The Best Lawn

People always ask me which is better, hydroseed or seeding out of the bag? There are advantages to both methods. Which ever method you choose, just make sure that the grass is a cool season grass formulated for New England lawns. Some grass seed they sell at big box stores may be a warm climate grass which will brownout noticeably in the winter.

Seeding out of the bag, or the "broadcast method" gives you the most flexibility in terms of seed selection. If you have a dense shady area you can buy a blend for that. If you have full sun and your yard takes a lot of foot traffic, you can customize grass seed with an athletic turf seed like tall fescue. If you want a showcase lawn, purchase a grass seed that has about 30% bluegrass. Keep in mind that bluegrass takes longer to thicken up because it spreads by re-seeding itself. Always be sure that you purchase a blend, as opposed to one kind of seed. This will provide better disease resistance and a more balanced texture to the lawn.

Hydroseeding has two advantages over the broadcast method. Hydroseed mix contains recycled paper pulp and fertilizer. When mixed with water it forms a slurry that sticks to any surface it is applied to. The paper pulp helps to keep the seed moist as it germinates, and the fertilizer accelerates the growth of the grass seed. When you use the broadcast method, you must apply starter fertilizer at the same time, and also press down the surface with a roller to keep the seed from drying out. It is a good idea to lightly water several times a day to keep a broadcast seeded lawn moist. For a hydroseeded lawn, one watering a day is usually sufficient. This makes hydroseeding a preferred choice if you must seed a lawn between June and August.

The success of your new lawn depends on how you have prepared it. If you have a sandy site you will need to bring in at least 4 inches of quality screened loam. In New Hampshire, our soil tends to be acidic. In this case it is necessary to add pelletized lime to the new soil before you seed. Usually, one 40 pound bag is sufficient per thousand square feet. Whether hydroseed, or broadcast seed, the top layer of the new lawn should be loose and friable in order for the grass seed to take root. After seeding, watering is critical. Water your new lawn enough to moisten it, but not puddle it or run off. You may need to do this several times a day if the weather is hot and dry. Maintaining a good watering cycle throughout the first year is essential to having a thick healthy and weed-free lawn. At Raisanen Landscaping, we always recommend having us install an automated sprinkler system for you to help with your new lawn.

Fall is the best time to seed a new lawn, because there is no weed seed competition and the cooler evenings hold moisture in the soil. A fall-seeded lawn can look good in about six weeks. If you must seed a new lawn in the spring, don't distress over the crab grass. The good news about crabgrass is that it is an annual weed. As it dies back in the fall your new lawn seed will push through. Be sure that you get your lawn on a fertilizer program for the following year. We can recommend a lawn care service if you don't have one. Even if you only do it for one year, it's very important to knock down any weeds that have established itself.