Is straw the best option? Or is there something else I should use to cover new seed?
The 2024 Lawn of the Year contest is happening! You have until September 30th to enter your lawn. Head over to the pinned post to send in your submission. If you’re proud of your lawn, it’s worth a try…
Use quality compost spread with a compost spreader. It holds moisture way better than peat moss. I was able to cut down on watering by half.
Mikel said:
Use quality compost spread with a compost spreader. It holds moisture way better than peat moss. I was able to cut down on watering by half.
I made my own compost this year. Used last year’s leaves on the garden beds and the older stuff went on the lawn. I’ve probably added around ten yards of material back to the yard just this year.
Mikel said:
Use quality compost spread with a compost spreader. It holds moisture way better than peat moss. I was able to cut down on watering by half.
The downside with compost is it breaks down over time, and you end up with a bumpy lawn.
@Kellen
But it’s exactly what plants need.
@Kellen
This happened to me. How do I fix this bumpy mess?
Rudy said:
@Kellen
This happened to me. How do I fix this bumpy mess?
My yard was really uneven when I bought my house a few years ago, and I didn’t care at first. This year, I decided to fix it. I mowed the lawn low, mixed topsoil and sand, and spread it in long lines. I used a 6-foot level to smooth it out and followed with a rake to even everything out. Then I reseeded, put down some starter fertilizer, and used seeding mulch. It worked well, but I ended up removing a part of it for some landscaping, so go figure!
A leveling rake and compost spreader would’ve made it easier, but you do what you can.
Rudy said:
@Kellen
This happened to me. How do I fix this bumpy mess?
If you have fescue or ryegrass, you can’t really use sand to level it because of how they grow. You’d have to cut out the bumpy spots and fix the soil underneath.
But with Kentucky bluegrass or Bermuda, sand leveling works fine. I think you can level zoysia and St. Augustine this way too, but I’m not 100% sure.
@Joss
You can sand-level centipede too.
@Kellen
That’s not the issue here. We’re talking about seed covers, not lawn leveling materials. Were you actually going to use peat moss for leveling?
Nari said:
@Kellen
That’s not the issue here. We’re talking about seed covers, not lawn leveling materials. Were you actually going to use peat moss for leveling?
[Peat moss is a good soil amendment, but not the best choice for seed cover. There are better alternatives.]
Haha, auto mod strikes again. Try adding a little layer of topsoil.
Ainsley said:
Haha, auto mod strikes again. Try adding a little layer of topsoil.
How about nutsedge? Dry it and use that to cover the seed.
Jael said:
How about nutsedge? Dry it and use that to cover the seed.
At this point, I should just give up and let the nutsedge take over my lawn.
Jael said:
How about nutsedge? Dry it and use that to cover the seed.
At this point, I should just give up and let the nutsedge take over my lawn.
I know that feeling all too well!
Jael said:
How about nutsedge? Dry it and use that to cover the seed.