DONT Waste Your Money on Peat Moss For Renovations and Seeding
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2022
- I have completed a number of full renovations and overseedings which I have never used Peat Moss. In this video, I will share with you my experience and opinions on using Peat Moss. Hope you enjoy the video!
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Cam, awesome topic! I just renovated my back yard(5000sqft) and decided not to use peat moss. Didn’t want to invest in a spreader or the peat moss, for that matter. I was worried that not putting it down would mess with germination but it came up great! I think you nailed the topic! Just got to keep it damp and I had a timer for my manual sprinklers, so boom, it came up great! Love the content, keep it coming!
Thanks man!!! Im glad you have that experience. Covering 5k in peat moss would not have been a small bill. That could go towards an irrigation setup that will still be needed year round.
Great video and great information. I had just heard about the problem with using peat moss. Thanks for sharing with us. Beautiful lawn as usual. Love you family
Thank you 🙏🏾! It can be a good tool but you should be careful when using it. Many people make it seem like it is a requirement but its really not.
Just seeded a new area without peat moss for the first time and had now issues, saw germination in 5 days too. Great piece of informative content, thanks for sharing.
Thanks! I'm glad you had the same experience I have had without using peat moss. It has its benefits in some situations but its not a requirement for success.
Same. Did some testing with and without peat moss. And i was pretty impressed with the test spot without peat moss and fertilizer. More lush and dark green compare to some areas with peat
I just had my best growing results using peat moss to cover my seed and I just kept watering everyday did germination.But I’m listening to you and your knowledge.
If you have good results, use it! I want people to understand that it is not required and you can do just as good or better without it. Also, the cost of materials are continuing to rise and this is an option for saving some money.
The spreader is excellent for organic lawn care as you can spread compost every spring to help add organic matter as well as the beneficial microbes and fungi.
I think its a excellent tool for what it is marketed for.
This is what I use mine for twice a year, front and back. I rotate a sizable compost pile, and use my Landzie for spreading and rolling it into my lawn. I originally bought it for a reno several years ago; the only time I ever used it for peat. Since then, it's been all-compost.
For people not into that and just drop fert throughout the seasons its better to either rent one or just go without like stated here. Provided your soil is good and you light-roll your seed in on initially-moist (not drenched) soil, and you keep a good eye on your watering, you really don't need it.
Glad you mentioned the Pete video - Pete has totally been giving clues that he questions the peat moss being worthwhile too.
Exactly! Pete does large scale bare ground renovations and most of them from what I have seen have no peat moss and turn out great. Soil prep and proper watering is key!
I agree, as long as the seed and soil can stay moist, then you don't need Peat Moss, but for me, I just threw down Peat Moss for my front lawn renovation because I don't have an automatic irrigation system and it definitely helped to retain moisture for me during the days I'm in the office and unable to water in the middle of the day. Along with the liquid cocktail I sprayed, I got germination of KBG within 8 days.
I agree it definitely helps to hold moisture but if you dial in your irrigation you will be good to go. Get you a timer for your hose bib and you are good to go for all day watering. You can even get a Bhyve or something similar and even control it from your phone. There are options out there going forward.
Just got my MT View seed from newsome and planning on putting seed down next week. Grubs and fungus got me towards the tail end of summer. Great vid Phi.
Preciate that Phi 👌🏾. Im glad to hear you have your seed on deck. We are in a good window to drop some seed. Just make sure you water we are going to be dry for awhile from the current forecast. Thanks for the support!
Was going to add peat moss to my fall overseed but decided against it after watching your video. Thanks for saving me a lot of dirty work.
I'm glad I could give you a different perspective. Make sure your watering is dialed in ad you will be good to go.
Excellent points discussed in this vlog. Thanks again.
Thank man and preciate you watching 🙏🏾!
I agree with you on your reasoning. Certainly a product that isn’t really needed. Great video. (Thanks for the shoutout as well)!
Thanks for being apart of the "collab" 😂. All love man, thanks for the support 🙏🏾.
After watching this video, I'm guilty of using peatmoss for seeding my baron back yard lol. Thought hard of renting a roller to spread this stuff, ended up just opening up the bags and flinging it as I went through each section of my yard. About 2500 sqft of space. I'll focus on my water schedules and fine tune them based on weather. Great video! Didn't know any better for my first year of doing my lawn reno at home.
No worries. I just strive to provide a different perspective on certain topics so people can decide what is best for their scenario. Thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
I seeded my lawn without peat moss or grass seed. Came up fine. Looks great. Very thick.
I assume that you meant to say that you "seeded without peat moss on the grass seed". If that is the case i am glad that it worked out for you. Thanks for watching.
