Introduction: How to Plant Water Saver RTF Grass Seed
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About: I am married with two children. Spring, summer, and fall are my very favorite times of the year. I enjoy working in the yard, sewing, cooking, quilting, gardening, and creating. I do this to keep my sanity.
This spring we planted Barenbrug Water Saver RTF Grass and I wanted to share our experience with everyone in the community. I am excited because I have wanted a lawn for a very long time! Our goal was to plant a grass that did not require a lot of water nor did we want to use harmful chemicals or fertilizers. Barenbrug Water Saver RTF grass has the ability to grow a very deep root system if the top soil is deep. That is why conditioning the soil or hauling in good top soil is important. It also uses thirty percent less water, at least that is what I have read. Water saver grass will not grow well in low altitude areas where the night temperatures do not drop. Grass seed is best planted in the fall. We planted in the spring because we hope to move by fall.
This way is not easier but it is better for the environment. Follow through and I will share how we planted our grass achieving great results so far.
Update: It could be helpful to read the comment section to see what other people have said about how we planted our lawn. We had very very poor soil. It was so hard we could not dig it with a shovel unless we soaked small areas with water to soften the soil. This is one reason we did not have a lawn for a long time. It takes time to condition soil naturally.
This way is not easier but it is better for the environment. Follow through and I will share how we planted our grass achieving great results so far.
Update: It could be helpful to read the comment section to see what other people have said about how we planted our lawn. We had very very poor soil. It was so hard we could not dig it with a shovel unless we soaked small areas with water to soften the soil. This is one reason we did not have a lawn for a long time. It takes time to condition soil naturally.
Disclaimer: We are not professionals so if you decide to use this method you are doing so at your own risk. I highly recommend testing your soil and speaking with professionals about what grass seeds grow best in your neighborhood.
This instructable was updated 7/2/2013.
This instructable was updated 7/2/2013.
Step 1: Author's Notes
Planting a lawn in the Pacific Northwest is easy compared to the southwest. This property used to be a farm with rows of elm trees that lined the south side of the house. Workers would park there cars under the trees, packing the soil, making it difficult to dig. We soaked the soil with water and dug a little here and a little there until we finally got it dug up. We mulched the soil using grass and leaves.
Last year we planted water saver grass from Barenbrug because it required less water than the other brands. They suggest watering less but watering deep to encourage deeper root growth. Unfortunately we had an unexpected heat wave and the newly planted grass wilted and turned brown because the roots were not well established. The shaded areas continued to grow even though we quit watering it.
This year we re-planted the same brand early this spring and to our dismay another unexpected heat wave ( very unusual for that time of year). We needed to act fast because the new sprouts were looking sickly and we thought they needed more protection from the sun, so we purchased some peat moss. It saved our newly planted grass but today June 17, 2013, I read different views about using peat moss. I will leave it up to my readers to decide if they will use it or not. This was the first time we have ever purchased peat moss for planting grass. Here is an article I found that says it is a renewable resource. Perhaps a reader can enlighten us about this subject. http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/other_comments/1780209/the_truth_about_peat_moss.html
Update: This area of our yard is still not planted but we will be planting it as soon as the weather is cooler. Now that summer is here the fine blade fescue is drying out in the full sun areas but in the full shade is it doing great. This is not a concern for us because the Barenbrug Water saver grass contains a mixture of seeds. The grass roots will spread and fill in the bare spots. We will reseed in the late summer or early fall to fill in the remaining bare spots.
After our experience I recommend soil testing if you are in doubt, so you know exactly what your soil needs to grow a healthy beautiful lawn. It removes a lot of the guess work and in my opinion is worth the expense.
Mulching requires time to break down the grass and leaves to produce rich organic soil. It is best to wait 8-9 months before planting after you turn under the mulch. Water it occasionally to help break down the leaves and grass into humas. We normally turn the soil with a shovel even though we have a rototiller. It causes less damage to the soil because the tiller grinds the dirt to powder and when wet the soil sticks together like glue; making it unsuitable for plants.
In the beginning we tilled our garden a couple of years until the mulch decayed. Mulching has many advantages, it is organic so your plants, garden, and grass are well balanced and it is not toxic to the environment and is healthier and the produce taste better. It also makes the soil a lot easier for digging and it is easier to hand weed. I always prefer planting my garden with organic seeds, so I can save the seeds to plant the following year.
