Saturday, February 26, 2011

Should you use Lawn Seed or Sod?

Ask any of your friends how you should go about redoing your lawn and you’ll probably find that there are two distinct camps. Some gardeners insist that reseeding the whole yard is the way to go. Others won’t hear of any other method than laying sod.

How will you choose the right option?

Learn as much as you can about each option. Then, make your choice based on what is best for you and your yard. As long as you do the proper planning and preparation, information is the next best tool you have to present a lush and green outdoor living space.

Grass Seed or Sod - How to Choose

A Beautiful Lawn Needs Decisive Planning

Jan 22, 2010 Patrice Campbell

Grass Seed or Sod - Carli Rankin

A beautiful, well maintained lawn implies that the homeowner takes pride in the home and the neighborhood. But a well kept lawn takes time, planning, money and labor.

Whether establishing a completely new lawn or making repairs to an existing area, proper planning and preparation is needed. The question of whether to seed the area or lay sod can be answered by addressing the pros and cons of each of the applications.

Time of Planting Grass Seed or Sod

Grass seed is best planted in late summer or early fall, while sod can be planted at any point of the growing season.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Spring Lawn Tips: Testing the Soil

If you had problems with your lawn last summer, you may be thinking of replanting your grass this spring. Before you spend a lot of money on equipment rental and grass seed, consider that maybe the soil needs to be amended.

If there are not enough nutrients in your soil, it won’t do any good to replant. The type of soil, too, will help you determine which type of grass seed to plant. The soil has to give the grass a healthy environment for the roots to grow.

If you have a big yard, it’s possible that you have areas with different types of soil. For instance, an area that previously was home to a garden will have soil that has been amended. Areas that once supported a building will also have soil properties that are different from other parts of the yard. Plan to collect soil samples from several areas of your yard and have them tested for pH and nutrients.

If you need help finding a place to have your soil samples tested, contact the local University Extension. If they can’t conduct the tests themselves, they can refer you to a testing facility.

Before you collect your soil samples, be sure you know if there are any special requirements for digging the samples and shipping them to be tested.

Once you know what’s required for the testing, define the different areas in your yard and collect at least 6 samples from each area. A good article with tips to collecting the soil samples can be found at www.FactGarden.com.

Make sure you use clean garden tools when you collect the soil samples to be tested.

Once you know what type of lawn soil you are dealing with, you can go ahead with planning your new lawn. It may not require the intensive redesign you were dreading. It may just need some soil amendments to make your grass green and lush.