When you’re looking to have the best lawn on the block, the last thing that you want is bare patches and discoloration. That’s why you might be wondering how to get grass to grow. You might have heard that there are various methods and are unsure which is best.
Choosing the grass growing method that is best for you will largely depend on your specific situation. Since there’s a lot to understand, we’ll walk you through the various methods and help explain what they are so that you can choose what’s right for you.
There are 5 key grass-growing methods that you might have heard about and that we’ll explore in order to help you weigh your options.
This method is generally used for new construction or if construction was performed on an existing site that warrants major changes (such as restoring a lawn after the installation of an inground pool). It might also be used when lawns have significant grade fluctuations and drainage issues and therefore require changes to the overall grading.
This is typically performed with excavation equipment that moves the existing soil as needed. Once the new grade is established, the seed will be spread over the surface with a coating of straw or erosion matting to help the seed retain its moisture while germinating. This can be an expensive endeavor and is essentially starting a new lawn from scratch.
When it comes to sod vs. seed, sodding is definitely going to be your quickest method of getting a new lawn. Sod is grass that has been grown at a sod farm. After being grown, the already established turf is then harvested in rolls which are laid atop freshly graded soil on your property. Think of it as an “instant lawn.”
However, it’s going to require quite a bit of care in order to keep it looking great. New sod requires a lot of watering and it’s important that you keep up with it so that you don’t let your investment go to waste. After all, sod isn’t cheap. Generally speaking, sodding can cost as much as 10 times more than seeding.
Hydroseeding uses a combination of seed, mulch, fertilizer, and soil amendments which are mixed with water and then sprayed on the lawn. This is a method that we would use for seeding a lawn on slopes, where it would be difficult to drive equipment and establish seed as a result of runoff. With hydroseeding, the seed sticks to the hilly areas.
The slice seeding process using a piece of machinery called a slice seeder to make half-inch to one-inch slices in the ground with vertical blades. The seed is then dropped into these slices.
While there is no question this is an effective method, it is not really needed for the vast majority of established lawns. It’s an incredibly intensive method for seeding a lawn and may even be too much. A slice seeder will also rip out existing plants and till up a lot of your existing healthy lawn.
For most lawns, aeration and overseeding is the ideal way to be seeding a lawn. During aeration, a machine called a core aerator is used to pull half-inch diameter cores of soil throughout the lawn.
This process helps to loosen the soil and therefore provide better seed to soil contact. It also allows more oxygen, water, and nutrients to penetrate deep into the soil and down to the root zone where they’re needed most. This ensures a favorable environment for the root system to develop and grow which is important since healthier roots equate to a healthier lawn
When it comes to how to get grass to grow, you want to be successful in order to have the best possible results. We feel that for the vast majority of lawns, aeration and overseeding will be the method that you need to get the results you desire.
Of course, for difficult lawns and unique situations, our relationship with our sister company, Michael Hatcher & Associates, opens up additional possibilities including hydroseeding, grading and seeding, and sodding. The only service that we do not offer is slice seeding as we feel lawn growing methods can be achieved with these 4 other services.
At Master Lawn, aeration and overseeding are included in our Gold and Platinum lawn care programs, and can also be added to the Silver program. Aeration and overseeding can also be purchased as a stand-alone service.
Don’t get stuck with a lawn that you don’t absolutely love. By choosing the best method for seeding a lawn, you’ll be on your way to a great-looking property.
Ready to have a lawn that you love at your Tennessee or Northern Mississippi home? Talk to a lawn care expert, choose from 3 program options, and become the master of your lawn.
Image source: grading & seeding, sodding, hydroseeding
