Preparing soil for grass seed
#1
Preparing soil for grass seed
I am in the process of replacing my existing St. Augustine / Bermuda lawn with Argentine Bahia seed in Central Florida.
To date, I have killed the existing lawn with 2 applications of Round-up, mowed the dead grass as short as possible and raked up and disposed of the clippings.
Everything I have read or been told indicates that I should also remove any remaining dead vegetation by tilling or power raking to prepare a good soil bed for the new seed.
I would like to know if I can sow the seed without tilling or power raking if I manually loosen the soil first by raking. Re-grading is not necessary and my reasoning is that the little bit of remaining dead vegetation may serve to protect the seed from birds to say nothing about the time and labor saved. After seeding, I would roll the seeded bed and cover it with hay.
Comments please......
To date, I have killed the existing lawn with 2 applications of Round-up, mowed the dead grass as short as possible and raked up and disposed of the clippings.
Everything I have read or been told indicates that I should also remove any remaining dead vegetation by tilling or power raking to prepare a good soil bed for the new seed.
I would like to know if I can sow the seed without tilling or power raking if I manually loosen the soil first by raking. Re-grading is not necessary and my reasoning is that the little bit of remaining dead vegetation may serve to protect the seed from birds to say nothing about the time and labor saved. After seeding, I would roll the seeded bed and cover it with hay.
Comments please......
#2
In a different climate (Massachusetts) on a small ¼ acre lawn, I once did it exactly as you're doing; but I then seeded and gently fertilized and then had 2 or 3 truckloads (about 15 cubic yards) of well rotted horse manure delivered to spread over the seed about 1 inch deep, and that kept the birds away long enough to let the grass get a foothold.
#4
Member
Straw vs. Hay
I would roll the seeded bed and cover it with hay.
#6
I think you mean Pine Needle Mulch (?) and it might serve you well as protection for the young grass plants, but it carries a low pH, which should be taken into account when being applied, just in case you're already battling an acidic soil.