Is the lawn your favorite part of the house? All that greenery surely makes the environment peaceful and satisfying. But, maintaining the grass and ultimately the beauty of the green-lawn is not that easy. From planting your grass to maintaining it, every phase needs proper planning.
Many people wonder about the right time for seedings and how to carry out the right routine for lawn care. If you are curious about the same, then here is your chance to get all your queries solved. Come with us and get to know about all the dos and don’ts of lawn care without the aid of a lawn company.
How To Seed Grass?
When you are about to seed the grass in your lawns, there are certain aspects that you need to remember. From time selection to soil preparation, every phase is crucial. The whole process includes the following phases:
Time Selection
Soil Preparation
Planting
Accelerate Germination
What Is The Right Time For Seeding?
If you are curious about the time at which you should seed your grass, we are here to help. In general, fall seeding is the most preferred time of the year, and here's why.
Fall seeding:
You must have heard that fall is the best time that you have got to seed your grass. This time of the year brings numerous advantages for you. Here are all the listed benefits:
Easiness:
The ease that you will get while working with the clay soil is the main reason why this season gets the highest preference.
Higher germination:
If you choose to seed the grass during the fall season, another primary advantage that you will get in the foremost season of growth is better germination. As a result, you will get healthier growth of grass and, hence, a greener-lawn.
Moisture:
Another highlighted benefit that the fall season brings to this whole process is excess moisture. This helps in germination and sets you free from watering more often.
Natural cold, moist stratification:
The natural occurrence of cold, moist stratification will make sure that you get fast germination of the grass.
Can You Seed The Grass In Spring?
For all the right reasons, fall has undoubtedly proved to be the best time to seed grass. However, don’t think that you cannot seed the grass in any other season. Here’s what spring seeding brings to you.
Ample Time:
If you plan to seed during the spring period, you will get ample time to get your soil preparations done. In this way, you can efficiently get rid of all the debris, stones, or wood from your planting site.
Warm Season Grass:
If you want to grow warm-season grass, spring seeding will suit you the best. This season will prove to be optimal if you want to grow the following:
Bermudagrass
Zoysiagrass
St. Augustinegrass
Carpetgrass
Centipedegrass
Bahiagrass
Can You Seed Grass During Winter?
If you are concerned about carrying a seed planting procedure during the winter season, let us tell you that this might not be the best idea. Why so? Well, while the temperature is too low, there is a higher possibility for your seeds to freeze. However, frost will not make the seed die, but it does hinder the sprouting process. When a seed freezes, it goes into a dormant phase. This means that the seed becomes inactive until the arrival of a relatively warm season.
Soil Preparation:
If you are aiming to make your soil the best for planting seeds without hiring a lawn company, here are some easy steps that can assist you.
Removal of Debris:
The foremost step is to get rid of all the stones, wood pieces, and debris from your soil. By doing so, your planting site will become clear and ready for the next step.
Raking:
Secondly, you will have to invest your time into raking. With the use of a rake or spade, make sure to scratch the soil properly up to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. This step is crucial because the seeds should come into direct contact with the soil in order to germinate effectively. Usually, grass seed is placed with the help of a spreader, which does not guarantee proper interaction of seed with the soil.
Addition of seeding soil:
Finally, all you have to do is to add the seedings soil, as this includes fertilizers that will help your grass during the development phase. Do not forget to level the surface after the addition of this soil. Getting a 3-inch rich soil base will be ideal for the seeds to develop healthy roots.
Planting:
Planting is amongst the most critical steps when it comes to the growth of grass. Following are some key points that will help you go through this phase like a champ.
Quality:
The quality of seeds is the foremost factor that determines the healthy growth of your grass. So, it is extremely important for you to be wise in your selection of seeds and get the ones that are rated to be of the highest quality.
Size of planting site:
The size of your planting site or the area will give you an idea about the seeds that you have to purchase. Generally, the rule of the thumb is to purchase 4 to 8 lbs. of seeds for every 1000 square feet of area.
You may think of purchasing more seeds so that you can make your garden or yard look fuller and greener than ever. But, do remember that doing this might not help as it will promote overcrowding. Hence, you will have to face choking regarding growth.
Spreader:
Using a spreader can be quite helpful while planting seeds. Why so? Well, a spreader machine will cover a large area in less time. So, your time and energy will both remain saved. Moreover, by using a spreader, you will get a more uniform coverage of seeds at the site.
Accelerate Germination:
If you want to increase the germination rate, the following points can be of great help to you.
Lawn-Rollers:
Using a lawn-roller to dig the seed at a deeper region can help in increasing the germination. You can use sand and water to increase the weight of the roller so that the tamping can be done more effectively. In this way, the birds won't eat your seeds away, and you will not have to face erosion as well.
Watering:
For better growth, adequate watering is amongst the most vital factors. The germination phase demands high moisture throughout. Watering more often and getting 6 to 8 inches of soil penetration can help in accelerating the germination.
Lawn Care Tips:
Does caring for your lawn seem hard? Well, here are some easy points that will lead you to make it greener, maintained, and beautiful.
Drainage Enhancement:
Caring for your lawn calls for better drainage as one of the most important points. If you do not want your area to become waterlogged, then do remember the significance of drainage. This factor will help in preventing your soil from becoming eroded. Moreover, you will not have to face water damage at all if the drainage system is up to the mark.
Aeration:
Another point that needs special attention from the owner is aeration. Through the process of aeration, you can save the soil from being deprived of water, nutrients, and air as well. As a result, you can make all these things reach the root level and promote healthy development. The pros of aeration are:
Strengthening of roots
Improvement in resilience and cushioning
Promotes tolerance towards drought stress and heat
Improves the exchange of air between the environment and soil
Improves the uptake of water and fertilizers
Mowing:
Maintaining a regular routine of mowing can be pretty useful while maintaining your lawns. This helps in the nourishment of mulch and eliminates the pests as well. Moreover, this will also help in making your lawn's grass stronger. After a regular mowing routine, you will start noticing a marked increase in the growth of the grass as well.
Water and Feed:
You can find numerous types of feeds available in the market. Feeding your lawns can help you in the following ways:
Prevents pests
Reduces weed
Builds resistance against diseases
It helps in improving the growth.
Protects the soil
Furthermore, if you want to increase germination and a healthier field, watering is vital. This will make the soil moist, and you will get better growth as a result.
Top Dressing:
This is used to enhance and add to the value of the current soil by giving increased resistance to erosion and flooding. Moreover, the top dressing can also help you out in leveling all the imperfections of your soil.
The Bottom Line:
All in all, maintaining a healthy lawn and planting the grass is not an easy job. However, it cannot be regarded as the toughest chores to do if you have the proper knowledge. All that one needs to do is to focus on every aspect that can have an impact on the overall germination rate, care, and well-being of the area. From how to seed to caring tips, everything mentioned above will help you in turning your lawn into its own best version.