Having a nice lawn is synonymous with having a beautiful and nicely maintained house. Coming home to a beautiful fresh lawn is something most homeowners dream of, but it’s not as easy to attain as some people think. Seeding a lawn is a very delicate process that demands a lot of attention, and if you decide to do it on your own, there are some things you’ll have to avoid if you want to get the best results. Here are some crucial mistakes to avoid when seeding your new lawn.
Choosing the Wrong Seed
The seeds you pick will not only make a difference on how your lawn will look, but how well it will germinate, how solid the roots will be, and in which conditions it will thrive. One of the biggest mistakes is going for cheap seeds that are marketed as one-size-fits-all. These do not exist and they might not give you the results you were going for.
You have to look at all sorts of factors when picking seeds. You have to consider things such as sun exposure and traffic. Traffic is very important as you want to go with more robust varieties if you intend to have pets or children playing on the lawn.
Climatic, geographical, and soil conditions are also very important. This is why we would suggest that you consider looking online for seeds. When you buy grass seed online, you can choose based on your exact geographical location and climate depending on the supplier. This will greatly facilitate your search and help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Not Testing for pH
Lawns, and plants in general, are very sensitive to pH, and failing to test your soil for it is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Most grass varieties will need a pH of around 5.5 to 7 to thrive, so this is something you have to know from the start.
Lawns will not grow if your soil is too alkaline or acidic and you will need to correct the situation in case it is. This will usually be done by adding things like agricultural limestone in the case of acidic soil or sphagnum peat, elemental sulfur, or aluminum sulfate to increase the acidity of alkaline soil.
Too Much Seed
Another common mistake people make is overdoing it with seeding. Having a lawn that is too crowded means that sprouts will have to compete for nutrients, water, and sunlight. So, before you start seeding, make sure that you know the seed rate for whichever type of seed you’re using.
Choosing the Wrong Time of Year
While there are exceptions, as a rule, you should never seed your lawn during fall or winter. This is because lawns, like most plants, will get into a dormant state during these times.
These are some of the mistakes you will need to avoid at all costs when seeding your lawn. If you manage to stay away from these, you’ll have a better chance of getting the lawn you’ve always dreamed about.
