What weather should you plant lawn grass in?

Lawn grass is significantly different from its wild weed relatives, which successfully grow on all kinds of soil and in all conditions.

This is already a cultivated plant and its cultivation is a whole technology, deviating from which it will not be possible to achieve a satisfactory result. This material describes in detail how to plant lawn grass.

How to determine the time to sow lawn grass?

The process of creating a beautiful and well-groomed lawn is quite complex and depends on many factors. So, it is necessary to properly prepare the soil and choose a herbal mixture suitable for your site. But even after correctly completing all the preparatory steps, you may not get the desired result if you do not correctly determine the time for sowing the grass.

Theoretically, the lawn can be sown from April to October, but in practice, everything is somewhat more complicated. So, June-July may be too dry and hot, April and October are also not entirely safe. At this time, frosts may already occur, which will be destructive for young and weak crops.

Thus, you need to focus on the climatic conditions in which you live and choose the most favorable time. Most experts agree that the best time to sow a lawn is late summer - early autumn.

These terms are considered the most optimal due to a number of reasons:

Compliance with these conditions ensures quick establishment of the lawn, good formation of the root system, and uniform formation of shoots.

In addition, these favorable conditions reduce seed consumption by ensuring sufficient nutrition and the development of strong winter-hardy grasses.

But there are other effective options for sowing seeds.

The story of one lawn: personal experience of laying out a bluegrass lawn

After building the house and clearing away the garbage, it's time to improve the area. I remembered my old dream of a lawn - a lawn with emerald grass, without beds with vegetables. Just next to the house there was free space that was not occupied by agricultural land. It was decided to give it to the lawn. I started reading information on this topic, then planning in what sequence to carry out the work and what seeds to plant. I want to say right away that laying a lawn takes many months. Personally, for me, all stages, from the beginning of excavation work to the contemplation of a decent-looking lawn, took about a year. I’ll tell you how it was for me - I’ll share my experience, which, I hope, will help novice “lawn growers” avoid many mistakes.

Pre-winter sowing

This option involves planting seeds in cold soil (about 0 C); according to the name, it is done in the pre-winter time. Such sowing provides sufficient natural stratification of the seeds, which makes them more resistant to external adverse factors. This sowing option is recommended for areas where trees grow.

The disadvantage of this sowing option is that severe winter frosts often lead to lawn losses, as some seeds lose their viability. Of course, the affected areas can be neutralized in the spring by reseeding grass and mulching.

Spring sowing

Sowing a lawn in spring, at first glance, looks very tempting because it provides a quick decorative effect. You have sown the grass and you can soon see the results of your efforts. But, as practice shows, this sowing option very often has many problems in the subsequent care and maintenance of the lawn.

Lawn grasses sown in spring often suffer from blight caused by overdrying. In the spring, the soil can quickly lose its moisture reserves, which affects your lawn. Accordingly, in order to get a beautiful lawn, you will need to pay more attention and effort to caring for it, ensuring regular watering.

Seed consumption also increases in the spring, and an additional problem is the active growth of aggressive weeds.

Whatever sowing option you choose, you must comply with several additional conditions:

If weather conditions were favorable, the first shoots appear within 10-15 days. Be prepared for them to be uneven at first. The overall picture can only be assessed on day 20-25. If at this time there are still ungerminated areas, you can begin reseeding the lawn.

Is everything ready?

And so, the preparations are completed. If you have the opportunity to choose when to work on your lawn, then check the weather conditions at the moment, as well as the forecast for the coming days.

It is important to note that it is necessary to keep the soil moist while the seeds germinate. If the seeds dry out, they will no longer germinate.

Rainy weather can have a beneficial effect on the overall process. However, prolonged rains or downpours can cause puddles to form and wash seeds out of the soil.

In early spring, rains can slow down the process of grass germination, because... the soil temperature is lower than usual, and if we add to this the lack of sunlight... On the contrary, too wet conditions can lead to the seeds rotting.

If conditions allow, continue.

Pleasure is not for white-handed people: when and how to plant lawn grass correctly?

Lawn grass is significantly different from its wild weed relatives, which successfully grow on all kinds of soil and in all conditions.

Mark your territory

It will be something like planting your victory flag on a conquered mountain top! Place stakes or sticks around the perimeter of the future lawn, wrap restrictive tape, ropes or fabric around them. Ready!

Not necessarily, of course, but you can also put some kind of fences around the sowing area. If people already cannot enter the territory of the future lawn, you have nothing to worry about. But at the same time, it could serve as a reminder that you don't want anyone walking on your newly planted grass.