I’m so glad you did this video. I’m about throw my seed down for a reno. Everyone has been talking about their peat moss. I was getting so stressed out. I didn’t own a Landzie and was hesitant on getting one. Reasons for what you said. Too expensive, storage, and how many times would I actually use it. I have done small Reno’s in the past with no peat moss and was pleased with my outcome. So I’m going to put seed down and water.
I'm glad that I could relieve some of your stress. Peat moss can be a bonus but it is definitely not required for success. Dial in your watering, work the seed into the soil a little by lighty dragging a metal tined rake across it and you will be fine.
Awesome video, Awesome content, We Workin 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Preciate that fam! We Workin 💪🏾🌱!!!
lown looks incredible man, iv'e had hard time getting success whenever i haven't used peat moss. Definitely believe it's possible, but for me, it's definitely been helpful. that said... i do have a peat moss spreader. lol.
Thanks! You have to do what works best for your lawn and success. But peat moss is not required to get grass to grow.
Very convincing presentation. Gonna save me unnecessary time money and effort this fall and I will not miss having that spreader cluttering up my garage. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful. My goal wasn't exactly to convince you not to use it but to show that if you need to save time, money, and space its not necessary. Thanks for watching!
I haven’t used peat moss in a while. I’ve had good results with it and without it. I’m definitely all about conserving space and cutting down on equipment.
You can definitely get good results without it and cut down on the cost of the material and equipment. It's something for people to think about and not see it as a requirement for success!
Love the channel man, thanks for the video!
Thank you and thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
Great video, yard looks great 💯💯👍. Thanks for the tips
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏾!
We Workin Outchea 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Yessir...We Workin 💪🏾🌱
Great points! Not to mention how messy spreading peat moss can be… I think I might try not using peat moss when I do my next project.
It is so messy to deal with. Hey, give it a try and then you can make the right decision for your situation going forward. Preciate you watching 🙏🏾!
It’s like a back-up camera on a car... helpful, but not necessary. Where I live last year we were in an extreme drought and would get fined for water our lawns. (Oops, wrong time to reno my lawn I guess haha)... so I used peat moss to keep in the moisture with less watering. It helped but I doubt I’ll use again. Good vid!!
I like your approach and understanding of peat moss
Great video, I watched Pete's video a week ago and heard in his disappointed voice that maybe peat moss wasn't the best cure all. I'm glad to see your video. I'm sure there could be some benefits for the soil overall but I now am sure it's not the best thing during seeding. Thank you for your input about this.
I agree there are some small benefits but its definitely not a requirement or cure all solution. Thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
Great Information 👌🏾
Thanks 🙏🏾
One of my neighbors spread a good screened compost throughout the season maybe 3 or 4 times and had a wonderful lawn. I just ordered a Landsie tonight. No regrets.
Be careful with compost based on the amount of Phosphorus that can be in compost could give you negative effects over time.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes Oh thank you so much for the info, I'm afraid I'm a rank beginner at lawn care. I think he used mushroom compost. Would this be too much with fertilizer? I guess it would. Greetings from Canada.
Interesting topic. Average home owner here. I’ve done a couple small, bare dirt renos. The best luck I’ve had is using the garden weasel and Ez Straw. Peat does ok but I watch it too closely and tend to over water… and it ALWAYS washes out. I have the Landzie spreader and it does a good job but not sure it’ll get used again.
The garden weasel is great because it incorporates the seed into the soil and the seed is not left just laying on top of the soil.
I agree with you. I’m in the process of a renovation and using peat moss. Not a fan of it. It’s very messy and the germination hasn’t been as good as I thought it would be. I had better results using straw. Good video!
Thanks for watching 🙏🏾! Gotta find what works best for you. I get cautious of straw because of the high potential for weed seeds of hard to control weeds.
I've seriously considered buying one of those tools to rent out haha. I tried finding one a year or two back, and nobody has them. Problem is exactly as you said...storing it those 10 months it's not being used! Great content man!
Buying one to rent out is a GREAT idea. I have heard of a few ppl doing that. It would pay for itself and some in a season for sure.
The handle is detachable and stores inside the roller.
You just drop that knowledge for real!
Thanks for watching 🙏🏾! Hope it gives you something to consider.
As always, excellent content!! Thank you!
Thanks for watching 🙏🏾! New screen name for you who dis??? 🤣🤣🤣
@@ElevatedLawnscapes Lmao 🤣 Had to represent the “Mrs.”
@@Mrs.Portia_G Nothing wrong with that
Cam, here’s a debate question, black or red mulch! Your yard looks amazing, but wondering if you can do a video on mulch. So happy I found your channel!
I have a number for mulching and edging videos on my channel. I like red mulch but only when it fits the landscape and the house. In most cases I would say black is the way to go.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes where do you get yours? I’m in md
I like to use peat moss, but ive noticed it does slightly raise the ph if put on to heavy. Cheers bud, the lawn is looking fantastic!!
