Spring! It is just around the corner, you can almost smell it. Well, okay in January that may not quite be true.

However, if you are like me you are already thinking about what you need to do to get ready to begin planting grass seed in spring, as in this spring. When the cold dark days of January get me down, I love to pull out some grass seed catalogues and think about what kind of grass seed might strengthen my lawn this spring.

Since nothing feels better on a warm summer night then to walk barefoot across a lush cool lawn, I tend to plan early what I can do when planting grass seed in spring to make that summer sensation a reality.

Problems Planting Grass Seed in Spring

While it is true that fall is the best time to plant grass seed, so that it has the fall moisture and can mature protected from the heat, spring can work as well. Also, many of us like to consider planting grass seed in spring because we are doing other garden prep. But there are a few things you need to consider when planning to do that spring planting.

1.      Plant as early as possible so that the grass can be mature by the time the heat hits.
2.      Watch to be sure it has lots of water, as early heat can kill seedlings at critical times
3.      Keep an eye out for crab grass and other competitive plants, that also come up in the spring
4.      If getting close to summer, rye grass can be planted for temporary cover and turned under for seeding in the fall.

As you can see, there are a few tricks to pay attention to when planting grass seed in spring. The usual tips about not planting grass seed too deep applies in the spring as well as the fall. Remember that grass seeds germinate at around 60 degrees, so you need to be sure the soil temp is ready for you to plant. If you do, plant your seeds when the soil hits 50 with some fertilizer you should have a great lawn come this summer.

With the growing interest in native plants for gardening, planting Buffalo Grass seed has become more common for lawns or even using as an ornamental grass in small areas of front yards. Buffalo Grass is a low-water native grass that grows naturally throughout the Great Plains and south into Mexico. It is a warm season perennial grass and because it grows to a fairly short height for a native grass (3 to 6 inches) is used in a variety of ways in many yards including for landscaping large areas like parks and schools.  In addition, because it grows from runners you can add wildflowers to it to create a meadow appearance with very little effort.

Another feature that makes planting Buffalo Grass seed so attractive is that this grass is cold and drought tolerant, making it ideal in the areas where water shortage is a true concern or in northern climates where cold can be a problem. Also- because there are no known problems regarding insects or disease, this is a very hardy grass that will require a minimum of attention once you have completed planting Buffalo Grass seed and it has matured to the point where you have eliminated competing weeds.

There are few limitations to where you can grow Buffalo Grass, but it does not do as well in sandy soil and it will not tolerate shade well, so keep those two limitations in mind when planning on planting Buffalo Grass Seed for a new lawn. As with any lawn planting; be sure to thoroughly till the soil before planting, eliminating any existing weeds. If you water and weed for about two weeks prior to seeding, you will have fewer weeds to contend with once you have seedlings coming up. If you continue to see weeds after two weeks, you might want to try solarizing the soil by covering it with a sheet of thick black plastic until the sun cooks the weeds remaining in the soil.

Don’t be surprised when you see the seeds for planting Buffalo Grass seed, as they are much larger than the common grass seed usually used for lawns. This is because the seeds, two or three of them usually, are contained in the burrs like a little natural package. When planting Buffalo Grass seed; keep in mind that it naturally germinates in the spring. You need to be sure that all frost is done and that your temperatures are close to 80 degrees during the day and no less than 65 degrees at night during the germination stage. Although mature grass will not need much water, you need to water young forming plants regularly until they have germinated and are thriving at a good rate. Here are some great books on planting to guide you in the process.

Once you have completed the initial stages of planting Buffalo Grass seed and it has grown to maturity, you will need to control the weeds that will inevitable show up. Because weeds grow faster than grass, you can control them most easily by watering about 1-1.5 inches per week and mowing the grass regularly, at least once or twice a year. After a year, you will find that you have your weeds under control and you can cut back on the watering and maybe mow once a year. It is a hardy grass that will thrive under the toughest conditions and will do fine without fertilizer unless you are trying to create a truly lush lawn.

All in all, planting Buffalo Grass seed is a great way to have a sturdy and economically and ecologically beautiful lawn that will grow and thrive under the harshest conditions for years to come. Play on it, ignore it, and it just keeps on coming. Just like it did for centuries on the Great Plains.

Originally from Europe, Rye grass seed is considered a winter grass seed. However, it can and is used in many areas of the country that are not considered generally for cool season grass seed.

It is a bunch grass, meaning that it does not send out runners and therefore this makes it a great grass seed to use if you are looking to fill in for a more lush lawn. Also, since it is available as either an annual or perennial you can choose how you want to plant your lawn. Many colder winter climates prefer winter rye grass seed because it is one of the first to appear in the spring.

Because it grows quickly, is highly adaptable and germinates fast, rye grass seed is often mixed with other grass seeds to give a longer growing time and faster stronger lawn or pasture.