If you need to walk through the planting area, wear shoes without treads so as not to damage the lawn or pull seeds out of the ground. Do not walk on the soil if it is wet, for example after watering.

Time to board

The most important question is when to plant seed? Of course, there is no strict date: the seeds sprout throughout the warm season. It is worth considering all periods of the year and assessing how suitable each of them is for sowing.

The cold period is difficult for plants: they reduce vital activity to the minimum necessary for survival. Therefore, planting seeds before winter is a risky undertaking. These days, the matter is aggravated by the instability of weather conditions: sudden warming in December will force the seeds to hatch and enter the growing season, and in this form the grass will not withstand subsequent frosts 100%.

However, some gardeners decide to plant lawn grass before winter, for the following reasons:

When planting before winter, some of the seeds will inevitably die. Taking this into account, the seeding rate is increased by 1.5-2 times. You need to sow at a temperature no higher than +3 0 C, otherwise there is a risk of seed germination.

Spring

The most favorable period.
The weather is already warm, and the plants are developing quickly, but there is still no heat, which they, like cold, can hardly tolerate. The whole warm season is ahead and the shoots will have time to develop and get stronger in order to survive the winter well. Sowing work in the spring begins when the temperature in the soil reaches +8 0 C - +10 0 C and it dries out, when you can walk on it without leaving disfiguring marks.

If a snowdrift lingers on the future lawn, it is scattered with a shovel to speed up the melting. At the same time, it is again important to avoid damage to the soil foundation by deep tracks or ruts: wooden panels are laid on the soggy ground and moved along them.

Summer is not very suitable for sowing for the following reasons:

If it still didn’t work out to plant a lawn in the spring and you have to do it in the summer, choose the most gentle periods - June and the end of August.

At this time, negative summer factors - heat and lack of natural moisture - manifest themselves to the least extent.

Autumn

In autumn, sowing work begins earlier - in September. If you delay, the grass will not have time to gain strength before winter and, for the most part, will die from frost. When sowing in September, the plants will have enough time, and the weather is still warm, which is necessary for their rapid development.

Care Tips

In dry weather, be sure to water the lawn, but in moderation.
If the autumn is warm and the grass grows very strongly, you can apply organic fertilizer, for example, rotted manure. The greens will become shiny and take on a richer color.
You may need your first haircut. You can experiment and make a curly haircut, cut out some figure or word. It's fashionable now. If it doesn’t turn out quite well, then the snow will hide everything, and in the spring little will be noticeable from the “art”.
Before winter, they cut the lawn short, leaving 3-5 cm. If you leave long grass, then over the winter it will rot and you will end up with a sponge, which will be quite difficult to comb and put in order.
Also in the fall, slugs or mice can attack lush grass. Keep an eye on this and take action on time.

How to plant?

An ideal lawn is impossible without an impeccable foundation; the soil must be:

If the site is neglected and weeds grow on it in abundance, 2 times treatment with general herbicides at intervals of a month will help to cope with it.

When digging or when returning fertile soil after leveling (installing a drainage cushion), it is useful to add organic (humus, compost) and mineral fertilizers to it.

Mineral complexes are applied in accordance with the dosage given on the package: their excess will poison the soil. Again, they pick up the garden roller and roll it around the entire area. It’s easy to make the tool yourself: pour cement into an old barrel, after placing a steel rod (axle) in it. Such a roller is dragged along with a rope, tying it to the axle. Further actions depend on what type of lawn the owner decides to acquire.

Seeds

Amateur lawns are usually sown with not one, but several types of grass - a grass mixture.
Such heterogeneous sets are more adapted to negative soil and climatic factors: out of several components, at least one will develop under these conditions. When choosing a grass mixture, you should pay attention to the purpose of the lawn. Thus, there are parterre lawns that are very attractive, but are not designed for mechanical loads. If you are going to walk on the lawn, choose a garden lawn, and if you are going to run and play, choose a sports one. At professional sports grounds, around office buildings and other facilities with high requirements, mono-lawns consisting of one type of grass are planted.

In such cases, the services of a specialist are required: it is necessary to select the most suitable plant, prepare the soil for it, and provide proper care. Mono-lawn looks much more attractive than forbs, but the range of conditions acceptable for it is much narrower.

Planting seeds is carried out as follows:

The crops are compacted with a garden roller, thanks to this:

The sown area is constantly watered, supplying 6-10 liters of water per m2 per day (depending on the type of soil). This regime is observed until the sprouts reach a height of 6 cm. Water is supplied with a watering can or sprinkler irrigation heads, that is, in a fine-drip manner. You cannot apply it with a stream - the seeds will be washed out.

