Seeding

Slide 1 LHAP 106 TESM: Site Prep & Seeding Slide 2 What are the steps in site preparation for softscape installation? Slide 3 Site Preparation Issuance of Lot Grading Certificate (usually acquired by home builder) Check the Subgrade (Has there been settling? Is there construction debris? Large rocks?) Rough Grading Installation of screened loam over subgrade (15-30 cm minimum for turf) Avoid compaction by: Starting at the home and working toward the gate Leaving an avenue on subgrade for machine access Walking on plywood after completion These first 3 steps may be complete prior to the Landscaper starting on the site Installation of drainage materials & Services Weeping Tile/PVC, Catch basins for permeable pavements, digging water features Irrigation, gas and/or power for fire tables/water features etc. Slide 4 Site Preparation - Turf Prep Decompaction of turf area Avoidance is the best One time tillage Soil conditioners such as “rockhounds” or other mechanized rake Finish Grade Small sites - landscape rakes Large sites - usually not a standalone step (part of decompaction or seeding) Tolerances Vary by site size - smaller sites usually are finished more carefully than larger ones. Seedbeds are the least forgiving (vs sod or mulch) Slide 5 Seeding Traditional seed (alternative is hydroseed) Method of installation Seed Calculation Steps to Establishment Slide 6 Seeding Factors for Success Timing and Seed Roots are most active in soil temps 10-18 C Perennial Rye allows for some earlier seeding Late spring or early summer – better chance of rain, full season of growth Mid-summer – not enough moisture Fall – early winter weather before turf has established can reduce overwintering potential Dormant seeding may give a jumpstart Quality of Seed Select fresh, high quality seed Store it cool and dry Slide 7 Seeding Tools and Site Prep… Slide 8 Many large-scale operations will have a grading & seeding tool integrated into one. Slide 9 Slide 10 Seeding Tools: Broadcast Spreaders: Broadcast the material in a fan shaped pattern Drop Spreaders: Drops the seed straight down CAN be used at any scale - by hand (from a bucket! Or crank style), push style, or machinery attachments. Quality of application is limited by user: Walk at a consistent speed Regardless of slope Keep your eye on the horizon Apply cross directionally Calculate the correct seed / Calibrate! Slide 11 Cross Directional Seeding Slide 12 Seeder Calibration - Demo Seeding Process: Spreaders and Calibration Process Slide 13 Hydroseeding Preferred method of seeding on large, low maintenance sites (vs machinery) and Utility areas due to the additives increasing seedling survival percentages & erosion losses, plus a logistics advantage on slopes Spraying a seed slurry uniformly over an area Essential Ingredients Seed and water Often mulch, fertilizer and a tackifier are added Slide 14 Hydroseeding Mulch Wood fibre mixed into slurry Possibly biodegradable organic matting Tackifier Bonding agent creating a mat-like layer Keeps seed in contact with the mulch material Prevents the entire seed/mulch mat from blowing away Fertilizer high phosphorus compound for rooting Slide 15 Hydroseeding Advantages: Quick Covers large areas Allows access to inaccessible areas (steep banks, uneven terrain) Disadvantages: Expensive (specialized machinery and labour) Poor quality control Slurry has to be correct Slide 16 Seed Calculations Slide 17 Seeding Amount of seed required is determined by the area Regular Site: Rates in kg / 100m2 Large site: Rates in kg per Hectare (kg/Ha) (1 Ha is 10,000 m2) Americans use lbs/acre Slide 18 Seed Calculations Steps for calculating how much seed you need Need to know how many different species and cultivars are in the mix What is the percentage of each in the mix? How large is your area? (kg/100m2) Using of seeding rates: Low number is minimum for a reasonable stand of turf where irrigation is available. Higher number is maximum for assuring a dense stand of turf under less cultural intensity Slide 19 Turfgrass species Kilograms per Number of Seed 100 sq. metre per sq. in. Bentgrass: Creeping 0.2 - 0.5 27 - 55 Bluegrass: Canada 0.5 - 0.7 17 - 26 Kentucky 0.5 - 0.7 15 - 23 Fescue: Chewings 1.6 - 2.0 13 - 17 Meadow 3.2 - 4.0 11 - 14 Red 1.6 - 2.0 13 - 17 Sheep 1.6 - 2.0 13 - 16 Tall 3.2 - 4.0 11 - 14 Ryegrass: Perennial 3.2 - 4.0 11 - 14 Timothy 0.5 - 1.0 8 - 16 Crested Wheatgrass 1.4 - 2.2 7 - 11 Slide 20 Turfgrass species Kilograms per Ha Bluegrass: Canada 50 - 70 Kentucky 50 - 70 Fescue: Chewings, Red, Sheep 