Seed And Feed On The Same Day
Which goes on first, the seed or the lawn food? It’s up to you. Either way, use a drop or rotary spreader. Just follow the settings on the packages. You want to feed on the same day with Scotts® Starter® Lawn Food for New Grass to give your new grass seedlings a head start.
Cover Up
After the seeds and Starter® lawn food are laid down, cover the seeds with a thin layer of Scotts® Turf Builder® Lawn Soil. You can do this by gently dragging the back of a leaf rake over your seeded area. On hills, mulch with a thin layer of straw to keep seeds from washing away. Make sure you can plainly see the seedbed beneath the straw. You can also mulch with straw on the rest of your new lawn to help cut back on water use.
Keep on watering
After all your efforts, you don’t want your grass seed to dry out. Make sure the top inch of soil in your new lawn stays moist. You may need to lightly water two or three times a day. Keep at it until your seedlings are well-established. Once your new lawn has reached a mowing height, you can reduce the frequency and start watering thoroughly once or twice a week.
Maintenance
Great, your new lawn is growing vigorously. Now you have to cut it. Make sure you only mow the top third of the grass blades. Adjust your mower to high setting to keep the lawn nice and thick. When you cut it too short, weeds can sneak in.
What Causes Lawn To Be Uneven
Now you know the best lawn leveling soil, its important you know the causes of unevenness in your yard.
Even though maintaining a level lawn is a continuous process, the idea of what causes it can help put a permanent solution to it.
A level lawn isnt just easy to maintain but offers kids the enabling environment to have fun. Thats why every home owner desires to have level lawn soil.
Some of the major causes of low and higher spots areas in the yard include:
- High foot or motorized traffic.
- New fences
- Higher spots caused by seasonal freezing and thawing.
- Pest or disease problems.
- Animals digging
- Lack of proper lawn care such as lawn mower-scalping
Sometimes, bumps and depressions can be the result of drainage problems. Broken water or irrigation pipes also cause bumps or rough lawns.
Uneven lawns can also be as a result of natural and unnatural cases of settling in an area. Over time, settling causes depression, though this might be unavoidable.
Bumps or unevenness can also be as a result of buried objects like wood debris. Remove the wood debris and level the location that is all for this type of unevenness.
People also cause unevenness of lawns, by walking on soft lawn most especially in the early spring or immediately after heavy rains. Even animals use their legs to cause unlevel lawn as well.
Constant checking on animals will help to prevent unlevel lawn soil. Keep a watch on your animals to prevent them from creating unevenness in your yard.
How To Improve Clay Soil
I hope this article has helped you narrow down the best grass seed for clay soil. Clay soil can be a challenge to deal with. Because it tends to choke plants roots, its hard to grow things to their best potential. Sure, there are plants that naturally grow OK in clay soil, but youll find most things grow better when you improve the soil.
Ideally, improve your clay soil before planting grass seed, or establishing a garden. Check your pH. If your pH is good, around 6-6.5, use gypsum. If your soil is acidic, use lime to improve clay soil and raise your pH.
Gypsum is also known as a clay breaker. It improves clay soil like so:
Gypsum can help loosen clay soils and improve soil structure by transforming fine, tightly packed particles into larger clumps that make the soil more porous, allowing air, water and nutrients to penetrate the soil more easily.USA Gypsum
Gypsum can take a while to work. If youre looking at faster results, look into liquid gypsum or another liquid clay breaker/clay soil improver.
Heres what Soil Logic mentions about liquid gypsum:
Expect results to last up to two years, though a soil evaluation after a year is recommended. Even the worst clay or sodium-damaged soils see significant improvement after three monthly applications and can be re-mediated within a year.
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Friable Loam: The Ideal Lawn Soil And How To Get It
Dirt is dirt, right? It gets under your nails, it gets tracked into your house and it creates a lot of laundry if you have young children. Most people dont give topsoil a second thought other than to grumble about the mess it makes.
But your soil deserves respect. It serves a vital purpose. It gives plants, trees and grass a place to put their roots and there are many different types of soil. As a homeowner, understanding the soil you have in your yard can really help you with your gardening, landscaping and lawn care.
If you know your soil type and how it acts under different conditions, you can amend or manage it so your grass and other plants have enough air, water and nutrient movement through the root zone. Probably as clear as mud, but keep on reading to get a better understanding!
What Is The Best Soil For Turf
Whether you are installing a new lawn, or you need to topdress an existing lawn, what is the best soil for turf?
Turf Underlay
Turf underlay is the foundation or bed for your turf to grow on, you only get one chance to get this right as once your turf is down its too late. Turf underlay generally is a mix of the following
- Washed river sand, medium to course particles some % of clay is present which helps to compact and form a base.
