Lawn patch products combine grass seed, fertilizer and mulch blends in one bag. For bare spots, the ideal product is scotts ez seed. When you buy sod to put in a shady area, it will have to adapt. This mix contains 20% more grass seed and covers more bare spots than any other lawn patching mixture on the market. Overseeding is spreading lawn seeds and sometimes a top dressing layer of soil or compost on top of an existing lawn. Those of you that live in the northern parts of the us and grow coolseason turfgrasses like kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue or turftype tall fescue, you can either seed or sod the areas that require repair. Lawn seeding is the process of growing a mix of grasses on your yard to create a lawn. Seeding over bare spots is the most common and sometimes the trickiest method used to repair lawns.
Sod the success of a sod farm starts with the quality of the seed that is planted. Sod is pregrown grass that comes in rolls of about 2 feet by 5 feet. If you want your sod to look even and healthy, take the time to prepare the soil before you lay the sod down. Host casey hentges and extension turfgrass specialist justin moss tackle the bare patches in our lawns and show the proper methods of. Sod is the quickest way to receive an instant lawn. But again, hydroseed needs a lot of water, but you should be able to mow the grass 46 weeks after seeding. Make sure the sod makes good contact with the prepared soil bed. Sod vs seed my wife and i are building a house in southwest ohio and were scheduled to close at the end of october. Hydroseed will take less time then grass seed because it has a blanket with a fertilizer mix that holds the seed in place.
If the sod seems higher than the surrounding lawn, remove a little soil out of the patch, smooth and try again. Seed does take up to 2 years to fill in completely, however, while sod will give you a new lawn within one day. The strengths and weaknesses of each offset the others to keep your lawn green and healthy. Youll get better results in highly shaded areas using 12 lb. Im not sure if i should use the kill and till method or just cut the remaining grass with a sod cutter. Benefits and disadvantages of grass seed vs sod pennington. Moreover, the soilenhancing gypsum in lawn booster corrects soil conditions to allow. Following are some suggestions on how to make repairing your lawn with sod easy and successful. If your lawn has more than 40 to 50 percent weeds or numerous areas of dead or struggling grass, its best to start from scratch and totally renovate. There are more grass types and varieties to choose from so can select a turf you know will grow well in your area. It outcompetes weed seeds that that try to move in early on.
In addition to containing common grass varieties such as rye and fescue, these hardy seeds include kentucky bluegrass for a green, lush lawn. Over time, with repeated urination, the acidity from the urine can damage the grass and create unsightly brown, dead spots on your lawn. Two of the most common methods are seeding and sodding. Grass seed plays an important role in helping you maintain a beautiful, thick, green lawn. Sod is a quick, easy way to repair most damaged spots in an existing lawn.
Seed germination blankets made from wood fiber keep seeds and soil in place for erosion control. Seed is typically available in a wider range of options than sod, however, giving you more choices for color, hardiness, and lushness of the lawn. If your lawn is patchy and thin, you have several options for bringing it to life. Overseeding is spreading grass seed over an existing lawn. With proper watering and a glass of lemonade, youll be. This mixture repairs stubborn bare spots quickly and seamlessly blends into existing lawns. There are several types of lawn grass seed to choose from. Seed though it can take longer to establish a dense lawn, over time i think seed edges out sod on quality. Set your broadcast spreader to accommodate the size of the gypsum pellets. It will take more patience and tending on your part, but for shady areas youll get better results with seed. If the grass in your lawn has thinned out in sections or youve discovered worn down patches, simply repair these areas with grass seed and consistent watering. Using a shovel, cut a patch of the sod to fit the bald spot in your lawn. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, and. Since it is alive, keep it moist until youre able to install it.
Augustine lawn is dead and id like to remove the remaining grass to resod with zoysia. If there is thickly matted dead grass or thatch covering the spot you want to seed, you would need to remove that as your first step. Scotts ez seed patch and repair bermudagrass is a revolutionary seeding product designed to grow in tough conditions. Sod can transform a dirt lot or dead area of grass into a lush, green lawn. Plus, there was an areas along with the bottom of the steps into the backyard which happens to get a. Augustinegrass offer advantages in the battle between tree shade and turf. You can treat each urinesoaked spot with a liquid lawn repair treatment. Spot seeding and overseeding with do it yourself grass patch. We can help guide you through the maze of decisions and move you toward the goal of a lush. Here is everything you need to know when choosing sod vs. We are going to break both options down for you so that you can find the perfect solution to your lawn needs. If your lawn is patchy and thin, you have several options for.
In this video, this old house landscape contractor roger cook and host kevin oconnor patch a lawn with grass seed. You can lay down sod at any time during the gardening season. Seed is considered to be lesslabor intensive to install than sod. Deciding on the right type of grass seed involves knowing what type of grass grows best in your specific region. Follow test recommendations for using soil amendments and repairing bare lawn spots. To protect your newly sown grass seed from birds, cover the seed with a light sprinkling of top soil, taking care not to block all the light from the seeds. Push the spreader at your normal pace, observing the throw. Seeds should be watered lightly and regularlyevery couple of days. Ive heard on the radio about scotts turf builder ez seed.