Thanks man! Peat moss is a tool if needed but its not a must have item for seeding. I feel like it is miss understood that peat moss is a must for successful seeding.
Good one Cam! Talking straight and to the point...😁
Thanks man 🙏🏾!
I always lightly topdress over seed and lately I mix seed with soil amendment then spread. I like to add a light coat of soil amendment mainly in bare areas when seeding and that will never change. Do what works for you as long as it's working. I've used peat, triple mix, peat sand mix, and they all work great. I make sure to keep the coat thin and watered and Bob's your uncle!
Yep I agree, do what works for you and your budget.
You sold me.... About to do an oversees of fescue in backyard and was going to use pear moss
I think you will be fine without it because you also have shade cover in the back. Work that seed into the ground a little and you will be good 👍🏾
BRO I CAME HERE TO TALK ABOUT PETE FROM GCI!!! So glad you saw that!! You KILLING THE GAME my guy!!!
Preciate that 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾! I already had this video topic in mind then, Pete dropped his video and I was like...BINGO I'm not the only one!!
This video just saved me some money 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
Nothing wrong with saving some money right? Thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
This is exactly what my point was on a live call in show last Thursday! 😉
Exactly. I was listening in to that show. I tried to call in to continue that conversation but I didn't get through. I was hype when this conversation came up...I like heck yeah I'm not the only person with that position.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes I loved the video! Thank you. Now I won’t have to make one! 😀
@@brent6924 🤣
Just over seeded my lawn with turf type tall fescue two weeks ago because I lost so much of it through this brutal summer that we just had. Heavily dethatched it first then added some topsoil to the bare areas and then applied my grass seed and lightly raked into the top of the soil. Didi not use any peat moss. Just starting to see germination in some spots now after about 10 days.
Nice! We all get excited about quick germination but at the end of the day, its about what the grass looks like when it has grown in. Not how fast is popped out the ground. Thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
I totally agree if you have irrigation on a timer, peat moss isn’t needed. But for people who can only water once a day, the peat moss is a life saver. Peat moss also shows you when you need to water. I guess if your lucky enough to have irrigation you can get away w/o it, but if you don’t and need an insurance policy, I wouldn’t skip it.
I have seen a lot of people skip,it because it’s a messy job, and they are left with while sections that dried out and never germinated because they never got enough water. Just my opinion, I agree about not having room to store all this equipment just for occasional use, but we can add a whole list of other lawn care items to that list. I have a shed full of them 😄
I'm trying to limit my garage full of one time use tools 🤣.
Im a firm believer in setting up a timer for your irrigation during this period of time. If you are under water restrictions that is a different situation. But if not, as I stated there is no reason not to have irrigation set up...its way too easy to do nowadays. Andddd you get to use it again during the summer to keep your yard green....its a win-win. Thanks for your input 🙏🏾!
Facts!! Seed to soil is all you need!
Completely agree with you on that plus water.
I don't always use peat but when I don't all the birds and squirrels have a feast. That's enough to make me use it again the following year. What they're eating is probably minimal but it still freaks me out.
Yeah man, I have been in the lawn for a couple years now and have realized we need to relax a little...its grass. It grew well on its own before we decided to coddle it like a newborn 🤷🏾♂️. I love my lawn and understand its gonna have its ups and downs but for the most part it will be just fine.
I was about to say its not that hard to spread peat but then you showed the roller from Lansky. If you love your lawn just buy one. I like to mix seed right into the peat and then roll it onto the lawn when its scalped short.
Find what works best for your situation 👍🏾.
Great info.
Thanks 🙏🏾
What would you suggest if anything to protect seed from birds or to hold it in place from rain/wind etc?
Work it into the soil with either a garden weasel or drag a metal tine rake across it. Then start watering.
Oh I’m using this Lanzie. At least for a a few years lol.
🤣 gotta get your money worth out of it now.
Agree. You don't need Peat Moss. I've planted lawns using bare dirt. You need good seed to soil contact. Also, my overseeding experience has be more successful when I dethatch vs aerating. With regard to the compost spreader, it is an important piece of lawn rquipment in my arsenal. I use it to spread compost onto my lawn. Much better than my old shovel method.
I agree with all the points that you made. I haven't spread compost before with it but it seems like it would do the job well. This is my first year not aerating, I can say that the recovery was much quicker.
Not necessery but to me it does help im never home so just did a renovation and yes used landzie. And wow day 14 after germination and its progressing nicely..
I understand the benefits and everyone should make the best choice for their situation. Even if you are not home often setting up some timers and sprinklers would get the job done also.
