Seeding

[hescores]

I'm running new electric to my garage this weekend. The trench is already dug, etc., etc.

My question is, when I go to fill the trench can I also put the seed down right away or should I just wait for spring? I realize the seed isn't going to take right now, but didn't know if it was better to lay the seed now and just let nature take its course or would that be a practice in futility?

I live in the Chicago suburbs.

[TDHofstetter]

Hey, welcome to the forum, He!

D'you see a lot of sparrows around all winter long? Chickadees? They may eat all the seed you spread unless you spread it just before the first sticking snow. I'd say... if you don't have snow in the forecast, you'd best hold off a little while.

[lockman]

Welcome. Here in Wisconsin it is past the lawn deeding season. As Tim said the birds will get most of it. The seed isn't going to do anything until spring when it may be half rotted by then.
I would start out fresh in the spring. The trench is also going to compact and you may need to fill before seeding.

[hescores]

I don't usually have an issue with birds as my dogs pretty much keep most foreign animals out of the yard, but I wasn't sure if the seed would take after sitting through the winter. Seeing as it would rot, I'll gladly wait until spring to seed then.

Thanks for saving me some time and money!

[lexrex]

If it's electric the trench shouldn't be very wide. I would go at it with a sharp shovel or even a long knife and cut the sod along the trench line, lay it some place where it can stay moist and THEN dig your trench. Once you fill back up, leave an inch or two space and replace the sod. By end spring I'm guessing you won't notice you ever pulled it up. Be sure to cut it plenty deep so you are not slicing all the roots off, leave a good bit of dirt on the sod, it'll be heavier but better in the long run.

[triplefreak]

Nov 24, 2009 14:16:20 GMT -6 lexrex said:

If it's electric the trench shouldn't be very wide

Um, put your glasses on bro. He said the trench was already dug.

[lockman]

Good thought Chris. Only problem is he said the trench was already dug.
Where were you last week when he was digging?

[hescores]

LOL Yeah, where were you!

Actually I do have the old sod still and I can probably still use it. However, I know that not all the dirt that I took out will wind up in the same spot or the same depth. Also, with the dogs, I'm sure the sod replacement is going to take a beating. So, I figured that I'd still have to seed somewhat to fill the gaps.

Even if the old sod doesn't take, if anything it is going to help keep the wife a bit happy as the dogs are tracking through the dirt now and graciously bringing it into the house. Even though I layed a piece of plywood over a section so they can cross, I don't think a single paw has touched it. Instead they think it's an equestrian jumping contest.

[sawduster]

Depending on the type of grass and the width of the trench, you might be able to just let the grass on the sides of it take over. If you've got an invasive grass, i.e. you're having to constantly battle with it to keep it out of adjacent garden and such, the runners from it will likely cover over the trench before the seed has a chance to sprout.

[triplefreak]

Shouldn't that be a canine jumping course?

[Leo Voisine]

It doesn't really matter what you do now.

In the springtime you "will" be seeding it.

[hescores]

Jerry, unfortunately that part of the lawn, for whatever reason is the worst of my entire lawn. In that section I could probably cut it once a summer if it even needed that.

triple - yes, it is a new jumping course. Now that it's rained and the trench is filled with the murky water it has become even more fun to splash with too. I'm surprised the wife hasn't killed them yet. More shocking is that she hasn't killed me either! LOL