New lawn from seed buy the best seed you can

[Robert Cummings]

Recently we have been preparing and sowing new lawns for customers with varying success, here's the story... Several of our customers asked us to prepare and sow new lawns this Autumn, I like to involve customers in various aspects of what we do for them if they are willing and able, so I asked them all to get their own seed giving advise where to purchase if asked. Most people realising that there are many varieties of seed tend to opt for a middle of the range with little if any ryegrass, however one clever chap went to the local mill and bought a large sack of finnings which is basically floor sweepings, he proudly presented me with this large acre sack which he bought for around a tenner thinking he had saved a fortune, I pointed out what he had purchased but he was insistent that I sow it and see what happens, a month later we have less than 10% grass and over 90% weeds all imported from the floor of the mill.I would say the lesson here is if you expect a lawn from a large sack of rubbish costing a tenner then don't be too disappointed when it ain't quite what you expected after all.

 

[alp]

Robert, I think you could educate us with the best seeds you know. Ex bought some cheap seeds and sowed them on the patch which used to be for flowers and PHOOOM, the grass grew 3 times the speed and height of the existing. It was a downright nuisance.

You see, if you explain to them that there are grass seeds and grass seeds, they may behave differently. A lot of newbies just look at the price .. and I have been one of the persistent offenders!

 

[Robert Cummings]

Well I guess it's the same old same old isn't it, we're all after a bargain, but in actual fact really you only get what you pay for, I find that to be the case more and more in Horticulture, whether it be compost, seeds, bulbs etc. Yes there are bargains, it's a shoppers bonanza with garden centres competing with supermarkets and online shopping but certain things jump out at me and I think to myself hang on chap what's this! A classic case in point was when a customer bought some cheap wild flower seed, when the plants flowered most of it was a plant called stinking chamomile
( Anthemis Cotula) very pretty but when one is expecting cornflowers and poppy was a bit of a let down, but once again what does one expect when paying just a few pounds for wild flower mix, a good wild flower mix is probably the most expensive bulk mix seed one can buy and choosing certainly requires a discussion with professional seedsmen. Lately we have used Boston seeds from Lincolnshire, they are knowledgeable and have a good range.Life is a real learning curve isn't it. Reminds me of a song which goes something like 'there are more questions than answers' sorry I don't remember any more of it than that, must be showing my age.

 

[CanadianLori]

I tried some of the scotts coated stuff. It was not old or cheap but t didnt sprout either. So I next bought another brand moderately priced. It all seemed to sprout, even the stuff I accidently overspread in the flower bed... oops.

It looks a little different than the existing but I figure with a lawn, any green is better than no green.

 

[alp]

For me, I have to admit, I am a bit of an idiot! I thought grass seeds is just that grass seeds. It never dawned on me that there were differences. You might think it laughable. I had been a corset bookworm.. That's why education is an important thing. There are all sorts of grass seeds, some for heavy duty use, some for golf course, some for shady areas, some for cold climate .. This never occurred to this dummy which is me! I always have to make a mistake and learn from it.

 

[Robert Cummings]

In the trade it is often possible for us to buy a b or c grade plants from large wholesale nurseries, a grade being garden centre quality b grade landscape quality may be a bit mishapen but otherwise perfectly ok or c grade which is quite poor but may need tidying or growing on before resale or planting out, this can be quite a difference in terms of pounds per plant, but here again you only get what you pay for, but for us trades folk it is often worth enquiring.

 

[Robert Cummings]

For me, I have to admit, I am a bit of an idiot! I thought grass seeds is just that grass seeds. It never dawned on me that there were differences. You might think it laughable. I had been a corset bookworm.. That's why education is an important thing. There are all sorts of grass seeds, some for heavy duty use, some for golf course, some for shady areas, some for cold climate .. This never occurred to this dummy which is me! I always have to make a mistake and learn from it.

