How to Grow Grass in Mulch
Mulch is a generic word describing any type of loose organic covering used to promote healthy garden growth. Whether you spread a layer of mulch over newly seeded grass or cover your lawn periodically, mulch helps to retain moisture, acts as a weed deterrent and protects the grass against heat, cold and freeze damage. In addition, straw, peat, cuttings from a mulching lawnmower or composted mulch are all rich in organic compounds. This not only enriches the soil, but it also protects beneficial soil microbes from the toxic effects of fertilizers and pesticides.
Things You`ll Need
- Soil sample for analysis
- Garden fork
- Rake
- Manual two-wheeled fertilizer spreader
- Hand-held seed spreader
- Plastic leaf rake
- Garden hose
- Oscillating or rotating lawn sprinkler
- Hand-held spray nozzle (alternative)
Send a sample of your soil to a soil lab for analysis before seeding a new lawn. Their report will tell you how much lime or fertilizers to add for optimal growing conditions.
Loosen three to four inches of soil covering the area you wish to seed with a garden fork. Remove all roots, loose rocks, twigs and debris likely to impede growth.
Grade the area. Rake it smooth and spread topsoil over low areas to prevent water pooling.
Spread the required amount of lime and fertilizer as outlined in the soil analysis report. Use a manual two-wheeled fertilizer spreader. Follow the directions in the owner`s manual to lay down the correct proportions.
Video: Grass Mulch
Work the fertilizer and lime into the soil by raking back and forth with a garden rake.
Broadcast a thin layer of your chosen grass seed evenly over the area. Use a hand-held seed spreader and follow the directions laid down in the user`s manual.
Video: Using Hay and Grass as Mulch to Grow Food
Rake the area back and forth lightly to integrate the seed into the soil. Once this is done, flip a wide plastic leaf rake over and smooth the surface down as evenly as possible with the back of the rake.
Spread a 1/4 to 1/2-inch layer of finely shredded mulch or peat moss over the seeded area. Use a cage roller or peat spreader. Push the spreader back and forth across the area to mulch evenly and level the surface even further. Mulching will slow down evaporation, protect the new growth from heat and cold and also speed up germination.
Water generously, but not enough to allow water to puddle on the surface. A hose and an oscillating or rotating lawn sprinkler is ideal for the job, but you can use a hand-held spray nozzle if you prefer. Water for 10 to 15 minutes initially- this will allow water to soak into the ground to a depth of about 6 inches. Water twice a day thereafter until the lawn has taken hold.