| Author | Message | ||
     Melonious Citizen Username: Melonious Post Number: 121 Registered: 6-2003 |
(SORRY, I mistakenly posted this on the lawn care thread. I believe this important topic deserves its own thread.) I have learned that the KEY to growing grass from seed is HAY. Lots and lots of it, to cover the newly seeded patches. Prevents birds from eating it all, keeps moisture and warmth in. Also, water it EVERY DAY. Even if it is "supposed" to rain. Even if it rained the night before. Don't have to flood it, but make sure it is moist enough in the morning to stay moist all day, kwim. Also, I've found that Scott's PatchMaster is not worth the effort. It's seed, fertilizer, and paper mulch (very fluffy) that is supposed to be one-step. The stuff is so fluffy you have to be careful it doesn't blow away, and they say you must NOT put down layers thicker than 1/4", AND you must water it TWICE a day for 7-14 days. I did all of this, plus all the dethatching and spot-composting, and got very skimpy results about a month later. For less effort, handfulls of seed and generous hay-ing gets me seedlings in less than a week. OK, that's my grass rant. | ||
| AngelaK Citizen Username: Angelak Post Number: 117 Registered: 7-2006  |
Hey! That's great advice! Where does one buy hay?? I have a bag of that 1-step Scott's stuff you mentioned sitting in the shed, darnit, for the several bare spots. I'm dethatching now. At least, I think I am anyway - I'm using one of those very stiff-tined rakes to scrape out the dried up grass that is coating the ground under what little actual green grass I have. | ||
| SOrising Citizen Username: Sorising Post Number: 767 Registered: 2-2006 |
You can buy staw coverings for seeding at places like Gardens Alive and maybe Gardeners Supply. They each have websites, AngelaK. I have had some success with putting peat moss and compost on top of seeded grass, but its very time consuming. Next time, I'm going to unroll a straw mat from one of these places. Melonious sounds like s/he's giving expert advice and I'm going to try it. | ||
| Melonious Citizen Username: Melonious Post Number: 122 Registered: 6-2003 |
You can get bales of hay at Millstone or other garden centers (not Home Depot). You just have to ask one of the guys. But hey, I didn't know regular folk can buy straw mats! I've only seen those at institutions (like corporate office parks). How much are they? A bale of hay is incredibly cheap, and goes very far, but if it's reasonably priced, it might be worth it to not be covered in hay or straw, looking like an extra from "Green Acres". |