You just saved me money I was going back and forth whether I should get the spreader or not but this clears it up for me. I would like your opinion on something though I am located in the bottom of transition zone border of Texas and Oklahoma I would prefer to have a nice green lawn through the cool season cause thats when i enjoy outdoors so I bought turf type tall fescue I got from united seeds. Going to be testing it out on 1,000 sq ft section of my lawn. Do you think it will survive summer heat cause I barely do lol either way I got the seed and I'm going down with it so I'll find out lol.
Its gonna be tough. Water and probably fungicides are going to be your best friends. Without being able to water it consistently, its going to go dormant in the summer. It would possibly comeback in the fall when the rain and cooler temps return. Its good that you are doing a test with it. Let me know how it goes, the new elite cultivars are pretty tough.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes
Ok I will have an above ground irrigation system set up for that area to make sure I get plenty of water down. Thanks for the input.
@@MrSouthernTunez No problem! Thanks for watching the channel 🙏🏾!
I completely agree. I put down compost.
Thats an option also.
Was considering peat moss. You have changed my mind.
I just bought 5 quick snap sprinklers for when I overseed this fall. Will 3 times a day 10 minutes each time do the trick? And for how long? 3 weeks?
I can't tell you how long to run your sprinklers because that will vary depending on your weather conditions, rainfall, and how much water your sprinklers put out. You will have to figure that out yourself. Your goal is to keep the seed and soil moist not soaked for 2-3 weeks depending on how your growth and germination goes. Then you can start reducing the water. I will say that it is going to take multiple watering per day anywhere from 3-5 times per day depending on your conditions.
I tried the no pest moss way and didn’t have good results mainly because my grass is on a hill in Direct sunlight so the water tends to flow down the hill and water it’s not being retained where I need it so well , so I tried the peat moss method and it worked awesome !! but I didn’t need to use it in my backyard where the ground is flat I just use the scarifier and threw down some seed and I was good to go didn’t need any Pete moss there. Just thought I’d throw that up here .
Nice! There are definitely times when peat moss could have its advantages. Your scenario sounds like it would fit to stack the odds in your favor. Gotta evaluate what works best for your situation.
I am about 10 days into seeding a few spots on my lawn after a concrete job, and didnt use pete moss for any of it. the results have been very good. i completely agree that pete moss is 100% optional, and likely doesnt provide much more than a small benefit
That has been my experience also, completely optional! Thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
You could try doing a tool rental place for a peat moss spreader. Its nice, but agree its not needed for many other projects and will eat up too much space. Once I learned about tool rentals, it opened up a lot more options for projects I could get done in 1-2 days and the fee I see is more to get rid of it when its done.
Renting could be an option if they are available in your area. As I discussed in the video the whole peat moss step is extra labor and money without the ROI in my opinion. Its a nice to have but not necessary to grow grass.
Interesting… never really thought too deep about it I just would throw it down. Great video
You and a lot of other people also. I like to get ppl thinking about what we are really doing in the lawn.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes definitely!!! I don’t think I’ll use it in the future now. It’s also expensive stuff
@@TheLawngestYard Thats also one of my points. Times can be a little tighter for ppl financially these days, here is an option for something to possibly save some money in the lawn budget.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes totally! Great video man!
Pete from GCI did have better germination on the area without the Petemoss but he did also use seeding blankets over the entire area which may have been over kill for the area already covered with petemoss.🤷🏿♂️
The seeding blankets were put on a couple days later to protect the seed from thunderstorms and heavy rain that was forecasted. Gotta watch his previous videos to see the sequence of events. But I do agree it would have been overkill if it wasn't for the heavy thunderstorms.
What would you recommend I use to cover the seeds when overseeding bare spots so that birds can't get to the seed? I saw a video recommending using peat moss for that...
Is discussed in the video you do not need to cover the seed with anything. Work the seed into the soil and water it. Watch this video for that process: ua-cam.com/video/GTWOT2ExLKU/v-deo.html
Hey cam, do you think raking in seed and rolling is the ticket, or do you think slit seeding is necessary? I’m gonna try no peat this year
I definitely think raking in the seed is ticket! Rolling it is an added bonus. Making sure that you incorporate that seed into the top layer of soil. That is how I have had my best germination and establishment.
This is the one point that I wanted to make in this video but forgot to say it while I was recording!
Its possible to have green grass and rock hard ground if you don’t add soil addendums, but its just less efficient and YOUR effort becomes more pronounced. If you are plug aerating and seeing clay, you need to be doing soil addendums. I suggest aeration and top dressing. Eventually those plugs become rich dark soil that allows you to feel something different in your lawn. The ground becomes fluffy and soft. Learn how to make compost or find a bulk supplier because buying it by the bag is expensive and quality isn’t always the best. I don’t know how you’ll apply compost if you don’t have a roll spreader. I’ve seen people use rakes, shovels and wheelbarrows, but if you ask me a compost roll spreader is the way to go. If you don’t have room for one, but you find space to have a wheelbarrow, maybe you put your roll spreader in the wheelbarrow! It’ll fit in there nicely. I am NOT the type of person who says I can’t do something. I ALWAYS find a way. Thats why I have a nice lawn. And its worth it to me. I don’t much appreciate houses pre 1900 where dirt was everywhere. 15,000 sq ft of grass allows two people to breath every day. Grass gets a bad rap. I’ll take it every time over mud, erosion or what you see in arid parts of the country where people use gravel and stone to avoid mud or walking on bare dirt.
