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Do you need to cover grass seed?
When seeding a new lawn, getting the grass to grow can be a challenge. Without existing grass to help, the seeds may not get enough moisture and may dry out. Covering the seeds can help lock in moisture to keep them from drying out, so they can sprout more successfully.
What can I use to cover grass seed?
Covering Grass Seed After Planting Simply rake the soil lightly to cover the seeds with no more than about 1/4 inch of topsoil. If you didn’t prepare the soil, you can protect the seeds with a thin layer of straw or sawdust mulch. These are also good mulch materials for hillsides.
How do you cover grass seed after spreading it?
Compost or Top Soil One of the simplest ways to cover up grass seed is by spreading a layer of screened compost or topsoil. Either product is available at garden centers for small jobs or, for a larger yard, your local nursery or box store can arrange a bulk delivery for you.
Can you cover grass seed with plastic?
Birds make a habit of eating the seed, and the seed needs to be kept moist and relatively warm almost all the time in order to have successful germination. Using plastic sheeting over the grass seed is an effective way of dealing with these problems and makes growing grass from seed much easier.
What can you use to cover grass seed?
Regular compost and mushroom compost are some of the best straw alternatives for covering grass seed. Applying a quarter-inch layer of compost over your newly-seeded grass lawn will help keep the lawn moist while simultaneously feeding the soil with the nutrients necessary for grass seed germination.
What’s the best way to plant grass seed?
Grass seed is best planted at a depth of about ⅛ inch to ¼ inch below the surface. Dispersing the seeds with a spreader or by hand allows the seeds to make contact with the soil, but always make sure that the lawn has been treated and aerated before seeds are placed on the lawn.
Why do you use straw to cover grass?
Straw may be used to cover grass seeds. Straw is often used to cover newly planted grass seed to reduce the amount of seed relocated by wind and water. Straw is preferred over hay because of its lower seed content.
Can You cover grass seed with peat moss?
How to Cover Grass Seed With Peat Moss. One challenge with planting new grass seed is keeping it adequately moist and protected from birds until it germinates. There are multiple ways to protect the seeds, one of which is spreading a mulch, such as peat moss, on top of it.