You can also add rye grass seed as a fill-in for a already established lawn. Particularly if the other grass seed is a slow-growing grass seed, rye grass seed will help establish your lawn and create a stronger presence for transition zone area lawns.

Also used as a quick growing grass for temporary lawns in such situations as erosion control, reclamation sites, roadway shoulders or on new pastures when seeded with clover, small gains or other legumes.

Long considered a grass for primarily the southern part of the country, planting Bermuda Grass seed in more northern climates is now possible. Among the varieties developed for these northern climates, you will see Yukon, Mohawk and Rivera as well as many others.

Because Bermuda Grass is a warm season grass that loves warm temperatures (grows best at 90-100 degrees!) be sure to plant it in the spring or early summer, not the fall, to ensure the best growth. If you are starting to have a day high in the 80s, that is the best time to begin planting Bermuda grass seed. Warm soil temperatures can be measured to help determine when the best time is to plant. The map below shows the areas where traditionally you can plant Bermuda grass seed for a successful lawn.

When planting Bermuda grass seed, it is important to have the soil and seed in as close contact as possible. This makes sense when you really think about it – you need the seed to be surrounded by warm moist soil so it will sprout and grow strong. The best way to do this is to plant in soil that has no other plants in it. You then need to rake out the top 1/8 to ¼ inch of soil, cast your seeds, and then re-cover them with the soil. It is important that you plant grass seed no deeper than this. Once you have completed planting Bermuda grass seed, lightly tampen the soil with a roller to press the seeds and soil in closer contact. Then lightly water and you are done!

Bermuda grass is a hardy grass that will be difficult to control once planted, so be sure that you control the area in which it grows. If you need to remove it from an area, the best way is to Black polyethylene plastic mulch the area where you want to remove the grass. To prepare for this, mow and water the lawn prior to covering. The area must remain covered for at least six to eight weeks during the summer months. Doing this action in the winter will not control it. Be sure there are no holes in the plastic cover for the entire time, or the grass will grow up through the holes.

With the proper preparation and care, beginning with planting Bermuda grass seed as stated above, you can have a beautiful lawn for many years to come.

Picking the right kind of grass seed

One of my simple grass seed planting tips: do some research into what grasses are local to your region. Like any kind of plant, grass seed has a climate where it is most comfortable. And since grass grows everywhere, you need to pick the right type of grass seed for your climate. Your results will be so much better and with less effort then if you plant the wrong kind, such as water loving grass in a hot dry climate like Southern California. Bermuda grass is a good example of a grass that is great for warm climates and would do poorly in the northeast or a cooler climate. On the other hand, Kentucky blue grass, or buffalo grass would grow just fine in a cool climate, because those are native for them. I will show you a couple of examples elsewhere in the site to get you started. There are also some excellent books that will help you research your options for you area.

Developing a maintenance schedule for feeding and weeding

This grass seed planting tip may sound like a no-brainer but you would be surprised how many people just expect their lawn to look great without any effort. Feeding a lawn with the right fertilizer at the right time can really encourage growth and strengthen your lawn so that weeds don’t have a chance to show up and thrive in your lawn. A liquid organic fertilizer that is “slow-release” will feed your lawn at a steady pace as it needs it. In addition, if you add compost to your lawn top in the fall (especially if you get snow in the winter) your lawn will thank you for it with lush growth. And don’t forget to do a deep raking of your lawn in the spring and fall to ensure that the lawn doesn’t evolve heavy thatching. It is far easier to control it with this twice yearly tip then to try and control it after the thatching has begun to control the look of your lawn.

The right mower makes all the difference

For a smaller lawn, say less than 1/3 acre, especially if you are not in a region that gets a lot of rain, a cordless electric mower is a great solution, and more eco-friendly than a gas mower (less noisy too, usually). They don’t work well on wet lawns, or hills but for a small urban lawn they are fine. On the other hand, a reel mower is cheap, quiet and will give you a great workout! They also give you great mulch if you don’t use a bag behind them and are so simply designed that they are almost indestructible. Not for someone with an acre or two of lawn, but if you have a small patch in the front, this is the perfect mower.

The ultimate bad guy for lawns – crabgrass – and how to get rid of it

Believe it or not, one of the best ways, and it is organic, to get rid of crabgrass is corn gluten. An Iowa State university researcher found this out by accident while researching the properties of corn gluten. This non-toxic product works in such a simple way: it dries out the seed of the weed as soon as it cracks open to sprout. You can get it unprocessed (needs a spreader as it is very fine), granulated (can mix with water and use on patches directly as a paste) or pellitized (which you can broadcast by hand, making it very easy to distribute).Far better than chemicals for your lawn (and anything else that lives near your lawn) and is just as effective.