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Guide to Covering Plant and Grass Seeds With Mesh

Mesh erosion control blankets help new plants and grass become established, even on sloped ground. These blankets are typically biodegradable, adding nutrients to the soil as they decompose. The mesh erosion control blanket helps protect your plant and grass seeds while keeping the ground moist to speed germination.

  1. The Need

    • After you plant your seeds, you want to give them the best possible chance to grow. A mesh covering can help. It allows the water to penetrate through the blanket and into the soil, and it helps hold the water in the soil so the seeds stay moist. It keeps the seeds from blowing away on windy days, and it makes it harder for birds or other seed-stealing wildlife to turn your hard work into their next meal. If you're planting on a slope, the mesh can help hold the seeds in place so the water doesn't wash them down to the base of the hill.

    Types of Mesh

    • Mesh erosion control blankets are most commonly made of materials such as coconut fiber, curled wood fiber, straw and jute. These materials are woven together to form a mesh. The holes in the mesh can be tiny or larger than 1 inch wide, depending on your needs. For grass seeds and most garden plant seed, a small mesh is preferable because the seeds it covers are small.

    Installation

    • Installing mesh over your seeds is a simple process. It typically comes in rolls 3 to 8 feet wide that you lay on the ground and unroll in a straight line. To ensure complete coverage, overlap the edges of the next roll by at least 6 inches. If you're using the mesh on a slope, always unroll the blanket down the slope from the top; never unroll it across the hill. Secure the edges of the mesh every 3 to 5 feet with landscape staples or live willow stakes.

    Alternatives

    • If you're seeding flat areas and don't want to use a mesh erosion control blanket on your plantings, there are other options that may save you a bit in your wallet. Straw is one of the least expensive options, and it decomposes over time with no need to remove it. A bale covers about 1,000 square feet of lawn space. Make sure the bale is dry and mold-free before spreading it, and keep an eye out for weeds; there are often weed seeds mixed in with the straw. Baled peat moss is another option. Adding one-quarter layer of compost can help feed and protect the seeds at the same time.

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