Rolled grass

It is also possible to purchase a finished lawn. It is supplied in rolls measuring 200x40 cm. Such coverings are grown in nurseries and then cut together with the turf using special machines. For a simple area, rolls are purchased with a margin of 5%. So, for a lawn with an area of 80 m2 you will need 105 rolls.

If there are flower beds and paths on the site, the allowance for waste is taken equal to 10%. Laying begins immediately after the rolls are delivered to the site. The maximum possible delay is a day, but the longer the lawn lies rolled up, the more difficult it is for it to take root.

Laying technology:
It is better to lay a row by standing on the previous one, having previously placed the boardwalk on it. Then the turf will be pressed as tightly as possible to the base.

Laying lawn rolls

It is most difficult for a rolled lawn to take root at the edges, which is why short cuttings are not placed here. The minimum fragment length is 1 m. Cuttings of shorter length are placed in the center. For the first two weeks, the lawn is watered abundantly, without allowing the soil to dry out. You can't walk on it for at least a month. If this is impossible, planks or shields are laid; as soon as there is no longer a need for them, the flooring is removed.

Grass surfaces require constant care. It must be trimmed, watered in a timely manner, and measures must be taken to improve the air supply to the roots.

A haircut

The lawn is mowed not only for aesthetic reasons; if this is not done, then:

Trim the grass to a height of 5-6 cm. Start cutting when it reaches a height of 8 cm. If the grass is overgrown, first cut the tops of the stems and only after 2-3 days - to normal height. It is not allowed to cut off more than one third of the height . It is better to cut less, but more often.

In spring and autumn, lawns are mowed once a week. In summer, grass grows more slowly due to the heat, so the frequency is increased to 2-3 weeks. During this period, it is useful to perform mulching: the chopped, cut grass is left on the site (the lawn mower must have a special function). This cover will protect the soil and plants from drying out.

Only dry grass is cut. Wet lawn mower blades tear up the lawn, causing the lawn to lose its attractive appearance and turn yellow. When the temperature drops below +5 0 C, there is no need for cutting: at this temperature the grass does not grow. The rolled lawn must be given the opportunity to take root, so the first cutting is carried out no earlier than a month after installation.

Watering

The soil should be moist to a depth of 15-20 cm. If it rains from time to time, do not water the grass at all. With the advent of drought, periodic watering is carried out using sprinklers. The average watering rate per approach is 13 mm.

In extreme heat, increase the rate, not the frequency, of watering: the plants should dry out between sessions. Otherwise they get sick.

It is important to choose the right watering time:

Aeration

Unlike a vegetable garden, the lawn is not dug up, so over time the access of air to the soil becomes difficult. Aeration helps correct the situation - piercing the soil to a depth of 10-15 cm. This can be done with a pitchfork, but it is better to use an aerator with hollow spikes - they do not compress the soil.

Other care measures

In addition to the above, do the following:

Ice crust causes great damage to the lawn. It blocks gas exchange, so it is important to break the “shell” in a timely manner. They do this with a garden roller.

When to sow lawn grass?

When is it time to sow lawn grass, at what temperature does it grow best? These questions are often asked by property owners who want to get a well-groomed green lawn under their windows. The choice of the period for planting seeds is of great importance. In order to figure out whether it is possible to sow a lawn in the spring or properly plant seeds in the fall, it is worth assessing the advantages and disadvantages of each of these options.

What should the sand be like?

There is no point in planting grass directly into the sand. Its top layer will have to be removed from the site. Now it is important to select additives that will make the soil as suitable as possible for planting a lawn.

Find out also how to care for your rolled lawn.

The required components will be:

loam;
high peat;
humus;
black soil;
lake silt or mineral fertilizers.

Each of these elements must be added to the sand in turn. In this way, you can achieve the most optimal soil composition on which the lawn will grow safely.

Features of autumn planting

The timing of planting a lawn on a site is of great importance for the subsequent successful cultivation of the selected plants. The fact is that the herbs in this case are selected individually and quite carefully; they require the same attention as cultivated plants. It is not surprising that planting dates have to be determined taking into account the climate of the region and other external factors.

Of course, you can sow lawn grass throughout the warm season, but most summer residents prefer to do it in the fall, at an average temperature of about +15 degrees.

The optimal time for planting a natural, non-rolled grass carpet is September. When sowing at the beginning or middle of the month, by the winter cold the root system will already be sufficiently developed. Accordingly, frosts will not cause much harm to the plants. September sowing easily solves the problem of creating the necessary microclimate, warm and humid; there is no need to additionally water the seedlings - the precipitation is enough for them.

