Different seed is recommended for different types of lawn, according to its use.


Low Maintenance Lawn seed is suggested for non gardeners to achieve an easy to maintain, yet acceptable lawn. The special mixture, with low maintenance in mind, produces slow growth with good appearance. It also requires less mowing, and keeps a good colour even in winter.

Family Lawn. A popular brand of seed for a hard wearing lawn, which establishes itself quickly. This is based on ryegrass, and a fescue for durability.

Luxury Lawn. This requires naturally the time and effort of very regular mowing for a perfect finish. The grasses come under the luxury category of fescues and a little bentgrass for binding together, and winter colour.

Meadow Lawn. Occasional mowing, no weeding or feeding required to grow this mixture, introducing wild flowers like oxeye daisies, cowslips and buttercups, which in turn attract insects, birds and butterflies. Three types of fescue and a small percentage of bentgrass will work well for colour, appearance and mowing when necessary.

Seed Selection. To improve a worn, but existing lawn, it is best to try and use the same seed mixture already in situ. In semi tropical parts of the world, with high summer temperatures, native tropical grasses obviously do best, and will also tolerate a high rainfall.

Seeding lawns depends upon many factors, whether it is to replenish an established lawn, or to start entirely from scratch, possibly a building site. If the latter, it is essential to have a perfectly smooth surface. It will not be ready for seeding until the ground has been worked, raked, properly drained and smoothed out. It will need a light rake before taking the seed, to assist with rapid germination. A rotary spreader does the job well, with half the seed spread in one direction and the rest in the opposite direction, for uniformity of growth.

Seed quantity depends upon the type of grass being planted, whether to stand warmth, or chill conditions. In either case, a full month should be allowed for the seed to germinate before the weather dominates. Generally, when warmth will predominate, seeds should be planted during April, while cool season seed should be planted in September. This is not a hard and fast rule, but these are the best months for planting, with the exception of special extra warm season grass, which can stand more heat. These seeds are very small and do not need a liberal spread. Conversely, cool season seeds are larger and spread in greater quantity.

Help with spreading can be assisted greatly by the use of machines designed for the job. These can be hired for a reasonable fee, according to time of use. One of the most popular is a hopper type, where the seed drops into ready made grooves. The surface needs to be very smooth for this operation. It does not work well over uneven ground or hidden tree roots, which leaves bare spots.

Another machine will spray seed in a water mixture, including fertilizer and mulch for renovating a worn out lawn, or laying a new one. This liquid is coloured in order to show the area covered, before turning white. This method assists germination and thicker growth, for the seed is already saturated. However, it is a more expensive operation.

The simplest procedure for rehabilitating a jaded lawn is to use a dethatcher, and then broadcast seed, but great care must be taken that the dethatcher is not too fierce in its application.

Overseeding annually will maintain a lawn in good order, and discourage weeds. However, once a lawn is established this practise can get overlooked. It is worth making this an autumn routine, once the lawn has been raked free of old grass and rubbish. The surface should be pricked, with a fork or special tool, before scattering a good handful of seed per square metre, followed by a little soil, and pressed flat. Protection from birds is recommended with a net, or crossed threads, plus watering where necessary.

Bare patches can also be repaired at this time, curing the reason for the bare patch, before applying new seed.

Filed under: Grass Seed

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