You take care of it and it will take care of you
Lawns are well known throughout American history as a symbol of prestige and wealth, but their popular aesthetic has become helpful for American homeowners. Those who live in regions with all four seasons develop an awareness of garden conditions when cultivating a thriving lawn. Those who pride themselves on having a green thumb can easily connect within the community by investing in lawn care. Before choosing the right grass seed based on your needs and preferences, there are several factors to consider first.
1. Shade
First and foremost, creating a beautiful lawn means familiarizing yourself with growth factors based on your lifestyle and intended use. The first factor, shade levels, correlates to the sun-to-shade ratio optimal for your chosen seed type. One type better suited for partial shade is the fescues, while bermudagrass will only tolerate total sun exposure – no exceptions.
2. Wear and Tear
Wear and tear is another crucial factor, considering that grass types have varying heartiness levels. For example, families with children who regularly engage in outdoor activities on their lawns won’t worry about Kentucky bluegrass wearing out. This self-sustaining grass is resistant to wear and tear. If you don’t mind mowing, fertilizing, or strictly scheduled watering, this variety of grass will remain lush and beautiful.
3. Seed VS Sod Rolls
Another crucial factor is deciding between grass seed or ready-roll. This mainly depends on how quickly you need your grass to grow and how much time you can invest in maintaining germination. How much money you’re willing to spend is another factor. High-quality grass seed is remarkably cheaper but must be grown from the ground up. Sod produces faster results but is known to root more poorly than natural grass seed. Sod is not recommended for someone wanting a particular grass type since it’s limited to varieties that have already grown.
4. Seed Type
Seed type is significantly impacted by the size of a lot, which also determines the quantity required to produce a healthy lawn. Turfgrass seed is a prime choice for sites that cover a larger area. If you’re concerned about quality, the pure live seed (PLS) percentage should be considered before deciding which bag to purchase. The PLS is a calculation that determines if a reduced price is a good deal. You can do this by multiplying the percentage of “pure” seed (stated on the variety label) by the germination rate. This product is then divided by 100 to get the final result.
While deciding on the quality of seed for your lot size, how much manual labor is required to maintain your lawn is an essential factor. In addition, seeding, watering, fertilizing, and germination vary greatly between low-quality and high-quality seeds.
5. Seeding a Sloped Property
For homeowners who live on sloping sites, there are a few critical factors to consider before grass seedings, such as rain and soil erosion, that might wash them away. Using a ready-roll is the safer choice, but you can use grass seed with proper planning. Straw can easily prevent rain and soil erosion on gentle slopes with newly seeded soil. If you specifically want to keep soil packed in, erosion-control netting made of coconut fibers is the optimal choice. Those that are biodegradable with relatively large weaves are generally the best choice. You may also add a protective layer to your soil by investing in an erosion-control blanket made of various straws and nets.
6. Check Your soil's pH levels
Performing a soil test to determine your soil’s pH is crucial when choosing grass seed because it indicates the condition of your lawn once growth starts. It’s also helpful to research which grass varieties are best suited for specific pH levels. For example, a pH balance of 6 to 7.0 is ideal for turf grasses that require well-aerated, slightly acidic soil. You must use a soil test kit in many differentiated areas where you’re planning to seed to gather samples. You should perform these tests ahead of time since results generally come back in about two weeks.
