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Using Grass Seed

15 June, 18:46, by admin Tags: , , , , ,
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grass-seed

Creating a lawn from scratch is a rewarding but time consuming task that needs a few steps to get the best results. Following these few hints will ensure you get the lush green lawn you were hoping for.

Prepare the soil. No matter what type of soil you have, or whether it’s bare soil or an old lawn, you need to aerate it properly before even thinking about applying any seed. Ensure the area is properly aerated and add a thin layer of compost afterwards. This will help break up the soil, give the roots some space to grow and add nutrients to the area they will be growing in.

Use the right seed. Not all grass is the same. If you are planting from seed you need to select a variety that can cope with the Naples climate. It will need to be able to cope with constant sunlight, heat and the sandy soil we have down here. The previously suggested centipede grass is an option, but there are many others to choose from.

Time is of the essence. Once you have chosen your seed variety you will need to plant it at the appropriate time. Some types can be planted in warm seasons, and others will grow best if planted in a cool season. Warm season is generally April and May for planting, whereas cool is best in the fall.

Spread ‘em. Spread the seed evenly throughout the planting area, preferably with a rotary spreader to get an even coverage.

Water. Once the seeds are down you need to expose them to moisture to wake them up. This will need to be fairly constant throughout the germination period. A useful tip would be to water lightly three times a day before sundown to prevent any moss of fungal growth. A top dressing of straw can also help stop the moisture evaporating during the Naples sun, aiding growth significantly.

Stay off the grass. The new lawn area should be a no go to everyone while it is trying to become established. If you used a warm season grass seed then you will need to stay away for up to three months, whereas a cool season grass if fairly stable after six weeks.

Following these simple steps will increase your chances of success with a grass seed lawn by orders or magnitude.

Repairing a Compacted Lawn.

15 June, 18:41, by admin Tags: , , , , , , , ,
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Most family lawns have to cope with a lot. They get walked on, played on, rolled on as well as pecked and tunnelled through, especially with the weather we have here in Naples. Soil compaction is a big problem for your lawn, and although it happens through use, it can be addressed fairly simply in an overall lawn care plan.

Compaction is where the soil within 4 inches of the surface gets compressed and squashed. This blocks the flow of air, nutrients and moisture through the soil, which in turn leads of poor quality grass. Unfortunately, even though grass can’t grow very well in these conditions, weeds and moss can. Therefore another problem with compaction is the following explosion of weed and moss growth.

There is one simple technique that can alleviate this problem within days: aerating. Aerating is where you punch holes into the ground to add ventilation and space to move. The easiest way to do it is with a garden fork. Poke the fork into the ground at least 4 inches deep and repeat all along your lawn spacing them out. You should do this at least a couple of times a year anyway, but certainly is your grass is beginning to suffer.

The effect of aerating is the loosening of the soil and provides space for water and nutrients to reach root level. It also adds oxygen to the soil which will stimulate growth and allow the helpful bacteria to grow. As a side effect it also increases drainage which should be the end of any moss that grows on the lawn.