I have always been one of those people who loves to create a warm, inviting atmosphere for others, which is why I started looking at landscaping design in the first place. It was incredible to me to see how much of a difference I was able to make by adding a few new plants, and after that first project, I wanted to help other people. I started volunteering to help friends and neighbors do their landscaping, and after a few months, I had developed quite a following. This blog is all about creating a warm, inviting yard through smart landscaping and an eye for detail.
The condition of your lawn not only impacts the overall aesthetics of your home, it can also affect the property value. In addition, if you plan on selling your house at some point, you want to make sure that the lawn looks good to potential buyers. However, if you are struggling to maintain a lawn riddled with severe problems such as rampant weeds and large brown patches of dead grass, it may be time to start all over and re-seed your lawn.
Consider Hydroseeding
One of the most cost-efficient and effective ways to fix a lawn full of dead grass and weeds is to apply hydroseed. This method consists of spraying the yard with a liquid solution of water, grass seed, fertilizer, and fiber mulch. This method is cheaper than laying sod and may provide better results. Hydroseeding can also help to prevent erosion.
Remove Existing Grass and Weeds Before Hydroseeding
Before a landscaper can apply a hydroseed solution to your lawn, you must remove the existing grass and weeds from the yard. If you have a small lawn, you can use a small shovel and a sod cutter to remove the existing vegetation. You can add the piles of lawn pieces to your compost pile.
For larger lawns, you can apply an herbicide to the grass and kill the vegetation. Use a tiller to loosen up the dead vegetation and use a rake to gather up stray dead grass and weeds.
Be sure to follow the exact directions on the label of herbicide you purchase from a garden store to avoid damaging trees, shrubs, and other plants in your yard. If you are uncomfortable applying the grass-killing solution, hire a landscaper to apply the herbicide.
Measure Your Lawn
In order to get an accurate estimate of how much it will cost to hydroseed your lawn, you need to know the measurements of your yard. Based on your measurements, the hydroseeding contractor can determine how much seeding solution will be needed to cover your lawn.
If your lawn is an odd shape, you will need to measure smaller sections and then add up the measurements of each section. If you need help, the University of Maryland Extension provides a tutorial on how to measure your yard properly.
Prepare the Soil
Once you remove dead grass and weeds, you need to remove any large rocks and debris from the soil surface. You can use a large rake or tiller to help you perform this task.
In order to help the hydroseeding succeed, you should treat your soil to make sure that it has nutrients and drains well. Add to the soil organic matter such as compost, peat moss, or a soil-amendment mixture purchased from a garden shop.
Make sure to spread the soil amendment evenly over the soil with a heavy-duty rake or tiller. Water the soil a few days before the hydroseeding. Hydrated, smooth soil that does not have any rocks or debris will make the best medium for the hydroseed liquid.
Application and Care
The seed and mix used by your hydroseed contractor will be specifically tailored to your climate, your soil type, and the amount of sun exposure your yard receives. Your contractor may suggest that you add a light layer of mulch to your hydroseeded lawn to help the reduce moisture loss as the seeds germinate. Adding mulch will also help protect seeds from wind.
You may need to water your lawn a few times a day after hydroseeding. When seedlings are a few inches high, you can reduce the watering frequency. Your hydroseeding contractor will provide you with a detailed schedule for watering.
Find a landscaper near you by visiting sites such as http://www.hydroseedingandbarkblowersinc.com.
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