Grass Seed

Grass seed can be sown anytime between March and early October. However to improve your chances of success it is advisable to follow a few guidelines.

TEMPERATURE

Avoid extremes! If it is very cold in March/April or there is a run of frosts or snow it is best to avoid sowing. Low ground temperatures prevent germination and frost can kill freshly emerging shoots. It is better to wait for the weather to warm up and for the sun to heat the ground.

It is worth remembering that in sowing terms, the North of the country may be four weeks behind the South due to lower temperatures.

If you have avoided the cold weather it is equally important to avoid high temperatures. Periods of hot sun and warm wind will dry out and kill emerging shoots even if they have been watered the evening before. So if possible, pick a time when it is more likely to be mild and damp, in our climate this is usually more often than we would like!

SUMMARY

Lawn Master sow grass seed when the weather is mild and the ground has had a chance to warm up. We avoid extremes of temperature and rainfall. Late summer and early autumn often provide the ideal conditions when the ground is warm and there is frequent rain.

Ryegrass?

If the lawn needs to stand up to a lot of wear, with children and pets playing on it, then a mixture with ryegrass should be chosen.

Ryegrass is a harder wearing and more aggressive grass. It grows more quickly than the other grasses. However the new modern dwarf turf perennial ryegrasses are much improved and finer in appearance. They grow more slowly needing less mowing and maintenance.

Grass will grow on most soil types in Great Britain - it is more important that the soil is not compacted. This is because the roots will not penetrate the soil nor will there be any tiny spaces in the soil for nutrients, oxygen and water to accumulate.