Seeding question

[GarageSmoker]

I spent the weekend discing the front 2 acres of our property and next weekend I'll be box blading it to get it level. I plan on using a landscape rake for the final preperation but wondered if I should spread the grass seed before I do the raking? Would the rake help "bury" the seed a bit?

GS

 

[Mrwurm]

I have thought about the same thing. I've never tried it because I feared that the seed would get raked in too deep and would fail to germinate. With the cost of seed, I was afraid to take a chance.

Sure would cut down on losses due to birds and keep it moist. (if it works)

 

[Mosey]

I've had good luck with spreading the seed on top and then covering it with a 2" layer of loose straw. I'm no expert, but I don't think grass seed should be too deep. I didn't even rake mine (only because I don't have a yard rake), I just leveled it with a grader blade and seeded it. I recommend to go over it with the rake first, then seed it, then cover it with straw, then water it every day for the first 2 weeks.

 

[djradz]

The way I've done it is "both". Rake the soil level and put some small ridges or grooves in it, then seed it. On small areas I then rake the seed in by hand. On bigger plots, I use the york rake. The one I borrow has wheels so I can keep from digging too much and burying the seed to deep. Before I had the rake I used to use a set of old bed springs. Usually, on smaller plots I would then throw about a 1/2" of straw on top to hold in the moisture and prevent any significant washing out.

 

[Alan L.]

When I planted ryegrass I disced and then broadcast the seed and that was it. But since the hybrid Sudangrass seed instructions were to bury it 3/4" to 1.5 inches deep, I broadcast the seed and the went over the whole thing again with the disc (with no extra weight). The seeds germinated just fine. These were both cover crops, so I wasn't that concerned about the field being perfectly smooth, and its not. If this was a final turf or fieldgrass I would probably want to smooth it out a little more, but only if its a pretty small area. I found that the rain and wind tends to smooth the rough edges off over time.

 

[MarkV]

I don’t have a landscape rake and was wondering if it can be turned 180 degrees like my rear blade? I use my rear blade in reverse to back blade for a final smoothing of freshly graded dirt sometimes. I would think a rake or even a rear blade used this way would push the seed into the ground and give the seed little coverage without burying it to deep or redistributing it.

MarkV

 

[GarageSmoker]

My owners manual says you can do that just be careful as it could put too much stress on the tines.

GS

 

[cowboydoc]

Get a harrow and run over it and you will be just perfect. I think the rake would be too harsh as the tines are pretty close together.

 

[MReeter]

If your seeding is going to be a Turf or Lawn type grass,I normally spread starter fertilizer and work it in about 1"-2" deep.This gives your new seeding something to "root down" to.I then take that old set of metal bed springs and drag in 2 or 3 directions to get the "fine" seedbed.Then I broadcast the seed and drag it in with the bed springs enough to cover most of the seed.Your seed does not want to be too deep.

After the grass germinates and starts growing,I will come back and spread a top dressing of fertilizer,to give it a "kick".I always try to fertilize in the Fall,as the roots will continue to grow even though the Winter months.

Good luck,hopfully Mother Nature will give you a hand,seems like sometimes it takes FOREVER to get an established lawn.

 

[GarageSmoker]

Thanks. They told us at the seed store that a piece of chain link fence after spreading the seed would be fine, and the rake probably too much. Probably use the neighbors ATV to drag it.

They sold us a bag of "millet" which they said would germinate in 2 days and hold the seed and dirt in place since it is on a slope. Told us to mow it down when it got to 2 to 3 inches and it would burn out similar to winter rye.

Here's hoping;

GS

 

[MReeter]

GS,The ATV is a good way to go,the knobby tires also help to push the seed into soil.Yes,make sure you mow the Millet before it goes to seed,it can be some nasty stuff to get rid of later on.

We usually buy a Turf Fescue that has a % of Rye blended in it,the Rye comes up 4-5 days and helps to get things going.

 

[Turfman]

The general rule of thumb for seed is that it should be buried about three times the diameter of the seed. With most grass seeds that is not very deep. Get your seeding rate for the type of seed you are getting, i.e., how many pounds per 1,000 square feet, broadcast it and firm it into the soil. It is important that the seed be firmly set into the soil.

Once the seed is down keep it moist. If it drys out it will not germinate. You can't wet it and then let it dry and wet it again. I use mulch, peat moss, straw (gives you weed seeds) or shreded newspaper. That will help retain moisture.

A landscape rake is too course for setting seed.

Best of luck,
Turfman