Deep Covering

Categories: GRASS SODS

In August the air is hot, and the surface of the ground

is dry nearly all the time. A shower may be followed by hot sunshine,

and the water at the surface evaporates quickly, leaving the ground

covered with a dry crust. There are two essential things to bear in

mind: the seeding should be made only when there is enough moisture in

the ground to insure quick germination, and preferably as soon as

feasible after a rain, nd the seed should be put down where moisture

can be retained. It is poor practice to sow any kind of small seeds

before a rain that seems imminent. If it forms a crust, or causes

weed-seed germination along with that of the grass seeds, only harm

results. When seeds are put into a dry soil, and a light shower comes,

there may be germination without sufficient moisture to continue life

in the plants.



The seeds should be well buried: the soil and air conditions are

different from those of the spring. It is best to wait for moisture,

and to save the seed if it does not come, but when enough water has

fallen to make the firm soil moist, the danger of failure is very small

if the seeds are buried one to two inches deep. A surface harrow will

stir the surface, and then the seeds should be sifted down into the

soil by another harrowing. A light plank float, mashing the little

clods and pressing the soil slightly together, finishes the work. The

plants will appear above ground within a few days, the only danger

being in a beating shower that may puddle the surface before the plants

are up.