We used aged manure instead of store bought fertilizer to minimize the chemicals we use for our lawn and garden. We have not used weed and feed or any commercial products.
In the beginning it is more difficult to take care of a yard or garden using the older methods, but eventually the hard work pays off. We have less weeds and the ground is richer and softer to work with and the produce taste amazing!
If you have a vacant lot next to your property it helps to plant shrubs or have a fence to block the unwanted weed seeds from blowing in.
A sprinkler system is something to consider before planting a lawn. I wished we had put one in because it takes us two hours to hand water during the summer months. In my opinion a sprinkler system would use less resources than one attached to a garden hose. It is too easy to forget to move them and more water is used.
Last year we planted water saver grass from Barenbrug because it required less water than the other brands. They suggest watering less but watering deep to encourage deeper root growth. Unfortunately we had an unexpected heat wave and the newly planted grass wilted and turned brown because the roots were not well established. The shaded areas continued to grow even though we quit watering it.
This year we re-planted the same brand early this spring and to our dismay another unexpected heat wave ( very unusual for that time of year). We needed to act fast because the new sprouts were looking sickly and we thought they needed more protection from the sun, so we purchased some peat moss. It saved our newly planted grass but today June 17, 2013, I read different views about using peat moss. I will leave it up to my readers to decide if they will use it or not. This was the first time we have ever purchased peat moss for planting grass. Here is an article I found that says it is a renewable resource. Perhaps a reader can enlighten us about this subject. http://www.theecologist.org/blogs_and_comments/commentators/other_comments/1780209/the_truth_about_peat_moss.html
Update: This area of our yard is still not planted but we will be planting it as soon as the weather is cooler. Now that summer is here the fine blade fescue is drying out in the full sun areas but in the full shade is it doing great. This is not a concern for us because the Barenbrug Water saver grass contains a mixture of seeds. The grass roots will spread and fill in the bare spots. We will reseed in the late summer or early fall to fill in the remaining bare spots.
After our experience I recommend soil testing if you are in doubt, so you know exactly what your soil needs to grow a healthy beautiful lawn. It removes a lot of the guess work and in my opinion is worth the expense.
Mulching requires time to break down the grass and leaves to produce rich organic soil. It is best to wait 8-9 months before planting after you turn under the mulch. Water it occasionally to help break down the leaves and grass into humas. We normally turn the soil with a shovel even though we have a rototiller. It causes less damage to the soil because the tiller grinds the dirt to powder and when wet the soil sticks together like glue; making it unsuitable for plants.
In the beginning we tilled our garden a couple of years until the mulch decayed. Mulching has many advantages, it is organic so your plants, garden, and grass are well balanced and it is not toxic to the environment and is healthier and the produce taste better. It also makes the soil a lot easier for digging and it is easier to hand weed. I always prefer planting my garden with organic seeds, so I can save the seeds to plant the following year.
We used aged manure instead of store bought fertilizer to minimize the chemicals we use for our lawn and garden. We have not used weed and feed or any commercial products.
In the beginning it is more difficult to take care of a yard or garden using the older methods, but eventually the hard work pays off. We have less weeds and the ground is richer and softer to work with and the produce taste amazing!
If you have a vacant lot next to your property it helps to plant shrubs or have a fence to block the unwanted weed seeds from blowing in.
A sprinkler system is something to consider before planting a lawn. I wished we had put one in because it takes us two hours to hand water during the summer months. In my opinion a sprinkler system would use less resources than one attached to a garden hose. It is too easy to forget to move them and more water is used.
Step 2: Supplies and Tools
Supplies:
Water Saver RTF grass seed by Barenbrug ( brand we used)
We used grass clippings and tree leaves for mulching the ground
We substituted Peat Moss, dirt, and potting soil as a mixture to cover the seeds only because we did not have enough good top soil.
Well decomposed or aged horse or sheep manure. Composted chicken manure works but it has a high nitrogen content and can burn the plant roots, so please make sure it is old enough.
We used scrap plywood to lay down over the ground as we planted, to avoid footprints in the ground from our feet. This method worked great reducing the need to re-seed because the seed did not puddle in the low spots.
Tools:
Garden tools, such as rake, shovel, rototiller, screed, and wheelbarrow.
We used 2x4 lumber and wood deck screws to make a home-made leveling tool.
We used 2x4 lumber and wood deck screws to make a home-made leveling tool.
We used a metal screen, saw horse, wheelbarrow, and some buckets to sift our soil because of the clots (not sure it was necessary though).
