Does Grass Seed Need to Be Covered With Hay?

Avoid Hay Mulch

• Because you plant hot-weather perennial grasses like Bermuda grass, centipede grass or Bahia grass in May or June when sunshine is becoming intense, you should spread a light mulch of straw over your newly sown grass seed to create a shade-trellis effect that protects the new shoots from sunburn. But you should avoid using hay as a mulch. It contains hay seeds and weed seeds that will compete with your new grass seed.

Spreading Mulch

• Straw from wheat, oats or barley makes the best straw mulch. Spread it at a rate of one 80-lb. bale per 1,000 square feet. When properly spread, you should be able to look down through the straw and see the topsoil. Alternatively, you can protect your newly seeded areas by spreading a light open-mesh cloth such as cheesecloth over the area. A light straw or cloth covering to hold seed in place is advisable anytime you plant grass on slopes. Mulch not only protects seedlings from scorching sun but also helps hold in vital soil moisture.

Planting "Nurse" Grass

• You also can blend seeds of a fast-sprouting annual grass such as rye grass with the seed of your perennial lawn grasses. Rye grass and other annual grasses sprout quickly to provide the partial shade needed by the slower-sprouting perennial lawn grasses. But you must keep your "nurse" grass cut short to ensure it doesn't crowd out or starve your perennial grass. You should start mowing when the tallest grass reaches 2 inches and then mow frequently to keep the grass height between 1.5 and 2 inches. This also keeps your annual nurse grass from going to seed and returning next year when you don't want it.

Preparing for Seeding

• Preparation is the key to success when seeding grass. When starting a new lawn, you should till the top 4 inches of soil, work in a timed-release lawn-starting fertilizer and level the area with a rake. Use a seed spreader to ensure even distribution of grass seed and lightly go over the seeded area with the back of your rake. Once this is done, apply your light straw mulch or your open mesh cover cloth and spray the area with water to moisten the soil. Keep the soil moist until the grass sprouts, and then water daily, making sure the grass gets at least 1 inch of water per week (2 inches in hot weather). Start mowing when the grass gets 2 inches tall.