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Putting Down New Seed
I want to establish a new lawn over soil with a high clay content, and could use some advice.
Last fall, on about 1/2 acre, I tilled down 6 inches, and added dolomite limestone per spec, and twelve yards of topsoil. (The Ph is now 6.8) I then put down annual rye grass as a cover crop over the winter.
This spring, I want to put down new Tall Fescue seed. Should I till the rye under, and if so, to what depth?
The nurseryman where I got the seed says to "just get the seed in contact with the ground" when I sow it, which implies that I don't need to rake the seed in/cover it over at all.
Advice on how to sow the seed and work it in would be appreciated. Would a harrow rake be useful to work it in? I hand-raked the annual rye last fall, and that took a while.
b
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Putting Down New Seed
Bob; We need Murf to jump in on this one. To me it sounds like you have did everything right so far, and the nursreyman is correct meaning that tiny grass seeds only need a bit of cover. If you have access to a cultipacker they do wonders to help new seedings. Frank.
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Putting Down New Seed
Spreading and working topsoil isn't really adding much to the soil unless it has a really high content of organic material. I know of many a con-man "topsoil dealer" who run pure clay through a screener and call it "screened top soil" and people buy it at $10-25 a yard thinking because it's fluffy and pretty it's good to use. When it gets wet and dries they have concrete. Pure compost is the best thing--if you HAVE to ammend it at all.
Frankly, when I seed lawns, all I do it slightly loosen the top 1/2" or so, spread the grass seed thickly--double the amount recommended, fertilize with Milorganite (dried human poop--which when dry doesn't really smell--get it moist and--it smells really FRESH). Keep it watered and you'll have a lush lawn in a few weeks.
If erosion or intense sunlight is an issue, spread a 4-6" layer of loose straw over it. The seedling will grow right through it, and when you mow the straw will mulch and eventually decompose. And it helps keep the weeds down until the grass fills in.
Think how mother nature makes a lawn--the seeds drop and never get buried or fertilized.
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Putting Down New Seed
Somebody rang? 
Bob, as Frank mentioned, the nurseryman is right, the seed only needs to make contact with damp soil. Even EW was right on this one, Mother Nature just plunks them down.
Kenneth did you hear that? EW was right! 
Seriously, just sow the seeds and follow the directions as to water, etc., and let them do their thing, the rye grass residue will help the most left just where it is on top.
If you can get a cultipacker or even just a plain roller, have a gentle run over the whole area after it's seeded to make sure you have good contact.
Best of luck.
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Putting Down New Seed
Murf, did. Believe that is now 3 times EW was correct. 
Before long he will deal with the circles. kt
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Putting Down New Seed
He's a technical kinda' guy.....
Maybe they were 'orbits'.......
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Putting Down New Seed
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Quote:
He's a technical kinda' guy.....Maybe they were 'orbits'....... |
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Your insight comes through again. Yep orbits.
Now people or objects out in space are in "orbits" correct? kt
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Putting Down New Seed
Kenny, don't they teach science down thar? Orbits occur around celestial bodies (that means "outer space". Electrons have orbits, and so do your eyeballs.
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Putting Down New Seed
EW, so does that mean it is not orbits? For a while I was impressed. kt
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Kenny, no you can still be impressed. (Geeeze it don't take much duz it?).
For my NEXT act I will...
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