Sod creates more of an instant lawn, because its laid out in squares or strips to form a solid covering. Choose one of penningtons varieties to give your turf the appearance, vigor and drought tolerance of. Seed germination blankets made from wood fiber keep seeds. To determine which grass seed is best for your lawn, we conducted a grow test to determine which seed you should choose. If you currently have a yard of dirt, you may be pondering about whether laying sod or planting seeds is the better option when it comes to getting that green lawn of your dreams. Some seed mixtures combine several different grass types in one seed package. We had 23 morning with frost and my guess that killed the seed or because of old seed. So you wont have to cut the sod in odd shapes, remove the dead grass so that the prepared area forms a square. Sod roots fastest when laid during the period of peak growth for the type of grass involved. Planting seeds its the question on all of our minds sod or seed. Cost is one of the main factors when choosing between sod and seed.
Sod can be installed anytime in the growing season, except in very high heat. Farmers harvest the grass in these strips with up to 2 inches of soil intact, so that the soil, root systems and grass stay together like a mat. Host casey hentges and extension turfgrass specialist justin moss tackle the bare patches in our lawns and show the proper methods of reseeding or laying sod to repair. Alternately, can repair the damaged by grass by clearing the area and replanting new grass seeds. If budget is your main concern, then seed is definitely the way to go. When you need seed for your lawn, its important to consider the type of project you have and choose the correct grass seed product for your needs. Merge the edges of the sod with the surrounding grass by pressing it with your hands. Understanding the differences of sod versus seed sets a course for the lush, vibrant lawn you aspire to grow. The use of a spreader can help you disperse grass seed easily, quickly and uniformly on top of prepared soil. A welldesigned grass seed mix contains plants that. Our customers are always asking us which grass seed is best for their lawn, so we decided to conduct a pennington vs scotts lawn seed test to see which seed produced the best results.
Because seed takes much longer to cover a lawn completely, weeds may mix in with the grass over time, which can ruin the initial appearance of the lawn. It will take more patience and tending on your part, but for shady areas youll get better results with. Lay sod squares tightly, because it may shrink initially stagger squares so the seams line up like bricklaying. Because sod is a mature plant, it establishes very quickly compared to seed, hydroseed or lawn patching mixes, saving you lots of time. How to plant sod in bald areas home guides sf gate. Even the cultivars of zoysia grass, if grown from seed, tend to have a much thinner and patch look then if they are planted through sod. The unique combination of scotts high performance seed, premium continuous release lawn food, and superabsorbent growing material, make it possible for grass to grow in tough conditions, guaranteed. Overlap the spread pattern by 6 to 8 inches to ensure complete coverage, and spread the gypsum to within 10 feet of your driveway, street or sidewalk. This guide will show you how to patch a lawn using grass seeds and sod to help you choose the best grass patch repair method for you and your yard. How to plant sod in bald areas whether you have just moved into a new home with a patchy lawn or have existing grass in need of repair, there is a simple solution for your problem. Use a grub hoe to remove the damaged grass and weeds, but leave the topsoil. A nice, lush, green lawn is desired by most home owners but sometimes it can be quite difficult to achieve.
Its also important to choose the best grass variety for the sun and shade conditions of your yard. There are more grass types and varieties to choose from so can. Get to know your soil and its challenges before you move on to sod or seed. Complete any plan by watering your lawn with up to 12 in. The grass was planted long enough ago that there arent any visible sod edges so im not sure if a sod cutter is the way to go.
How to patch a lawn with grass seed this old house. Supina bluegrass, creeping red fescue, and shade cultivars of st. The best time of year to install new sod in warm season turf areas is late spring to early summer. Last may was the first time we went looking for a grass seed mix to repair a few bare spots in our lawn. You can purchase mixed grass seed that is designed to meet specific needs, such as droughtresistant grasses or mixes that you can grow to repair damaged lawns seed mixtures. It can also be used to thicken a lawn, called overseeding. You can purchase it by the pallet, and a pallets worth of rolls usually covers 400500 square feet. Easier and more economical to diy than other methods. After that i spread the seeds which were over a year old sitting inside the house then with hand ive spread compost. Diy protips to help you decide when to use one or the other. Okay, well maybe its not consuming your everyday thoughts but if you currently have a yard of dirt, you may be pondering about whether laying sod or planting seeds is the better option when it comes to getting that green lawn of your dreams. If you want the turf to thrive under and around trees, one of the most important factors is the grass variety itself. If you have questions about choosing lawn type, fertilizing your lawn or if youre unsure whether to seed or sod, call the grounds guys. Sod, on the other hand, can be much more cumbersome to work with when you consider that sod rolls.
Plugs are small sections of sod, planted at intervals. After you sow seed or lay sod, watering is crucial. Sod can shrink and leave spaces which weeds easily invade. Included was fully sodded front and side yard, plus 5 feet around the back of the house next to the foundation.
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