Bare Dirt Seeding With 7 Grass Seed Coverings Which Grass Seed Covering Works The Best?

[@GCITurf]

Breast cancer donation - www.jamesriverequipment.com/wedigpink

[@Grinch83]

Humble beginnings. Pete keeps it authentic and organic.

[@mitchbird6146]

Great test! I think the cover grow will hold moisture the best. The bare ground with the seed worked into the soil should do really well if it stays moist.

[@sundogtune]

years ago you told me about the garden weasel ( on your videos), and it has been HANDS DOWN the best thing i ever bought. it is ALOT of work on a big yard, but MAN the results speak for themselves. sore arms for a couple of days are worth it for PRETTY GREEN GRASS!!!

[@kingly71]

ha was thinking the same thing.. that weasel is a heckuva tool. thanks Pete

[@johnnelwhite]

I did a bare dirt gci tttf renovation on my neighbors 300 sq ft yard on the 7th and had germination on the 12th. I always use peatmoss when doing bare dirt.

[@seedtimeharvestlawncare]

The force is strong with you Master jedi. Pete, as always, you rock brother.

[@MrFergusonLawn]

Very interesting to see the results Pete. I’m gonna guess #1, just bc with a hard like we had yesterday, peat moss and other products pile up and streams move the seed. So I feel like it depends on how the water (from the sky) comes, but I’ll go with the mat bc it’s a special guest. Hopefully the ash holds it down well. It’s all natural like the peat moss. Great video!

[@base1b2626]

Love the Mr Pete experiments. Cant wait to see the results. Thanks for all you do. Will purchase at least 1 raffle ticket for Breast cancer awareness. Have a blessed week.

[@Dstromb232]

I made my own seed covering because I only have a small aera to cover with GCI seed Which my whole lawn is GCI seed. Here in St Louis. Mo we had descent rain until August and had a few spots where the Deers tore up. I used some shredded up paper from my shredder which was very fine pieces and soaked it in warm water and added some toilet paper yes clean paper .After a day of soaking bingo my seed covering. I then put in one of those Hydro Mousse Liquid Lawn System sprayer a neighbor gave me and worked great.

[@ericnoland6466]

That’s a great idea!

[@MsTonya417]

It’s probably the carbon mixed in the soil from the ash of the wood. Great video,Pete. Looking forward to seeing the results

[@davidcrowson4745]

GCI SOLDIERS ASSEMBLE!!

[@njric71]

This year I used EZ Straw with the tackifier in it for the first time. I was very impressed. It stayed in place through a couple of heavy rains and is now 99% gone. I overseeded on Labor day weekend and the lawn has had 3 mows so far. I didn't notice any weed problems. It was easy to spread, the coverage was good. I'll definitely be using it again.

[@chrisglenn2096]

I love it

[@WeatherNut27]

Yup, that EZ Straw is a life saver! I did a test and it did better than peat moss or nothing at all.

[@Jfitzroy1]

I use it all the time since I'm on a hill. I always get quack grass from it.

[@denisbrisebois7658]

Simply a will guess here Pete… 1st the ones with bio char / ashes followed by the ones covered with peat moss.

[@JL-qo7cs]

"Big ball of goodness," I like it.😄 1. Super dirt. 2. Hydro top dressing. 3. Peat moss. 4. Ash. 5. Green cover. 6. White cover. 7. Pete's favorite. 8. Control. Love ya buddy.

[@jcs1758]

I've always used Peatmoss although on slopes I've added Penningtons Slope master or Easy straw. Ialso lightly drag a wire take after seeing to Stonegate cover the seed... somewhat. My latest renovation(kbg/tttf) used all 3, they all came in uniformly...... so I don't know which to pick. I also pregerminate the KBG , not the fescue. They all popped 5 days after seeding

[@WeatherNut27]

Pete! This was awesome! Wish more folks did tests like this on small scales. Love the spreadsheet, keep posting that. Also fascinating about the ash. I use a wood stove for heat so I got a lot of ash to test out

[@bowmadman9562]

I live in Northern Kentucky. I experimented with growing perennial ryegrass in a test plot. I started it last fall and it was gorgeous. I had high hopes for it going into the summer of this year. It made it to mid July and I'm not sure if it was a disease or what but it turned brown and flat-out died. And I know it was not lack of water. From my findings Fescue is the toughest grass for my climate.

[@WeatherNut27]

I learned this the hard way. 5000sq ft renovation using Rye. Beautiful first 8mths then all of a sudden just thin and bare spots. I think heavy rains washed away soil though but still, fragile it could hold up

[@Dstromb232]

I think the Rye grass will be the most uniform.