Before autumn planting, it is important to properly prepare the soil. The relief will have to be leveled, otherwise later, when cutting, difficulties will arise with elevation changes and bumps. The soil must allow water to pass through well, but at the same time be dense enough, otherwise it cannot be adapted for walking, playing, or relaxing on the lawn.

The procedure for autumn lawn planting will be as follows.

Autumn planting of a lawn can be carried out at a later date. In this case, you will need to act according to a strictly defined scheme.

Sowing in late autumn

The end of October and the beginning of November can also be considered as a period for sowing a lawn. This scheme is suitable for regions with stable winter temperatures, without sudden thaws and other changes. You should not expect 100% germination when planting in late autumn. A significant increase in the seeding rate - 1.5-2 times - will help reduce losses. Planting is carried out at an ambient temperature no higher than +3 degrees Celsius, otherwise the seeds will have time to germinate.

Among the reasons why autumn sowing is chosen before frosts, the following can be highlighted.

Autumn sowing of a lawn is the best option for obtaining a high-quality green carpet. It is this period that is best suited for the formation of a lawn without haste, with careful preparation of the site. In general, autumn has almost no drawbacks - the only danger is early frosts.

The advantages include the absence of weeds, a comfortable microclimate and soil moisture level.

Watering the seeds

The very first watering requires more water than subsequent ones. You will need to water the soil thoroughly so that the seeds begin to absorb water. Once this happens, less water will be sufficient to maintain humidity.

Water your lawn carefully the first time to avoid puddles or water leaks. It is better to water several times, little by little, than once, but abundantly. When watering yourself, it is best to use a spray nozzle on a hose. Also, try not to drag the hose across the lawn to avoid displacing the seeds.

When choosing a sprinkler, rely on quality, not price. Cheap installations are rarely of high quality, so they often leak and spray water unevenly. You don’t want to lose everything after so much work done.

Plant at other times of the year

Sowing a lawn is possible not only in autumn. You can also sow it correctly at your dacha in summer or spring. Depending on the climate zone, you should focus on average temperatures. For example, in the Urals, lawns grow better when sown in late April or early May. In the middle zone, it is recommended to start planting in mid-spring. In the south you can start sowing at the beginning of March, in the northwest you will have to wait until May.

In summer

Sowing lawn grass in the summer is possible, but undesirable, especially for southern regions with a hot climate. In the northwestern regions, you can choose the beginning of June and the end of August for sowing, without fear that the plants will suffer from the heat. In addition, in the summer you need to especially carefully consider the watering process. It must be regular and abundant - it would be wisest to install an automatic system with sprinklers.

in spring

When planting lawn seeds in regions with unstable winter temperatures, the optimal time for this can be called spring. At the end of April it is already quite warm, the soil is saturated with moisture, but there is no too active sun that can destroy young shoots. Spring planting is well suited for lawn mixtures with different development periods. Over the summer and autumn, the grass will have time to get stronger, which means it will survive the first winter well.

Among the obvious advantages of spring sowing are the following.

There are also disadvantages that should also be taken into account when choosing the right period for sowing. For example, in regions with severe spring frosts, the lawn may suffer from cold weather, especially if it begins already when the first shoots appear.

In addition, during this period of time, not only cultural plantings actively grow, weeds also sprout abundantly. This can be dangerous for young shoots with an underdeveloped root system.

You can start sowing in the spring after the soil has warmed up to +10 degrees and its surface has dried out. In this case, when moving on the ground, there will be no deep marks left on it. It is important that the snowdrifts disappear completely. If there are still muddy areas on the site, it is worth laying wooden walkways, then it will be quite safe to move along the surface.

Laying rolled lawn in autumn

Rolled turf is most often laid in shaded and embossed areas. Planting material is prepared in special nurseries. After cutting, the upper part of the turf layer is carefully rolled into rolls and sent for sale.

Source: rostov.pulscen.ru

Lawn soil is processed according to a standard algorithm. There is no point in delaying the placement of layers. The more time passes after removal, the worse the carpet will take root. The laid lawn needs to be watered regularly.

When purchasing a rolled lawn, the gardener should carefully inspect the stripes. The good quality of the material is evidenced by the absence of crumbling grass and bald spots, and an intact root system. The thickness of the layer cannot be less than 10 cm. The grass mixture is selected based on the characteristics of the soil and climatic conditions.

In order to enjoy a smooth and beautiful lawn, it is not enough to decide on the choice of grasses; you also need to properly sow the area with seeds. After all, the further success of the whole business depends on this. Therefore, if you want to do everything in the best possible way, you will need to follow certain rules and tips. Only then will your lawn be pleasing to the eye not only in the fall, but also in the following winter.