It seems that you are highly in support of compost topdressing and aeration which can be a good management practice but not always legal or allow in all states (compost applications). I also think that clay gets a bad reputation for being bad soil. Bare unmanaged clay is hard to work with but managed clay based soil with grass/vegetation can have higher water and nutrient holding capacity than most other soils. The peat moss/compost spreader is a great tool, but the thought process that you have to use peat moss or even compost every time you seed is just not true. That seem to be the narrative that is being told nowadays and newcomers to the lawn believe that is the only way to have success. Which again is not true. I love my grass and will always have it and support those who want to have it also.
The last week of April, I mix grass seeds, peat moss, and milorganite. Wait 2 days and use hose end sprayer with root ruckus. My lawn stays green year around. I use liquid soil loosener each in the at the beginning of April. First week of August I use liquid seaweed/Kelp with hose end sprayer. In November I use post emergents. (Mow lawn every 3 days at 3 inches (tall fescue) Apply Dirt Booster in January.
Sounds like you have a plan.
I used gypsum and had amazing results but I live in Virginia. About to do a nitrogen blitz for the fall
Nice 👍🏾!!! The fall is really the time to feed your cool season lawn. Pack its belly full with nutrients
Thanks for the info, as much as I liked the idea of a Lansky the price was making me hold off. Now I will hold off on the peat as well. lol Old dude from NW Canada that is still young enough to learn new tricks......
Its a great tool and if I really believed or use peat moss that is the tool to have. But I don't see the value in adding peat moss so its not a tool on my wishlist.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes My main use for peat moss where I live, has been to keep the birds from eating all of my seed. lol But only on bare ground seeding or renos. After watching your vid I will pass on peat when I power rake/scarify & re-seed my property in the spring. Appreciate the info.
@@KamfaKing I have never had any issues with birds eating enough seed that actually effected the coverage once it grew in. I know many people have said this but im wondering is this just perception or reality...I don't know 🤷🏾♂️. I have seen birds there on a bare ground seeding but it didn't have any impact at all. Also, I don't leave my seed just laying on top of the soil either. Its an interesting discussion. Thanks
@@ElevatedLawnscapes We have a bit of a bird sanctuary here, 3 bird baths and several feeders in the backyard. I did a reno project this summer to repair areas around a new concrete deck & walkway. Even with a light dusting of peat, the birds were constantly picking through it. Trust me, they eat the seeds, and disturb it enough that without the peat, and even when the seed is mixed with the soil, one will lose a certain percentage of seed before it has a chance to germinate. In hindsight I should have gone a little heavier with the seed, but with KBG the bares spots have already almost all filled in.
The spreaders can be rented for under $30, my local library even has a tool lending program that lend yard tools out for free. They are super handy for more than just peat moss. If your top dressing with soil or compost the spreader sifts out all the large pieces.
I'm sure the peat moss isn't necessary just as long as something is covering the seed. I've used bags of humus and it seems to work just as good.
Thats good that you have rental access to a spreader. Most areas do not have that even mine. What I have found is when the soil is prepared properly, the seed is worked into the soil slightly (dragging a rake across the soil), and watered properly the seed will grow and establish. Having a covering other than the soil the seed is planted in is not required, adding a covering is bonus. Thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
@@ElevatedLawnscapes Home depot rents a MTA brand one. It's $6 for 4 hours or $30 for a week rental.
Anytime I have raked in seed the birds dig it up.
@@TofuInc I haven't experienced with either one of the things you mentioned. Everyone has to make the best choice for their situation.
Welll...shoot! Getting ready to overseed and level out this weekend. I was planning on using peat moss/top soil mix as a leveling agent. Would you still NOT suggest using peat moss to level my lawn? Another great video
I definitely would not use Peat moss as a leveling material. The best thing for it to be used as is a seed covering. It is organic material, over time it will breakdown and you will lose your previous level.
👍🏻 Great info!
Thanks for watching!
Great information I have a side yard maybe 20 x 40 foot and was going to do the peat moss after seeding but the roller like $200 bucks that what do I do with it. Not sure why I can't just throw some straw on top.
Straw has a high potential of having weed seed in it that you then have to try to eliminate. Some of those weed seed could be of hard to control grassy weeds. In my experience you do not need a covering work the seed into the soil and you will be good.