[@mhuntercorrell]

Pete! One of the coolest videos you’ve posted. Anxious to see these results. Pure compost, peat moss or the weasel tilled plots, I believe will do the best. Can’t wait for the results. Cheers my friend!

[@trentmiller5354]

Firewood ash is also potassium, which is great for seedlings to germinate. Always save some wood ash

[@weslindert7680]

I think they will all germinate pretty much the same if you don’t get a washout rain , blistering hot sun or strong wind to dry out the soil.

[@tomboyle7901]

Thank you Brother Pete . Absolutely helpful . I appreciate it!

[@tyrecelegans4883]

Looking forward to seeing the results from this!! Thanks Pete!!

[@sunsetmowing]

Thank you!

[@monkeyslawncareandgardenin473]

Biochar from the amazing and keeps it green, Patmos does amazing however doesn’t break down well, I am excited to see the results, and the results a month after germinating. I think the black char houses microbes that really feeds. ??????

[@richardsamski6050]

Been thinking, depending when you seed in the season, you may get different results with different coverings. The fabric may give better results later in a cool fall, keeping the seed warmer if temps drop during the night. I think maybe the ash may give a better result, it's nature's way. Maybe holds the seed better, and gives some nutrient? But then again I'm only a small weekend warrior with my 2000sq' suburban lawn.

[@kevingebert4316]

Very awesome video. I miss this style of GCI Turf experiments with various grass plantings and conditions. I'm thinking that ash mix has lots of carbon in it much like humichar products.

[@DavidBass-y4w]

Here's hoping the method you've been using for all those years is just as good as that those extra. I followed the GCI reno guide to a t and got fantastic results (cool blue) with just working my seed into the ground. I've never been happier with my lawn.

[@kevinmcadoo9045]

That 1st row on the left looks like Pennington's biogradeable seed blanket. I used this product in my front yard last year in the spring and fall and had great result (germination of fescue in about 3 to 4 days) and it came in thick and evenly. The best past was I didn't have to worry about heavy rain washing my seed away or birds eating the seed.

[@paulrogal3367]

I’ve had great success with working the seed into the existing soil than putting a thin layer of peat moss on top just to hold some moisture and mainly as an indicator when I’m getting dry. Works great and it’s always locally available so I never tried other methods

[@blaiseducdaumont1280]

Your statement sounds contradictory... read what you wrote.

[@PrincernPrince]

I think they will all be as good as the other since time isn't the issue. Eventually when all the seeds have geminated they will look the same uniformity wise. You stated you would gently water daily as long as it doesn't rain hard the seed will not move from that. Now if you introduced heavy rain and wind and then tested the uniformity, I think then the different products would separate out and one may keep the seed in place more than another. However we will see. In my experience peat moss is like putting nothing down if it rains hard. Stuff provides no protection at all. I find compost works better.

[@TopTierLawnCareServices]

I kind of did a combination on an area of my yard damaged from sprinkler system installation. I used the weasel over it, dusted it with some rich compost topsoil and then just a measure of protection against rain put meshless fiber mat over it. It came up really consistent (seeded by hand too). It was ready for a first mow at 3 3/4 inches after just 2 weeks. Just as the seed began to sprout I pulled up the seeding mats because even though it degrades I think it limits nutrients from fertilizer until it goes away

[@TopTierLawnCareServices]

BTW the seed I used was the GCI cool blue blend

[@danieltaulbee]

Birds. Don't forget the birds!

[@mypolitical]

My personal experience this year is the peat moss covered areas germinated faster and with more uniformity/density than the areas where I used the garden weasel to sow the seed into the dirt. I’m looking forward to your follow up video to see the results of these little test plots!

[@PrincernPrince]

In my experience peat moss is like putting nothing down if it rains medium to hard. Stuff provides no protection at all. I find compost works better.

[@mypolitical]

@@PrincernPrince my area has had no rain in months, so I guess my near-perfect renovation was just luck.😘 Thanks for the input.

[@PrincernPrince]

@@mypolitical :) this time I made sure there was no rain in sight for a week 😁

[@benharrison1069]

Great test, Pete. Looking forward to the results. I'm going to guess the peat moss covered seed being the best.

[@CecilCochran-tk3ce]

I’m thinking the one with the wood ash will be the best. Don’t ask me why, but I believe it has a ton of potassium in it to get it going better and faster. We’ve always used straw as a cover, mostly for larger spots. Cheap and easiest to spread. Maybe it’s just a Kentucky thing! 😉

[@hongsitu3429]

Is that pelletized GC RGS? Whens that available?

[@rtervort]

Would’ve liked to see a straw cover as that’s the most affordable option for most people.

