Home Garden
# Home & Garden >> Plants, Flowers & Herbs >> Growing Jasmine

When Planting Grass Seeds Must I Put Straw on Top?

Seeding is a widely used method for starting lawns. Seeds are also used to fill in any bare ground patches created in lawns from damage or disease. Seeding is more cost effective than using sod or sprigs, and a larger variety of grass cultivars are available as options. After-care of seeded sites is also important for successful grass establishment. This includes using mulch such as straw.

  1. Benefits of Mulch

    • Mulch is recommended for new grass seeds for several reasons. Covering the grass seed with light mulch helps to lock the seeds in place and prevents their movement. Of all the material used as mulch, straw is the most widely used, according to David Mellor in "The Lawn Bible." The mulch on seeds keep them protected from predators likes birds and hungry critters. Mulch reduces chances of soil erosion and retains soil moisture.

    Type of Straw

    • Though straw is a widely used mulch material, the right type of straw needs to be used or it can prove more harmful than helpful. Obtain weed-free straw intended as mulch from a garden center. Straw bought from a farm is likely to contain weed seeds that will start to germinate with grass seeds and create problems by choking out the new grass. Certified weed-free straw is recommended as mulch for grass seed. Hay is not a substitute for good quality straw.

    Amount of Straw

    • Straw is commonly sold in bales. A single bale of straw is about 35 to 50 lbs. This is sufficient for covering 1,000 square feet of lawn, the recommended rate as suggested by the University of Illinois Extension. Other experts such as the University of Vermont Extension recommend using a bale for 500 square feet of lawn. (

    Application Suggestions

    • After the lawn has been seeded, use an empty water-ballast roller, or similar equipment, over the site to help increase seed contact with soil. Spread the straw over the soil in a very thin layer so that the soil below is visible. Avoid spreading in a thick layer as this will make it difficult for the seedlings to penetrate. The advantage of straw is that it does not have to be removed later and will gradually decompose. Do not attempt to rake off the straw as this can seriously damage new seedlings.

Previous:

Next:

Growing Jasmine
  1. Can You Put Topsoil on Top of Grass Seeds?
  2. Can I Put New Grass on Top of the Old One?
  3. When to Water New Grass Seeds?
  4. Planting Zones for Grass Seeds
  5. How to Water Grass Seeds
  6. When to Plant Lawn Seeds
  7. Planting Grass Seeds vs. Hydro-Seeding
  8. When Is it Too Cold to Plant Grass Seeds?
  9. When to Sow Grass Seed in Virginia?
  10. Why Do People Put Straw on Top of Grass Seed?
  11. Alternative to Straw for Grass Seed
  12. When to Seed High Altitude Grass Seed?

Home Garden © https://www.98905.com