I got washed out yesterday. I seeded 4 and 3 days ago. What should I do? Should I rake it all to evenly distribute everything and reseed at a much lower rate (like a 3rd)?
If you still see the seed on the soil but its now piled up. I would rake it and redistribute the seed working the seed into the soil. Then step on/roll it in like in my previous video. Wait to see what your germination looks like before reseeding.
If you don't see the seed on the ground, then yes you will need to reseed.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes Thank you! Raking it in now.
Question:
How do I keep the birds off of the seed?
As a minimalist I appreciate this advice! I'm starting a brand new lawn and I was hesitant about the peat moss just because Where the heck are we gonna store it afterwards? Lol. Love your beautiful smile as well 😊
Thanks 🙏🏾! I don't worry about the birds eating the seeds. I make sure to incorporate the seed into the soil slightly by dragging a rake across it if it is bare ground and that is it. Will the birds eat some...sure maybe, but will they eat enough to impact your coverage...no. Good luck on your renovation.
I really appreciate this one right here. Planning an overseed real soon and I’ve been debating on peat moss, or top dressing with compost or just going bare, last years was my first attempt at a full renovation and I mistakenly went the wheat straw route and ended up with quack grass all in my fescue.
Ewww...straw is a worse choice than peat moss for the reason that you experienced. Compost is not a bad option. At least it has some nutritional value. Just make sure it is in alignment with your soil test.
Great video, would you use the the spreader for top soil?
I've never used it for that, so I can't comment on how that would work.
The spreader can be rented.. HD has them. But i think it applies ur too thick. Spreading by hand is easy but it takes time. On slopes i add some slope master by pennington on top of the PM.
I've used PM for years and it's better than completely covering the seed with dirt.
Heavy rain/water is an issue
I'm glad to hear you like the results. The effort and the money to put down peat moss is not worth the minimal reward. Dial in your water and prep the soil properly and everything will be fine. At the end of the day, everyone has to make the best decision for them.
We just completed our reseeding this past weekend, rented a de thatcher and oh boy, I’m sore from raking. We live in CT and bought the seeds you recommended (mountain view) but wondering if it’s ideal for this region, considering that it’s much colder here?
You will be fine with it there. It may go winter dormant a little sooner than in my area but it will come back in the spring fine.
Thank you so much!
I’m hearing you out. But I have used Peat Moss on on a certain section of my lawn it came in very thick and green. The other section of my lawn I didn’t use peat moss. The grass came in very green but wasn’t as thick. But I’m knocking what your saying, since we just here hearing each other out. Bottom line if you want to use Peat Moss go for it, if not no problem there no right or wrong answer here. BTW our local HomeDepot (UpperMarlboro) rent out an Peat Moss spreader for 15.00 for 4hrs.
I appreciate that 🙏🏾😂
I hear and agree with you.
Hmmm my local HD has the tool for $13.00 for the entire day.
Peat moss is ridiculously helpful, I can't give an exact number but in the lawns I've done the peat moss area come in AT LEAST 2 TO 3 times as thick as the areas the customer didn't want it. It really is crazy how big of a difference it makes.
Cool season grass in Winsonsin. But I agree it could be a bit much for a homeowner to do, considering you really need a landzie to do it right.
What do you use if anything to cover the seed? I am about to seed with KBG my 6,500 sq ft back yard. I just got finished stripping it all down to bare dirt.
I used the straw blanket last year on my front lawn and I could not find all the metal stakes but my reel mower did and ruin the reel.
Nothing is my recommendation. Work that seed into the top layer of soil then get to watering.
Great video, but not gonna lie, I was very distracted by the crooked pillow on the chair 🤣🤣🤦🤦
I knew that would get at least one person when I looked back at the footage 😂😂😂. Thanks for watching as long as you could 😂
🤣
Peat moss has my lawn looking top notch but I didn't spread it out the bag I used it by putting it in a large container put seeds in and added water to moisten it, let it sit to seeds germinated then I spread it out on the ground and I had a full lawn of baby grass in less than 2 weeks. I didn't have to worry about my seed dying from drying out before germination because it was germinated before I even put it on the ground
The process you described here is different than using just peat moss. The biggest benefit/advantage with your process was pre-germinated seeds not peat moss.
Glad I found your channel. Really taking advantage of this space and asking lots of questions. Is there anyway I can contact you and speak to you. I’m in the middle of this whole process and want to make the right decisions. I’m doing a bare dirt renovation pushing 25-30k square feet between my front and backyard. I have triple threat plus seed, Protene starter fertilizer, and don’t know if I need anything else for an immaculate yard. Hit me up if you get a chance. Young black man in this space is awesome! Shout out Pete and Paul for their influence as well! Have a good one.