- Some heavier soil is generally added which helps to hold moisture and mixed with the sand creates a free-flowing profile for water movement.
- A composted material is then added again generally this can be green waste, chicken or animal manure and some natural nutrients to help balance your PH levels.
Once this is all mixed together it will form the turf underlay you require a firm base that allows water movement downwards and allows for water retention, so the turf roots system can develop and establish. The aim is to promote a healthy root system that will protect the turf from weather conditions such as droughts and winter frost.
When you put in your turf underlay, it is recommended to apply to a depth of 100mm as a minimum, more is also sometimes necessary. Prior to spreading your turf underlay spray out all existing weeds and grasses. Once you spread your turf underlay ensure it is levelled, rolled and watered prior to installing your new turf.
Top dressing
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Kelway Soil Ph And Moisture Meter
Our next top soil pH tester is the professional soil pH tester, the Kelway Soil pH and Moisture Meter. Although its a premium option, its well worth the money as its a professional-grade product. You can use this on large farms, commercial plantations, or even for small home gardens. This product provides an exceptionally quick reading with a pH accuracy of ±0.2.
But this product isnt just for testing soil pH. It can also evaluate your moisture content with an accuracy of ±10%. It doesnt require any batteries or power source to operate, instead using the principle of electrical potential between two dissimilar metal plates. Its solid and reliable, allowing you to check any kind of soil for its pH or moisture content.
Once youve selected your settings, you only need to wait about two or three minutes for it to get a reading. It comes with a durable carrying case as well as a belt loop, making it easier to carry as you travel among your planted fields. Since it records so quickly, it wont take you long to get the job done.
What We Liked:
- Durable product that comes with a carrying case
- High accuracy and quick readings
- Dial is easy to read and to adjust, allowing you to take numerous readings
What We Didnt Like:
- Can be difficult to remove the probe from soil, as well as to clean off any lingering dirt
What Are The Types Of Soil
There are twelve orders of soils, but in regards to lawns, there are really two main types that balance out in slightly different proportions based on your lawn care needs. These two groups are heavy and light soils. Heavy soil contains more clay and is sticky and hard to work, but is generally more fertile. Because its heavier and denser, such soils tend to remain cold and wet in spring and need grit or coarse organic material to bring in air and help grassroots remain healthy. Alternatively, sandy or silty soils are considered light soils because they are permeable, water-draining types of soils.
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Improve A Clay Soil Lawn By Encouraging Microbial Activity
When soil is healthy it is alive with microbial activity. Beneficial organisms devouring and depositing organic matter, creating an ecosystem where your grass can thrive.
If you want healthy grass, you need to make sure that you are encouraging beneficial microbes so that you can have healthy soil.
We do this in a number of ways including core aeration, ensuring proper pH, and of course wise lawn fertilization options. None of these is a one-and-done solution. They work together to synergistically improve the overall quality of the soil and lawn.
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Dr Earth Gold Premium Soil
If you have pets or children in the house, we are sure that safety is your primary concern. You never know when a toddler will suddenly feel the need to grab a handful of soil, or when a pet will decide on a new digging area.
The Dr. Earth Soil mix is safe to use and comes with an OMRI listing certification. That means that the Organic Materials Review Institute classified the product as organic, after many tests and exams.
This is a complete soil mix that includes a moisture component and organic ingredients that make sure there are plenty of nutrients in it. It also has TruBiotic soil microbes with endo and ectomycorrhizae.
The mycorrhiza is a fungus, but not a bad one. This fungus has a positive relationship with the roots of plants. They go deep into the soil with their filaments and reach nutrients that the plants could not access otherwise.
They are so amazing that they can be better than the roots themselves in water and nutrient absorption, and are a great addition to the soil. This is best suited for potted plants, but can still be used outside.
Pros
- It is extra safe and organic
- It has a lot of nutrients and organic matter
- It has mycorrhiza, a fungus that establishes a positive relationship with the roots of plants
Cons
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Choose The Correct Grass Seed
Choose a grass that is right for your lifestyle, budget, and location. Start by thinking about the type of lawn you want and the growing conditions in your area. Will the lawn get full sun or partial? Will it get a lot of foot traffic or be used by pets? If youre unsure what type of grass you should grow, check out our Grass Seed Identifier article, which will help you find a grass type that matches your growing conditions.
Can I Use Garden Soil For Lawn
Using Gardening Soil and Topsoil
soillawngardensoilgarden
In this manner, can you use garden soil to grow grass?