[@logansimpson5980]

Great video

[@lance8280]

Thank you I can’t believe how much money I have wasted on peat moss

[@zacchaeusdennis4768]

Hydroseed for the win.

[@kennyparnell1974]

Did you fertilize? Did I miss that part?

[@jeffb3968]

How about with an overseed? Is it necessary to cover the grass seed then?

[@mandobanjoguitar]

Cool experiment. I'm surprised you didn't do one with straw.

[@Skurvster]

Great experiment. Don’t remove the frost cloth once it germinates, just maybe loosen it a bit so it doesn’t restrict the turf from growing vertically. It will be the most uniform, thickest, and end up using the least amount of water

[@blaiseducdaumont1280]

Wouldn't leaving the cloth in place on a warm, sunny day risk killing the young seedlings??

[@Skurvster]

@@blaiseducdaumont1280 I’ve been using it on warm season turf, had days 30 C plus and it’s loving it, apparently it also keeps it cooler underneath and the difference between the covered section and uncovered is night and day

[@clifforddavidson2332]

Pete what is your thoughts on straw for a covering?

[@fenceman53]

Surprised you didn’t try those hay mats with netting which I hate seeing on jobs I go to.

[@BengalCatsReactTo]

Breast Cancer Awareness 🎀 ❤

[@rocktman81]

Will you have the update video(s) out soon?

[@chadrandolph9874]

Uniformity: (1)Rye-(2)Blue Grass-(3)Fescue

[@justinjones9255]

What about using sawdust and shavings? Non-PT wood of course. Seems it would be a good seed cover. Not sure about the pH effect though.

[@russellharp8761]

If you use wood shavings, never till into soil. It will pull all the nitrogen out for a long time. Also, know your source. A local saw mill planing trees over bagged from big box store. Bagged will have a good amount of treated lumber, those chemicals will cause issues where you want growth plus you get no bio-degredation. It will be there until you're dead and gone. I used 10 bags on the north side of my house 6yrs ago where nothing grows except algae, moss, weeds and saplings. It looks the same as it did the day I put it down, and no algae or moss either. No weeds, no saplings, nothing. If you get it from local saw mill, check tree types they bringing in. Some types of trees contain chemicals that block plant growth, adaptation to prevent competition.

[@blaiseducdaumont1280]

An interesting video! What is the name of the tractor attachment shown at timeline 7:10 that looks like a giant garden weasel?

[@richardsamski6050]

HELLOoo Pete. O.K., I subscribed. Been watching you awhile, enjoy your videos. I feel you should get some benefit for all your effort. AND........this last project, "Grass Seed Covering," I always wondered the same questions. What is the best way to cover grass seed.? As well as not only what is the best, but what gives you the best result for your time and effort. So let's see how this plays out. Looking forward to the results. Thank you for your efforts.

[@GCITurf]

I appreciate you friend

[@daflea66]

Do y'all have access to mushroom manure? Its always blown other materials and methods away up here.

[@johns1646]

Is the aisle closest to the rye lawn, but right of the white covering, anything? The flags seem to indicate so

[@GCITurf]

yeah thats a personal one for me lol

[@robvolpi3247]

Hard to tell….it looks like now most of the time it is in shade. Kentucky Blue like sunshine. Turf type maybe the best lawn. Rye grass is to easy, doesn’t like heat. Especially in the south

[@tbros0331liffy]

Pete, if you till the ground like you did in the second row, God's Earth row, them spikes won't harm the grass seed and disturb their germination process?

[@butchbr73]

#2. Gods earth where you raked it in.

[@thomasc6127]

Come do my yard in SC

[@revd6239]

Letsgooo!!!!

[@AudiS4orce1]

Excellent idea and video. Where is the result? Hoped to get a weekly update on this?

[@poonplugdoonbug]

Charcoal is mostly carbon

[@Justsomedude64]

What’s the latest on this test?

[@Dtraynor]

Ash covering will be best

[@jimgreyard6623]

I am hoping the tall fescue does us proud so to speak.

[@Nvent1]

I'm going charcoal or your go to way

[@MRM5J]

Up date on well

[@mikehouser5430]

Well update please??

[@GCITurf]

nothing to update yet sir. havent done anythig new

[@mikehouser5430]

@@GCITurf thanks for The response

[@zmjackson1]

No compost? Come on man..the amount of phosphorus in compost is a seeds best friend. It’s not too late to add!

[@stefaneulenstein]

my money is on the ash. very high in K.

[@ColeSpolaric]

Ash - potash - potassium

[@RioTheHitman]

Your truck sexy there Pete

[@MrWizard326]

I’ll trade you trucks

[@hoosierhillslawncare]

First!