Seeding Garden Nursery Landscaping Guide
Seeding Your Lawn
By Rodger G Allenby
If you want to start your lawn from seed, then there is some
information you need to know before you begin seeding. The advantages
of planting grass seed over installing sod are that seed planting
is much less costly and there are many more varieties of grasses
to choose from. While there is a lot of labor and time involved
when you plant seeds, the lovely results are rewarding and are
well worth your time.
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.
Adding Some Sand
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 a planting guide or ask
questions at a local gardening center if you have any questions.
You May Need Fertilizer
Before seeding your lawn and while doing the final prep work,
consider adding fertilizer to the soil. It helps give the seeds
an extra boost at planting time. Remember to put the fertilizer
down around a week before you plant the seeds or you run the risk
of burning the seeds with the chemicals. Now it is time to start
sowing! Read the information provided by the seed company regarding
how you should start sowing.
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.
So The Seed In Two Directions
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.
Now it is time to sit back and watch your grass grow. Within
seven to fourteen days, you should see seedlings starting to appear.
Don’t forget to water your lawn with a faint mist, to keep the
seeds moist but not 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!
About the Author:
Rodger G Allenby has written a number of articles on gardening
and landscaping including Mum
Flowers, Table
Top Fountains, Above
Ground Storage Tank, Garden
Supplies.
Keep a lookout for more of his articles on this website.
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