How To Sow Grass Seeds
Your lawn is often one of the first things people notice about your house. It acts as a vital balancing element of the more colorful parts of the garden and the facade of your home. Plus, it can become one of the best parts of your house. And a healthy turf can make a considerable difference in how your house looks from the outside. Having a perfect lawn is possible, and it starts with proper seeding.
Grass seed is a low-cost solution to add some green to your garden. However, even if sowing grass seed might look like a simple task, in reality, it requires following a specific set of rules to be successful.
For starters, the best season to sown lawn seed is spring (from March to May). However, many people do it in early autumn. The trick that makes a difference is to have moist and warm soil. You can choose among various grass types. Still, remember that each one requires some specific set of nutrients and climate conditions. Before selecting a grass type, ensure it is suitable for your area.
When laying your lawn, you must have a clear idea of the role it will have in your garden. Plan the “walking areas” and look for obstacles that might get in the way when mowing. It might sound trivial, but it will make a difference in the durability of your lawn and your effectiveness at keeping it tidy. Know what areas will have to ensure heavy tear and wear (think about access routes or play areas) and consider placing stepping stones or creating a natural play bark.
You may also want to think about the amount of sunlight your lawn will take each day. Areas in the shadow tend to be more prone to moss infestation. Plus, they will likely look patchy.
But don’t let this shut your dream of having a perfect lawn. Instead, consider substituting those areas for chipped bark, stones, or other elements. Furthermore, if there are plants around your turf, remember to include some edging between the turf and flower bed. It will help avoid damage to the edge of the lawn and ease trimming with shears.
Seeds Vs. Turf
When it comes to laying a lawn, one of the first questions that will come to mind is whether to use seed or turf. To make an informed decision, and one that would be best suited to your situation, it is a good idea to compare the advantages and drawbacks of each solution.
Planting seed provides you with various benefits. Of course, they also come with a couple of drawbacks. It is a cheap solution with the possibility of selecting several types of grass. Plus, it is convenient because you can delay sowing if the weather changes unexpectedly without any consequence. However, the process takes longer to establish than turf and requires more preparation.
On the other hand, getting turf ensures you have instant results. As you may expect, it is quick to establish and doesn’t depend so much on the time of the year. Still, keep in mind that the rolls can spoil quickly, meaning that as soon as you get them, you should lay them. Despite the increased convenience, turf is much more expensive than buying seeds. Also, it might be hard to fill gaps in your lawn with the appropriate type of turf.
How To Choose Grass Seed
You can choose among a vast range of grass seeds that will provide you with different types of lawns. Of course, the choice will depend on what kind of result you’d like to have for your garden and on the soil and weather conditions. As a rule of thumb, if you would like to have a fine lawn, choose a seed mixture without coarse grasses. Instead, lawns that must withstand lots of traffic work best with coarse grasses such as ryegrass. In general, shady and sunny areas require different seeds, as not all grass can stand direct sunlight for long. To avoid making the difference too obvious, consider seeding the bridging area with a mixture of the two seeds. This tip will eventually make a considerable difference in the overall looks of your garden and will facilitate care.