No no alp your not stupid or an idiot, you could spend a life time in Horticulture and still not no all there is to no.We often joke about people like Alan Titchmarsh who resort to doing quiz shows and after dinner speeches to subsidise their income from Horticulture we say this is because they don't no enough lol tongue in cheek sort of joke.regarding the subject matter, turf culture as it was called when I was a student was and still is quite a specialist subject and I would not expect the average person to know much more than the very basics.

 

[Verdun]

Excellent info Robert

Thought my knowledge about lawns was pretty good until I spoke to a senior groundsman of a local gold club a couple of years ago. You are right,,"life is a learning curve"

To produce a first class lawn, yes, the best quality seed is essential but then so is the high maintenance, the situation and the recognition it is not as hard wearing as tougher grass mixtures. In practice a first class lawn is not suitable for the average family though

A lower level of grass seed, so a cheaper product, can produce a tougher, greener, thicker lawn...even a better looking lawn......without the obsessional attention a first class lawn requires. My own is soft, lush, green, nice to sit on, play on and often complimented upon. The blades of the mower are set higher so resists drought better too. I did produce a lawn of fine grade grasses but, boy, was it hard and relentless work; my current lower class lawn is actually a more satisfying one. A first class lawn essentially is to admire but not use I think

 

[Robert Cummings]

Yes you make some interesting points about high maintenance of high grade seed Verdun of which I agree, but of course different seed has different applications you would not be able to use the fast growing vigorous types on the 'play' areas of cricket football or any type of sports pitches for that matter. Even with specialist golf mixes the groundsmen and women cut the fairways and greens several times a week, it's a very intensive operation. I'm interested in the gold club you mention, I was just wondering if there may be any samples ha ha.just joking I realise you mean't golf

 

[Robert Cummings]

When I was head gardener at a local garden centre some years ago we had some display beds between the car park and garden centre building, we regularly changed the displays in order to compliment the seasons and of course entice the customers to spend their money,on one occasion I was asked to create a top quality lawn at the front of these beds using Roland turf, we maintained this turf in top condition to the point where it looked like synthetic turf and many people asked me if it was real or not even if I was mowing it or trimming the edges with shears, some didn't believe it was real and had to have a good feel of it to satisfy themselves, some where even more surprised to find it was actually real turf..Funny old world isn't it.

 

[Robert Cummings]

I do hate predictive text, whoever invented the idea has created the most irritating thing that mobile phones and tablets can do , I meant to write Rolawn turf

 

[Verdun]

Yes, top quality turf looks fantastic if treated well Robert but I suspect people were not encouraged to walk on your display, esp children. However, I understand completely the points you make and the aesthetic merits of a fine grade lawn
My own first class lawn looked great for 3 years or so but was not practical and took so much of my time.....removing the odd rogue grass by hand, close cropping three times a week and replacing worn areas on a regular basis plus top dressing twice a year plus ..............
Have to say though I enjoy your knowledgeable posts

 

[alp]

Watched a couple putting on turf on their new build in Skye, Scotland in Grand Design series 2012 last night and they had to have their specialist turf specially grown in southern England .. There are so many kinds of grasses that it has become a specialist subject ..

Well, next time I need grass seeds, I will do some research .. not just go straight for the cheapest ones.

 

[mg guy]

My own first class lawn looked great for 3 years or so but was not practical and took so much of my time.....

May be different here in SW Ohio, but we use the best seed available, not only beautifies, using the best type can actually simplify.

We use the latest, tested, turf type fescues that have increased drought resistance (less water!)
darker green color with less fertilizer, and reduced heat stress/disease.

I've overseeded mine every fall with great results, and my time spent on the lawn side is really minimal-basically mow it and enjoy it! Nov 3 and very green.

 

[Robert Cummings]

When I went to California a few years ago I noticed some very fine domestic lawns, I also noticed the blades of grass were quite wide compared to here in the uk, I can only assume the particular type of grass is used as it's capable of tolerating extremes in temperature and weather conditions.