Straw over seeded lawn??

[micromike]

yup on the aviary!

Last year I seeded my yard, $60 bucks worth of seed. I live next to a small lake. It wasn't an hour after seeding I looked out and there were 30 canadian geese inhaling my seed! I chased them off and within 20 minutes they were back! I spent the better part of the day chasing them off, they were quite indignant! I had to be away for the next week for a work project. Needless to say I didn't very good results on my new lawn.

I put straw on it the next time with much better results! BTW, FWIW I've always heard straw is better than hay because of the higher rate of weed seeds in in hay. Just a thought.

Good luck with your new lawn

Mike

[rp425]

http://www.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modop/00001559.html

[Soundguy]

This is called seed & mulch, and is a fairly common practice. For best results, seed is broadcast or drop spread, then the hay is spread or blown ( hay blower ) and then is rolled with a special roller that has 'blades' for keeping the hay strands captive in the soil. This also offers a conture line effect, and is very effective at erosion controll. ( When the new grass comes up, it will be concentrated into the rows).
All of our county and state ( florida ) road projects that don't specify sod, must have seed & mulch.

Soundguy

[tdenny]

Straw is better - decomposition wise too. Around here hay costs at least twice as much as straw .

[tdenny]

Soundguy,

out west here we have the same rules. All projects whether road building, house building, etc. all require seed and mulch or at minimum straw over any bare soil. We spend a great deal of time concerning ourselves with erosion and its relative impact on the salmon's natural habitat. In many cases it becomes severe overkill (my .02 cents)

[Mrwurm]

The seed is down. The straw is down. And....it's been rolled.

Now, the waiting begins. [img]/w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif[/img]

Jerry

[Soundguy]

I'm envious. Here, hay runs about 3-5 bucks a bale depending on where you get it. Straw is 5.50 to 6.75.

I wish it was the other way around. We prefer straw as well, and also use bales to go over inlet grates for water controll devices to keep them free of debri, yet still allowing water to flow. On the other hand thinking personally, I have cows and horses, etc.. and am glad I can buy hay at 3 bucks a bale [img]/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Soundguy

"Straw is better - decomposition wise too. Around here hay costs at least twice as much as straw . "

[Soundguy]

I agree. Sometimes the county has us do stuff that I believe is counter productive. For instance, we usually sod the berms on a drainage retention area ( or at least seed & mulch ) Which is a good idea to keep it from washing. However, they will also have us s&m the floor of the DRA... then months later they will get us to come maintain the floor ( mow or dredge the vegitation from the floor.... We like the 'found' work.. but seems a tad bit of a waste of tax money...

Soundguy

""habitat. In many cases it becomes severe overkill (my .02 cents) ""

[drcollie]

Grass seed dies when exposed to direct and constant sunlight. You must provide a top covering for the seed. Straw or Peat Moss works well, the seed must be kept shaded. Heat and moisture are what make the germination go, so don't seed until daytime temps will be in the 70's. Don't use HAY, unless it's Salt Hay....hay contains weed seed.

[Mrwurm]

I think your're right. I put down straw over the seeded area and its growing pretty good now. The areas where the wind blew the straw away are barren. I went out last night and redistributed some of the straw. We'll see what happens.

Jerry