Shoot me an email at cameron@elevatedlawnscapes.com and we can arrange something.
A roll spreader is a good investment. Mine hangs high on the wall of my shed. Take the handle out. You can’t beat the results you get doing the top dressing. Mix seed with high quality bulk compost. The roll aerator is another great tool. Makes aeration something you do a few times a growing season. Not just once or twice. Another thing you can do is dethatch. This allows your spraying and granular apps to get down through the canopy to the soil. If you have the right tools you don’t have to water so much. I buy. I don’t rent. Its more convenient and you do it more often. Golf courses are aerating all the time. Dethatching. Overseeding. If you want good results you need a roll spreader, dethatcher and roll arrator. And I digress by owning these three things you will save money, especially if you know how to compost fast. I’m not talking about making compost in a year. I’m talking about weeks.
I do not disagree with the different management practices that you named. They all have their place in managing a nice lawn or golf course. You are mentioning compost topdressing which has nutritional value, where in this video I am discussing peat moss which has very little to no nutritional value other than OM. Two very different materials. I still stand by my position that peat moss can be skipped to save that money and get the same results. There are many factors that have to be considered when managing a nice lawn and there are many different ways to do it. What I have been hearing from a lot of people lately is how can they save money on their lawn budget...eliminating peat moss and that spreader is #1 on my the list. Thanks for your comment and watching the video!
I think you explained yourself well. I brought upanother thing altogether. Peat vs compost. I have a friend who puts his spray liquids and lawn tools in a basement room. You have a nice channel. Have you ever used ground up straw with TACK. Pete thinks straw has seed, but its a small percent. Using Tenacity with seeding gives you time to see good grass germination.
@paulscott6998 Thanks, like to have the discussion to understand different perspectives. Like I stated previously, I think there are many different ways to get to a nice lawn depending on your factors in play.
I have not used that straw product and I agree with Pete. If I am going to spend the money and effort to get 0% weed seed and 0% other crop seed free grass seed, which I 100% do. It would be counterproductive to add straw from a field that had very little weed control on it and introduce weed seeds. Tenacity only gives you about 14-21 days of coverage at best but you still have those weed seeds that can lie there for longer periods of time before germinating. Not using straw just eliminates another variable and source for trouble down the road.
Do you remember when Pete did a renovation on his property without straw? Torrential rains came and lost it all. Expensive seed and labor. That straw product has TACK. And it holds in moisture when watering. If I get a few weeds they don’t last very long around my house! I value the security the straw product gives. Its amazing how people stay off your renovation when you use this product. Not so much when its bare ground or scarified. If you don’t believe me, watch what your letter carriers do.
@paulscott6998 I did see that and I get it. If the rain is that heavy straw is not going to hold seed in place. There are other products out there with Tack that I would place over straw or i would use a mat like product if I was that concerned. My preference with a bare ground renovation is to work the seed into the soil and unless the soil actually moves the seed is not going to move. But its always a chance of a heavy thunderstorm that causes major seed movement. That's nature we can't control all the variables.
When I saw the the title of your video, I was like this dude is crazy lol. Now that I have watched your video, I am like this dude knows what he’s talking about lol.
Keep working…”work ain’t hard”
I love it man! Mission accomplished for me on this video then. Just striving to give people a different perspective and think about a few things. Thanks for watching and hearing me out 🙏🏾!
I agree with all your points and I don't find it necessary for most overseeding jobs but I have much better success using peat moss on thr bare spots vs not using peat moss
I understand, can be a good tool in the tool box. Everyone has to make the right decision for there situation.
I had done a couple of bare ground 4-6k renos before I even heard of peat moss. Soil prep and proper watering is key. Thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
@@ElevatedLawnscapes just found your channel and you produce great stuff. I think what I was missing was not properly pressing the seed into the soil. Overseeding this weekend so we'll see!
@@treygreenleaf7878 Nice💪🏾! Its go time to be dropping seed. Lawncare companies are in my neighborhood as we speak doing aeration and seeding.
Hi bro, I'm in the UK. I totally agree with your thought process. But I also disagree ie I use compost to cover the seed after renovation. I don't use compost as a replacement for watering. I use the landzie as its economic and its easy on my old back. But very interesting video and a good one. Thumbs up. All your principles are spot on. Great video. God bless.
Compost and peat moss are 2 different materials. I recommend using compost if you are going to use something to cover the seed. As long as your soil test supports using it. Thanks for your input and watching 🙏🏾.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes Hi there, I dont understand why peatmoss is so widely u sed in the US. I use any old compost in the UK only to cover the seeds after reno. The landzie that I use stops twigs etc from getting on to the lawn. I have always wondered about peat moss. We dont have that in the UK .
