Create a lush lawn on a budget
The latest grass seed mixes contain revolutionary treatments to help them establish quickly, and September is the perfect time to get sowing, writes Marc Rosenberg
September is the perfect time to sow a new lawn from seed. the soil is still warm and workable but the nights are cooler, providing ideal conditions for new grass to establish before winter.
Sowing a lawn from seed is economical, too. A box of quality lawn seed will often cost you less than a tenner and covers 15-20 square metres. For the same price, you’ll be able to buy a roll or two of turf that’ll green-up a few metres of bare soil, if you’re lucky!
However, gardeners’ preference for turf is understandable. traditionally, some lawn seed mixes have been slow to establish, and there’s a small window of opportunity to get new lawns underway before winter sets in. And it is frustrating to sow a lawn only to see birds descend and feast on the seed.
Professional seed
the good news is that these obstacles can now be overcome. If you’re thinking about sowing a lawn from seed, do your homework and buy a fast-germinating, quality mix. Cheap, bargain boxes of seed should be avoided.
Suppliers are turning to technology that’s been used for professional amenity and sports turf seed mixes and applying it to seed for amateur gardeners. many quality seed mixes now come coated with treatments that help seeds to absorb water, while some coatings deter birds from taking a nibble, and others contain nutrients and beneficial bacteria that helps the seed to germinate and establish.
On the page opposite, AG has highlighted six big-name, fastestablishing lawn seed mixes and treated seed mixes on the market.
Whether you’re planning a new lawn, preparing to over-seed existing turf or repair a worn patch, choosing your seed mix carefully is the key to a lush lawn without breaking your budget.