Put in a bushel or two of garden soil into a wheel barrow. Thoroughly mix in an equal amount of compost. In fact, you could use bagged potting soil instead of this mixture if you don’t have the other ingredients at hand. Next, mix enough grass seed so you see plenty of seed in every handful.
can I put potting mix on my grass? Sure, potting soil is a lot more expensive than top soil, but it should work just fine for grass. It’ll wash off first rain, since it is 80% mulch. But it’ll do for small spots.
Similarly, what is the best soil for grass?
The best soil texture for growing grass is a sandy loam. A 60 to 70 percent sand and 30 to 40 percent silt/clay soil composition will create excellent conditions for grass seed and growth.
Should I put topsoil over grass seed?
Spreading topsoil across your yard may seem like a simple way to protect your newly spread grass seeds from hungry birds, but these small seeds cannot force their way through heavy earth. In fact, a topsoil layer effectively suffocates your lawn before it even has a chance to grow.
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How Can You Tell If Your Soil Is Healthy
The most obvious red flag for soil health is if your lawn is looking thin, patchy, and brown. Dig in a bit and check out your soil to see whats going on. Healthy soil should show signs of underground animal and plant activity, such as earthworms and fungi. If your soil is rich in these nutrients it will also tend to be darker and crumble off of the roots of plants or lawn patches you pull up. A healthy, spread-out root system is also a sign of good soil.
However, if you dig up a patch and the soil comes up in hard clumps and/or you can see that the roots are stunted, you may have a problem. Another possible red flag is if you can see water gathering on the soil surface, as this is also a sign of soil compaction.
Types Of Soil Test Kits
Not all soil test kits are the same. Different products provide different readings and data for you to better understand your soil.
Instant-read probes: These soil testers feature a probe that you push into the soil to get data instantly. The display typically has a dial, and the device usually doesnt require batteries. Most models provide basic information such as light exposure, pH, and moisture content.
At-home lab test: At-home kits are a great choice for little scientists-to-be or gardeners who are looking for a more hands-on testing option. Most kits include indicator strips that can be used to test soil pH. Some at-home kits also enable you to check the nutrient composition of your soil.
Mail-in lab test: This type of test requires you to take a soil sample and mail it to a lab for analysis. There is a waiting period involved, but mail-in results are typically very accurate. Expect to receive data on soil pH and nutrient composition. The results dont include information on light exposure and moisture content, however. Some mail-in kits can also provide you with region-specific planting suggestions and advice on how to remedy any deficiencies in your soil.
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Starting A Lawn With Seed
Seeding is the easiest and cheapest way to establish a new lawn. The best time to seed warm-season grass in most parts of Florida is between April and July, permitting a full growing season before cold weather. Seeding your lawn can be much more cost effective than planting sod, but it depends on which turfgrass you select. Bahiagrass and Bermudagrass are the best choices if you want to start a lawn from seed.
For best results, the site needs to be prepared properly before planting. Make sure you choose high quality seed of a variety appropriate for your area and the site. Remove weeds and vegetation and loosen and level the soil. Work the seed into the soil and cover with sand or another product, such as hay. Seeding rates vary with most species and cultivars of grass. Keep newly seeded areas moist, and apply fertilizer only after the seed begins to grow.
Soil Health And Nutrition
Imagine you could opt for a fertilizer that is easier to apply, is effective over a wider soil pH range and requires less product and less work. LawnifiTM, a cutting-edge fertilizer, reduces the age-old problems associated with ionic nutrient lockup. Lawnifi is powered by Catalyst TechnologyTM, which nano-sizes its nutrients so that more of them are absorbed through the roots and leaves. Since Lawnifi nano-sizes its nutrients, larger amounts of nutrients are efficiently delivered to plants. The amount of product that needs to be applied is significantly reduced while using 80 percent less nitrogen and yielding better results. With less nitrogen usage, Lawnifi fertilizers work to balance C:N ratios in your soil for optimum soil and microbial health.
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How To Start A New Lawn From Grass Seed
With preparation, the right quality seeds, well-prepared soil, and a little patience, you can start a new lawn yourself.
You’ve probably heard lots of advice from your neighbors. They probably say that starting a new lawn is hard work best left to professionals. Or you should bite the bullet and pay for sod. The fact is, you can save money and be successful starting a new lawn from seed. You just need a little preparation, quality grass seed ideal for your growing conditions, well-prepared soil, and a little patience.
Maintaining A Beautiful Lawn In Sandy Soil
Sandy soil makes establishing your lawn tricky, but once you have your lawn established maintenance of a lawn in sandy topsoil is easy.
The five types of grasses mentioned in this article thrive in dry soil and require very little watering or mowing.
Use the light conditions and temperature range of your yard to determine which of these grasses will work best.
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