|
| I see a 20 pound bag of Scott Water Smart Grass Seed that looks like it could fill my needs. It has a blend of Fescue, Rye, and Blue Grass (small % BG). But, it says on the bag that 50% (forgot to look, assume by weight) is the Water Smart coating. The claims of the value of the coating are attractive (a question in its own right), but it seems to double the apparent cost of the seed, i.e., 20 pound bag is really a 10 pound bag of seed. That is what one should compare with other offers and ascribe whatever they can to the Water Smart benefits. |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| Is there a question in there? Lots of companies are putting a water absorbing material with their seeds now. It helps keep them moist through germination but doesn't do much after that. The claims are probably exaggerated, but honestly, the biggest cost in a seeding project is usually water. Most people don't realize that until the water bill comes. |
|
| Yes, two indirect, it seems, questions. The first was is Water Smart seed worth the extra cost? For me, on a well, the cost of water is minor, the time of moving a hose isn't...also large property so spot seeding is spread over a wide area. I do not do a general over-seeding. The assumed extra cost, part of a second implied question, is that the 20 pound bag I was looking at would appear to be a 10 pound bag of seed...thus it seems possible to buy twice as much seed if it can be found without the coating. I like the Scott mix of seed in the subject 20 pound bag. We are seeing a lot of rain in NJ and I put out a few pounds of a mixed Tall Fescue: Oncue, Justice, Rebel, Greystone and Penn Tall Fescue, stated to be a dark Green, like the creeping Fescue. I believe this mix of Fescue is superior to the older Kentucky Tall Fescue. This latter point isn't a question, but I welcome views on the "newer" Tall Fescue seed for central NJ. |
|
| Those cultivars are good older cultivars. Justice, rebel, greystone, penn 1901 are all good, and still in use today. They will have good color and texture. They are some of the best you can find Home Depot, I look every year. Are there newer better ones? Sure, but you probably won't find them at the big box stores. I would probably steer away from the "northern mixes" you described for a few reasons, but mainly it just doesn't make sense planting three totally different grasses like that. The water smart coating probably helps keeps the seeds moist for longer, but as you said you have to buy twice as much, so you will save on the water bill, but is it enough to justify the cost? |
|
| I went for the pure seed. I found at Walmart a Pennington brand blend: 35% Justice Tall and 34% Brockton Tall Fescue, 10% Oracle Red Fescue, 9% Long Fellow II Chewing Fescue, and 9% Minnfling Kentucky Blue Grass. That's 97%, no coatings, all seed. The rest is inert etc. 20 Pounds $39.74 (less than $2 a pound). This looks like a good mix to me, and a lot like others except for the high content of Tall Fescue. But, none of it is Kentucky 31 (I think it is labeled) Tall Fescue which is generally considered a field grass and it has a lighter green than most lawn grasses. |
|
| It looks like a typical "northern mix" to me, if that's what you want, then fine, but personally I am not a fan of such mixes. I hope you're not planning on seeding now in NJ, as it's far too late in the season. You would be well advised to wait till Sept. 1-15. |
|
| Yep, put out some of the new seed today. Not sure where you live but around here the ground is wet and the nights cool, perfect for grass germination. Looks like we're in for more wet weather in the long range forecast. Thus, no need for the "Water Smart" technology. The existing grass is growing so fast it is hard to keep it cut between rains. |
|
- Posted by nearandwest 7 (My Page) on Thu, May 19, 11 at 21:16
| I'm sure that you will get germination now, and things will look good for the next 30 days. However, I suspect that 90 days from now (mid August), you will have a better understanding of what tiemco was trying to tell you. |
|
| I know where you live and I know the weather. Sure, now is a good time to germinate grass, but when it's ready to mature it will be summer, the worst time. It will have to deal with heat stress, fungal disease and if it was like last year, drought stress. The best time to seed a cool season grass is late summer/early fall depending on where you live. The second best time, dormant seeding. The third best time, early spring. The worst time, probably right around June 1st. I hope your grass does OK, but the deck is stacked against you. Good luck. |
|
| Understood, it is always a calendar shuffle game to kill broad leaf weeds and plant grass... then there's the old pre-emergence crabgrass control which I rarely use. This really kills early spring seeding. I suppose these are additional reasons to seed in the fall. Right now I have patches where there once was heave broad leaf weeds, not they are dead and something has to occupy the open real estate. I am not doing any general overall over-seeding, if I were I'd need 100 pound bags, not 20 pound. |
|
| "The first was is Water Smart seed worth the extra cost? " It depends on how much you value your time and labor then. If you have the time and inclination to do extra watering, then it is "worth it." Some people find it relaxing. Some people find it annoying. "is that the 20 pound bag I was looking at would appear to be a 10 pound bag of seed." Yep. You get less seed in the same size bag if it has other stuff mixed in. Personally, if I had acres to seed, there is no way I would pay the difference in terms of cost and volumes. If I was spot seeding like you, I'd spring for either the seed+mulch in 1 bag or a couple bags of compost to sprinkle over "normal" seed. |
|
| Thanks, the mulch is a good idea and one that occurs to me but seem to never get done. I know the rain will stop here sometime (it has been about 10 days of rain, a total of about 4" on my gauge) and the mulch will help hold the moisture in and ads some "soft" nutrients. The ground must now be saturated down a couple of feet and the cover may work as well as "water smart" technology. I think I have some patches of Kentucky 31 Tall mixed in, I know I purchased about 40 pounds of it a couple of years ago to use in a wet meadow, then I think I used some to spot seed. I have patches of light green grass that is growing very well. The other main characteristics I see it it produces copious amounts of seed heads even at 3". I think too I could be characterized as have a clumping shape, rather than a uniform line of blades that I associate with turf grass. I looked on the web, but couldn't fine any pictures. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Lawn Care Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.