160 - 200 Meadow 320 - 400 Tall 320 – 400 Hard 125 – 160 Rough 320 - 400 Timothy 50 - 100 Crested Wheatgrass 140 – 220 Northern Wheatgrass 140 – 220 Alkaligrass 50 – 100 Reed Canarygrass 160 – 200 Junegrass 40 – 60 Blue Grama grass 115 – 175 Green Needlegrass 385 – 480 Redtop 20 - 50 Bromegrass 480 - 600 Slide 21 Seed Calculations “How much Kentucky Bluegrass seed (kg) do you need for a 200 square meter low maintenance (non irr) lawn?” Step One Figure out the correct seeding rate (KB 0.5 - 0.7kg /100m2) Divide the given area in square meters (A) by 100 Area in m2 / 100 Slide 22 Seed Calculations Step Two Multiply A/100 from step 1 by the seeding rate Eg. For an area of 200 m2 and a seeding rate of 0.7 kg per 100 m2 Area / 100 x seed rate (200 /100) x 0.7 kg = 1.4 kg Slide 23 Seed Calculations Example You have a 590 sq. meter yard and a seeding rate of 0.7 kg per 100 sq. m for Kentucky Bluegrass. How much total seed is needed? A / 100 x seeding rate (590 / 100) x 0.7 kg = 4.13 kg of seed required Slide 24 Seed Calculations Polystands If you have more than one species or cultivar in the mix, the rate has to be calculated for each one by multiplying by the percentage in the mix. This must be done for each grass in the mix. (A / 100) x seeding rate x % Slide 25 Seed Calculations Example: You have a 590 sq. meter yard and a seeding rate of : 0.7 kg per 100 sq. m for KB 4 kg per 100 sq. m for PR. The mix is 80% KB and 20% PR. How much total seed is needed? Slide 26 Seed Calculations Example: For each type of seed: (A / 100) x seeding rate x % in the mix KB - (590 / 100) x 0.7 kg x 0.8 = 3.30 kg of seed PR - (590 / 100) x 4 kg x 0.2 = 4.72 kg of seed Slide 27 Seeding Calculations Example: How much seed of the following blend is required for a 590 sq. m yard with a blend of the following (Non irrigated): KB – 30% Touchdown, 25% Banff CRF – 25% Victory, 15% Boreal PR – 5% Blazer Keep cultivars separate if you are purchasing individually and blending your own. If its pre-mixed, you can blend them Slide 28 Seeding Calculations Answer: 590 / 100 x 0.7 x 0.3 = 1.24 kg of Touchdown 590 / 100 x 0.7 x 0.25 = 1.03 kg of Banff 590 / 100 x 2 x 0.25 = 2.95 kg of Victory 590 / 100 x 2 x 0.15 = 1.77 kg of Boreal 590 / 100 x 4 x 0.05 = 1.18 kg of Blazer Total seed = 8.17 Kg Slide 29 Assignment… PRACTICE: IF you want, go to Moodle, in the LHAP 106 Reviews section there is a practice quiz with 10 questions. You can also do the practice questions in the module - they are harder. Answers are in the module. Whether or not you do the Practice questions, your assignment is found in moodle and is due Oct 13 at 8:00 AM, uploaded to Moodle. Handed in late day of: -10%. Handed in late afterwards - 20%/day Handed in after I have marked everyone’s - 0% Bottom line - if you have an emergency and you will be late, TALK to me first to arrange a possible extension! Don’t wait til you’re late! Slide 30 Post Seeding Care Slide 31 Post Seed Care Mulch New plants are sensitive, easily damaged Consider using a mulch Short term protection Must biodegrade or be removed before seedlings are choked out. Should be fine textured, easy to apply (and clean-up), cheap, biodegradable, allowing air flow Straw, Jute or Coir netting Compost topdress Consider fencing to prevent traffic Slide 32 Post Seed Care Watering Most critical aspect of post seeding care Seedlings don’t have an adequate root system Seedlings are prone to environmental conditions Rule of thumb keep top 5 cm of soil moist at all times for the first 4 to 6 weeks As seedlings mature, less frequent, longer waterings are better to promote deeper rooting. Slide 33 Post Seed Care Nutrient Regime As a seedling begins to grow, it requires an increasing amount of nutrient Earliest stages of growth - slow release applied PRIOR to seeding Root development High phosphorus (root promoting) 1:2:0 or 1:3:0 ratio (eg. 16-32-0 or 11-54-0) Slide 34 Post Seed Care Mowing Time: When turf is fairly well established and approaching the highest tolerable mowing height No regular traffic on turf until after the second mowing Allowing a higher height initially will help to enhance rooting, plant can adapt a bit better Slide 35 Slide 36 Post Seed Care Weed Control Should not be sprayed within the first 4 to 6 weeks after emergence First mowing is often the initial form of weed control Turf will become more aggressive (ie more tillers or rhizomes) Will compete with weeds for space, light, water, nutrients Weeds receive a physiological shock which reduces their competitive ability