SOW A NEW LAWN

Lawn seed that’s sown in autumn will quickly germinate and burst into lush green growth. This is the best time of year for new lawns because the soil is still warm but the air is cool and moist. Weeds are not quite as rife as they are in spring.

The flatter, sunnier and better drained your surface, the better your lawn will be. Allow a good couple of weeks to get the ground ready for sowing, by which time the weather will ideally have turned perfect with frequent spells of soft autumn rain, so you will barely need to water.

Once you have removed all weeds and thoroughly prepared your soil bed (more about this on www.gogardening.co.nz), you are ready to sow. But which seed is best for you?

Most lawn seed brands contain a mix of grass types, blended for each specific use.

For small feature lawns.

If your lawn is mainly for looking at, with only light foot traffic, consider a superfine luxury lawn seed. These lawns require a little extra pampering in the way of watering, weeding and feeding, so are best suited to smaller areas.

For play areas. Lawns used for cricket and football, or as an occasional parking space, need hardwearing grasses. The best of today’s seed blends combine toughness with a lush green appearance.

For hot dry climates.

Grasses with deep roots are the most tolerant of dry conditions. Look for mixtures containing fescues, Kentucky bluegrass and rye, or consider Kikuyu for frost-free gardens.

For seaside gardens.

At the seaside a low rainfall often combines with sandy soil calling for the most drought tolerant grasses. Though considered a weed in many situations, tough and springy Kikuyu makes an ideal lawn at the bach and is tough enough to cope as a part time parking area.

For shady areas.

Shade is not ideal for any lawn. Too much of it leads to thin weed-prone turf or excessive moss growth. However, some grasses, such as creeping red fescue and chewing fescue are more shade tolerant than others. Major lawn seed brands offer specific blends for shade.

Other attributes to look for in a lawn seed are speedy germination and fast establishment followed by slower growth, which means less mowing. Treatments that protect the seed from pests and diseases are also useful. Wear gloves when handling seed and wash your hands after use.

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