This past week, my husband and I embarked on a lawn seeding project. We want to convert our existing lawn to an eco-lawn, one that requires less water, mowing, and weeding. It took us three full days to complete it but it was definitely worth it.
Want to plant your own eco-lawn? Follow these steps.
- Buy the grass seed. We purchased an eco-lawn seed from one of our local green houses. There are many brands out there to choose from.
- Prepare the soil. In order to make sure that your seed with germinate properly, you must prepare the soil. You can do this if you are planting a new lawn or over-seeding an existing lawn. For a new lawn, loosen up the the top 2 inches of soil and make sure you remove any debris (sticks, stones). Then, break up any big clumps of soil and level the area. Make sure to not use any fertilizer where you plan to put seed. If you want to over-seed an existing lawn, mow your current grass as short as possible. Then loosen the top 1/4 inch with a de-thatching rake. This will remove any dead grass as well as loosen up the soil, getting it ready for seed.
- Spread the seed. You can do this with your hands or a seed spreader. Either method will work well. Use approximately 16 seeds per square inch. This ensures the most even growth as well as the strongest.
- Cover the seed with 1/4 inch of soil. You can spread the soil over the seed using a light rake. Make sure to not rake too hard as to rip up and displace the new seed.
- Water every day. In order for your seed to germinate properly, it must be watered for short spurts (15 minutes) every day for 2-3 weeks. The moist environment encourages growth. The best time to water is early in the morning in order to prevent forming fungus.
- No cutting. You will not be able to cut your new grass until it is a minimum of 3 inches tall. It will get to this length approximately 1 month after being planted.
Once a month has passed and the grass is tall enough to mow, you can begin your weekly maintenance. In order to convert your existing lawn to an eco-lawn, you must repeat the above process three times. This can be done on a spring-fall-spring cycle. By the following spring, your lawn will be 100% eco friendly. By next spring, our lawn will be a 100% eco-lawn. I will post some pictures once we have started to see growth.
So, are you going to plant an eco-lawn? If not, how do you make your lawn environmentally friendly? Share your tips here.
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Miss T has written 579 articles on this blog. Hi, I am Miss T and I am the owner and head writer of PrairieEcoThrifter. Each and every day I am working to live a money savvy, healthy, and green life.While you're here, consider signing up for the RSS feed or email subscription . Both deliver the latest articles directly to you everyday. Have a Twitter , Facebook, Reddit, Stumble Upon, or Digg account? Then follow me for all of the latest posts or to send any comments or questions.
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While we are discussing the benefits of How to Plant an Eco-Lawn :: Prairie EcoThrifter.com, Mow your grass high. A 2 ½ to 3-inch high cut makes your lawn look fuller, feel softer, and helps keep it healthy. Taller grass shades pesky weed seeds and keeps them from getting established. In addition, a taller lawn is better able to absorb sunshine and better able to retain moisture, the two main contributors to a healthy lawn.
Since we’re disscussing the benefits of How to Plant an Eco-Lawn :: Prairie EcoThrifter.com, Feed your soil with nutrient rich compost and let your lawn get its nutrients the natural way. The more chemicals you use, the more you disturb the natural biological processes that convert organic matter into nutrients and the microbes and other small organisms that take natural care of your lawn.
While we’re on How to Plant an Eco-Lawn :: Prairie EcoThrifter.com, Studies have also shown that Empire Turf will look good with much less fertiliser. I suspect Buffalo would also require less fertiliser to look good compared to couch. As for irrigation, Empire and Couch varieties will survive drought the best, but Buffalo will require less water to keep it looking green.
I agree with Turf Supplies:
“Mow your grass high. A 2 ½ to 3-inch high cut makes your lawn look fuller, feel softer, and helps keep it healthy.”
This is excellent advice and as an avid turf gardener myself – this is knowledge I regularly pass on.
@ Turf. I agree. A longer lawn is fuller, softer, and healthier. It also requires less water which also makes it greener. I like how you only have to cut it once a week the best which saves on fuel and time.