Get matched with top lawn irrigation specialists in Sidney, MT

The easiest way to rough up soil to accept grass seed and provide the best opportunity for its growth is to make several passes over the area with a garden tiller and rake away the loosened vegetation and debris. However, in some cases, very hard ground may require using a shovel or pick to break up pieces into smaller chunks that the tiller can handle more easily.

This depends on the type of grass seed, as some types do better in different environmental conditions. Cool-season grasses go dormant during the summer months when the soil temperature exceeds 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Once exposed to regular doses of heat, the germination rates decline, with seedling death not far behind. 

As for warm-season seeds, they come from tropical parts of the world and thrive in heat. They actively grow in warm air temperatures between 70 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and they prefer soil temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Once temperatures dip and frost rolls in, if you don’t store them properly, warm-season grass seeds will die quickly.

Buffalo grass spreads through both underground roots and above-ground stolons. The widespread root and stolon system makes up for this grass’s overall lack of density. It’s a hearty grass, so it spreads on its own slowly, especially considering that most of the male (no staminate) varieties of grass are sterile. You may think about over-maintaining your lawn to encourage growth, but this would have the opposite effect.

It costs $1,500 on average to hydroseed a 1/2-acre lawn professionally. DIY hydroseeding costs about $300 to $500 for the machine rental, plus the cost of your seed, mulch, and fertilizer. Often, it makes sense to hire a local lawn seeding service to hydroseed for you to ensure the best coverage and growth.