Maintaining a healthy looking lawn isn’t always easy. As a homeowner, there is nothing more important than having a nice lawn. It’ll often require hours of hard work, especially if your lawn suffers from dormant grass seedlings. Here are some tips and lawn care techniques to encourage healthy growth.
Selecting the Proper Grass Seeds
When purchasing seed mix, it’s important to remember that not all seeds are created equal, which is why it’s always better to choose the highest-quality seed mix. Many seed mixes contain weed seeds as well, you should always choose the seed mixture that says “Contains No Weed Seeds.” In order to find the best quality seed mix, you should look at the NTEP (National Turf Evaluation Program) rating.
Preparing the Soil
After you finish planting the new grass seeds, you should then rake the top layer of soil. The seeds will then germinate better once they’re mixed with the soil. By lightly raking the grass seeds it will help the soil and seed mix together; you should do this until the seeds are buried 1/3″ or until they’re evenly distributed.
How to Roll a Lawn
After you plant the seeds and prepare the soil, you should then roll the lawn. Using a lawn roller will help level the soil, which is an important part of germination. You should try to roll over the planting area in one pass. When rolling your lawn, the roller should be approximately one-fourth full, which is just enough weight to press the seeds into the soil.
Spreading Straw or Mulch
During the germination process, you should apply a seed cover to help keep the seeds moist, which also helps protect the seeds from birds and erosion. When choosing a seed cover, it’s usually recommended to use mulch, which has been proven to retain moisture better and reduce the chances of your seeds drying out. When applying mulch, you should be sure to never apply too much or it could potentially suffocate your new seedlings. If the mulch is applied correctly, you won’t have to worry about removing the mulch, which will later break down and disappear. There are 4 different types of mulch you can use, which includes:
• Compost
Many homeowners prefer to use compost derived from mushrooms as mulch; it’s packed full of nutrients and easily breaks down.
• Pine Straw
Pine needles contain a chemical called terpene, which is what produces that fresh pine smell. Some experts say that terpene isn’t beneficial for plant growth, but terpenes will quickly evaporate once the needles have fallen, which is why I recommend using aged pine needles.
• Peat Moss
Peat moss is often used as mulch for lawn care. Peat boss will drastically improve the germination rate, which promotes positive airflow, retains water, and provides the nutrients needed to grow a healthy lawn.
• Sawdust
When applying sawdust, you should only apply a layer of 1/3″ which you have to handle with caution, as too much sawdust will suffocate your turf. One of the benefits of using sawdust is that wood chips contain large amounts of CO2, which will absorb the nitrogen as it breaks down into the soil.
Watering the Grass
After you finish planting the grass seed, you should then water it some more. Grass seed requires plenty of water to keep it adequately moist. Once the seeds begin to absorb the moisture, you can then water it less frequently and lightly. You should water with caution to avoid puddles from gathering, which will decrease the likelihood of bacteria from forming. It never hurts to invest in a high-quality sprinkler, that way you don’t have to worry about dragging a hose across the yard. You should also consider purchasing a spray wand, which makes watering by hand a lot easier.
Author Bio : Sarah Works for YourGreenPal and she loves writing about lawns and gardens.