Seeding With Organic Matter

For the entrepreneur, seeding with organic matter generates more profit for his business than laying sod. In addition, top dressing is less costly for clients, while being more ecological and durable than sod.

• More profit for the entrepreneur : The cost price when seeding with organic matter is 3 to 4 times less than the price of laying sod.
  
  
• Less costly for the client : The price charged to the client when seeding with organic matter is usually half the price of the cost for laying sod.
  
  
• Extended durability : Seeding with organic matter is more durable than laying sod since top dressing uses seeds which take into account the following variables: rusticity of the soil, the intensity of sunlight on the site, and the nature and texture of the soil.
  
  
• More ecological : Seeding with organic matter is more ecological since the seeds used require less fertilizer. In addition, no synthetic fertilizer is used when seeding.

EXAMPLE
The following table compares seeding with organic matter vs the laying of sod on a 10 000 square foot surface.

Preparation for seeding with organic matter

Seeding the lawn with organic matter gives spectacular results. Indeed, covering the mixture allows a sprouting rate of close to 100%.

This rate is higher than hydro seeding since the seeding is better protected against weather hazards such as the wind, the sun, and temperature variations.

Covering the dressing also allows for better water retention while maintaining the necessary levels of humidity that are essential for the sprouting of seeds. For example, compost retains twenty times its water weight whereas sod retains it fifty times as much.

It is also worth mentioning that compost contains all nutrients required for the growth of grass in addition to acting as a buffer by producing a neutralizing effect on the pH of the soil on which the seeds lay.

Steps for seeding organic matter

1) Identification of the five variables (elements):

• Zone of rusticity of the site;
  
• Intensity of sunlight of the site;
  
• Moisture levels of the soil;
  
• Nature and texture of the soil;
  
• Use and classification of the grass.

2) Selecting the mixture

Select a mixture of seeds according to the ecological niches related to the seeding site as well as the use and classification of the desired grass.

3) Preparing the site

After adequately levelling the soil, you can use a top dresser filled with organic matter to "roll" the land and to ensure that it keeps its final shape.

4) Seeding

Use a seeder to evenly spread the mixture. Distribute the seeds in both directions of the land. Apply at 80% of the sowing rate recommended by the supplier. The 20% difference will be applied when doing future inspections. Beware of wind gusts. Indeed, as long as the seeds will not be top dressed with organic matter, the wind may take them away, jeopardizing the density and uniformity of the grass.

5) Choosing organic matter

To successfully complete your seeding, it is preferable to use organic matter containing a high portion of compost between 50% and 80%. The remainder of the mix will consist of peat moss and sand.Please note that compost alone may over-fertilize the soil in addition to causing damage, especially when using seed mixes which require very little fertilizing.

6) Top dressing

Cover all zones of the land to be seeded with the organic material. The required quantity oforganic matter to spread is 750 litres per 100 square meters or one cube yard for 1000 square feet. Ensure that all seeds that have been deposited with the organic matter are adequatelycovered.

7) Preventive measures

Remember that the zones of the land exposed to sunlightwill become dehydrated faster than shadowed zones. Check areas that are overexposed to sunlight, such as embankments and areas close to cement or stones. Once top dressing is completed, lightly cover all areas with straw. Be careful as some types of straw may contain undesirable grass seeds.

8) Mowing the lawn for the first time

Before proceeding to mow the lawn for the first time, you must ensure that the grass has reached ten centimetres in height or four inches in the imperial system. When mowing for the first time, leave at least eight centimetres in height or three inches. Remain careful when mowing for the first time since grass roots are tiny and very fragile. Use a well-sharpened blade in order to obtain an optimum cut which will avoid pulling out the new grass.

9) Follow ups

The purpose of follow-ups is to ensure that your clients are happy with the work that you completed in addition to ensuring that the seeds have enough water for sprouting to occur. Also, follow-ups represent an opportunity to re-seed spots where predetermined results have not been reached.

Don't forget that your worst enemy is scarcity of water. Therefore, while proceeding in your inspections, ensure to always check the zones exposed to sunlight.

 

Guarantee to have a dense and uniform lawn

You can guarantee the results of your seeding at all times. Indeed, what you are guaranteeing is the establishment of a dense and uniform lawn. Please note that your clients will remain responsible for keeping the grass seeds humid for a period of at least 21 days after seeding.

The guarantee also provides an opportunity to reassure clients that may be doubtful of the results or who had bad experiences in the past. Explain that your method is unique and proves to be successful, in addition to being exclusively ecological. The guarantee also allows for the justification of the price while giving credibility to your business.