make sure you have an even spread of seeds, sow in two directions. You will need to rake the seed into the soil after you have spread it out. Spray a fine mist of water to help them start to germinate. To prevent birds from eating your newly sown lawn, you can crisscross string about four inches above the soil surface.
plant seeds
The final step in the process is watching and waiting. After seven to fourteen days, seedlings should start to appear. Water your grass with a fine mist, as you don’t want the seeds to dry out, nor do you want them to become saturated.
Seeding your own lawn does require effort and attention on your part, and to keep yourself motivated during the process, try to picture the lush green lawn you will have in just a short time!
Posted by wayne on September 8th, 2009 filed in Lawn Care |
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