We used old wire racks as a guide for the depth of the seed. We planted our lawn in different stages. We were concerned that we covered the seeds too deep so in areas we did not use the wire rack. We noticed the wire rack areas offered perfect coverage.
We used old wire racks as a guide for the depth of the seed. We planted our lawn in different stages. We were concerned that we covered the seeds too deep so in areas we did not use the wire rack. We noticed the wire rack areas offered perfect coverage.
Step 3: Soil Preparation
We have been mulching our ( poor ) soil for three years prior to planting a lawn and I did not take pictures of this process. We plan on having a large flower bed where you see the tall green plants growing because . . . we have too many tree roots. This section of the yard has not been planted because it is getting too hot to plant. This will be planted in the late summer months.
Water thoroughly.
Pull the weeds the following day.
Spread out the manure and mulch.
Using a shovel or rototiller turn the mixture under mixing it thoroughly.
Water again to promote weed growth.
Wait about two weeks until the weed seeds sprout and pull the weeds again.
If using mulch wait for 8-9 months before planting grass seed, keeping the weeds pulled and water every 3-4 weeks to help decay the mulch.
You can use peat moss instead of mulch if you want to plant right away, but it is best to give the weeds a chance to grow again and then pull more weeds before planting.
Step 4: Till
If you are using peat moss then skip the tilling.
Because the soil has hardened back up over the past few months it will be necessary to use a shovel or tiller so the dirt can be leveled and planted.
Step 5: Water
Water again to make sure the soil is plenty damp for the seeds to germinate.
Wait for a day or two before the next step.
Wait for a day or two before the next step.
Step 6: Rake and Level
Hopefully you can see how the 2x4 boards were made to level the dirt. We used deck screws to attach the smaller board.
Using a rake and the screed begin leveling the soft soil and remove the dirt clods and rocks as you go. I used a small bucket to put them in.
Use the long board to level and as a guide to fill in dirt where it is low.
Water if the dirt is too dry.
Using a rake and the screed begin leveling the soft soil and remove the dirt clods and rocks as you go. I used a small bucket to put them in.
Use the long board to level and as a guide to fill in dirt where it is low.
Water if the dirt is too dry.
Step 7: Peat Moss Mixture
We sifted the top soil to remove unwanted rocks and clods, and mixed it with a mixture of peat moss and potting soil to use to cover the grass seed (equal parts). Unless your soil is full of rocks, I don't think sifting is really all that necessary but my husband wanted to sift our soil.
Step 8: Plant Seed
We used metal racks for a guide to see where we planted and to use to judge the depth for the seed. It was the best method we used to plant the seeds.
The pictures show the process.
The pictures show the process.
Step 9: Water
The directions mention to water several times through out the day until the roots are well established, using a light mist not allowing the water to pool.
Step 10: Wait and Relax for Several Days
Now it is time to relax and enjoy the fruits of your hard work! Have a cup of coffee and do something fun for a few weeks.
Credits for animation: http://gifmaker.me/
Credits for animation: http://gifmaker.me/
Step 11: Young Grass Beginning to Sprout
Here is what it will look like when the grass is beginning to peek through the soil. You will notice puffs of earth lifting up as shown in the pictures.
Step 12: Mow
It is best to wait until the new grass is well rooted before mowing, approximately 3-4 inches high. Pull what weeds are visible before mowing. If you mow it too soon the tender grass will not live. I recommend mowing a small section and wait a few days and if it did not hurt the tender grass then go ahead and mow the remaining grass. If you need to re-seed a few areas, plant the seeds within a day or two after mowing.
We always use a very long Craftsman screw driver for weeding it works great!
We always use a very long Craftsman screw driver for weeding it works great!
Step 13: Sunshiine's Final Thoughts
Whew that was hard work! I am excited that our hard work paid off. We are now enjoying our beautiful new lawn and can move on to other projects. I wish to thank instructables, our sponsors, authors, and loyal readers for making this community so awesome! This instructable has been entered into the green design contest. If you find this tutorial worth your vote, the vote button is located at the top right of the intro page. I wish to thank you in advance for your support!
Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions I am happy to answer them the best that I can. Meanwhile have a splendorous summer!
sunshiine
Thanks for stopping by and if you have any questions I am happy to answer them the best that I can. Meanwhile have a splendorous summer!
sunshiine
Participated in the
Instructables Green Design Contest
