Planting Grass Seed
Now that we have been enjoying a little bit of warmer weather, many of you will be planting grass seed to either fill in bare spots in your yard or thicken your lawn by overseeding. Here are some tips from seed selection to the first mowing to ensure your seeding is a success!
The first step is selecting a grass seed. Make sure you insist on top quality seed so you do not plant weeds. “Bargain” grass seed mixes are often full of weed seeds, undesirable grasses, immature seeds, and even filler material to make the package larger. Once it is planted, you must live with the results – sometimes ugly – for years. The few dollars more it costs to buy top quality grass seed is one of the best homeowner investments you can make. Investing in good quality seed now can save money in long term maintenance of your lawn. For more information about grass seed types, please contact us here at Grabill & Woodburn Hardware.
Next, prepare the “seedbed” by working up the soil to give the seed a place to lodge and take root. Soil particles from pea to marble size are ideal. But be careful of working the soil too finely. Too fine of soil particles can lead the surface to crust-over and dry out too quickly. If you are over-seeding, large swathes of thin shallow furrows should be cut into the soil with a slicing machine. The seed must have good seed to soil contact in order to grow.
Then, sow the seed evenly using a broadcast, drop, or handheld spreader to do the job. Spreading large areas by hand is a mistake because it is almost impossible to get consistent coverage. If the coverage is uneven, the grass will sprout in patches. To cover the seed, simply go over the area lightly with the back of a leaf or garden rake. Alternatively, drag a light object, such as a doormat, over the seeded areas.
Using a starter fertilizer the same day you seed will make a world of difference in your results and help your lawn get off to a healthy start. A starter fertilizer has high phosphorus content to stimulate early root development. It is also time-released to provide nutrients to the grass plants when they need them. This makes your seedlings grow faster and develops a thicker and greener lawn. Agricultural fertilizers like 12-12-12 do not make good starter fertilizers because they release their nutrients too quickly. Once the grass seeds have germinated, there is nothing left of the agricultural fertilizers for the young plants to use.
Mulch only if necessary. Consider mulching on sloping areas, such as hillsides, or to reduce the frequency of watering. A mulch can be clean weed-free straw or peat moss. Simply scatter a light amount over the area-just enough to provide a light shading. The seedbed should be clearly visible through the mulch. Young seedlings can suffocate if mulch is too thick.
Watering is critical to young seedlings throughout all growing stages. The seedbed should be kept moist. It is much better to water frequently rather than deeply. Only the top inch of soil needs to be kept moist, either by watering or rainfall. As seedlings sprout, watering becomes even more critical. Tender young plants will die if moisture is not available to them.
When the young plants have developed into mature grasses, mowing can begin as soon as there is anything to cut with the mower set at about 1-1/2 inches high. Do not mow when the soil is overly wet because it can damage your newly planted grass. Eight weeks after the new seedlings sprout, you should follow-up with an application of Weed & Feed to enhance growth and further eliminate any undesirable weeds.
—Jim Gerig
Jonathan Green Lawn Consultant; Grabill & Woodburn Hardware