@@arjunsamuel I agree with you. Im in the US and I don't understand either...hence some of the reason for the video.
In the southeast with warm season grasses peat moss helps additionally to moisture retention because it is very low pH and most of the grass varieties prefer a soil pH around 6.5. I'm not too familiar with cool season grasses but I know most prefer a higher pH, wouldn't the extremely low pH of the peat also have a slight negative affect on cool season grass as it is not the correct pH it prefers?
No matter what grass you are growing peat moss helps hold moisture, thats what it does. But, peat moss is not required if you are watering properly for seed germination and establishment. Most grasses in general perform decent from 6-7 if you can daily it in to 6.5 even better. Centipede is the exception that tends to continue to perform well at even lower pH. My pH is actually a 6.2 and my cool season grass performs just fine. If you are applying peat moss properly you are not going to be applying enough material to adversely affect soil pH.
I agree with the peat moss being a waste if your watering is right. Yeah it's supposed to hold moisture better, which is the only real compelling point I've heard about it, and hide some of the seeds from birds.. But you can do that with soil as well. What the Doc was saying about seeding is that he basically does 3 layers, one that gets pushed down an inch, one that gets raked in afterwards to about 1/2an inch and then a 3rd layer sitting right on top barely covered with 1/8th of an inch gently raked into the soil. This to me is what makes the most logical sense combined with proper irrigation to keep the seed moist. 👍
Thats a lengthy process you described there. Im gonna stick with working into the soil. Its worked for me for years now.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes I don't blame you, he said put down seed, scarify it down deep, seed again rake it in heavy, then seed at the end with a gentle rake. It is quite the process but can be done fairly quickly. Not sure if it's worth doing over just seeding and rolling over it but it's an alternative way to quickly establish a new lawn.
You have an amazing lawn but I have to use peat moss to get results. The Landzie spreader fits nicely in my crawl space.
Do what works for you, there is more than one way to grow grass. I was about to use peat moss yesterday for seeding a job and I saw the price of it and said...NOPE 🤣.
Yeah, the price is insane but at least you can find it this year. Used straw last year and it just gave me weeds to deal with.
The proof is in the pudding i guess. I will try no peat moss. Thank`s ! Great info.
My experiences have shown me that its just not necessary. It has its place in some situations but you can definitely have success without it.
I rely on peat moss for moisture for both seeding and lawn watering. I'm on a high elevation, have almost 2 acres and on well pump. There's no way I can water my lawn as I would like without burning out my well pump. Peat moss retains the proper moisture necessary, and keeps my lawn sustained. It is also biodegradable. It can make a lawn a little acidic, so I use Scotts Green Max to fertilize. The iron in it balances it out
I can see where you are coming from with peat moss holding moisture, it does do that. Im not following how the Iron in the fertilizer helps balance your pH.
What are your thoughts on compost as a top dressing during overseeding?
I am ok with that if your soil test and compose analysis are aligned. Most compose is high in Phosphorus and if your soil is already high in Phosphorus that compose is not needed.
Another great video. Just wished I would have seen it before I dropped $200 on my landzie. 😮💨 What about the peat moss or compost covering the seed a quarter inch and being protection from birds eating the seed? Is that a myth?
@@SheppyZed @Koven Carlson tested bird eating seed by trying to feed it to them in a feeder and they wouldn't touch it, I think most folks mistake the seed as the attractant when really freshly disturbed ground with moisture is the draw since it hosts worms and insects and possibly grubs were stirred up, that's why birds look like they are eating seed when in fact they are foraging on loose ground going after other things.
@@SheppyZed I agree with W.C. comments below. I haven't seen birds or even squirrels have any impact on the amount of germination coverage without putting any covering over the seed.
How about on a sloped area to prevent water run off? My water runs down, I have very hard soil under my topsoil, and this causes the bottom of the hill to be over watered and soupy. But the 'top' of the hill stays dry.
Peat moss doesn't really help break moving water because it is so light and loose on top of the surface. I suggest looking for some type of erosion control matting or a product with a tackifier in it that will hold to the ground protecting your seed.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes Thanks!
Good morning ☀️, are you located in a cool season grass zone or warm season,? Just seeded with tttf from gci, it's sprout 🌱 ing, I used peat moss, it's coming in fairly well, you brought up a good point
I'm in the transition zone Maryland.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes nice 👍, I'm going to subscribe since you do cool season grass, thanks 🙏
@@danalmeida5380 Thanks for subscribing 🙏🏾!
After over seeding…do you pass a roller to help with the seed/soil contact?
I do not. If you have one go for it but its not necessary.
Awesome! Thanks for clarifying brother! I’m nervous because it’s the third time trying to fill an area…but this time I’m putting down an in ground sprinkler system.
@@engrxtn Some areas can be challenging. What i have found with trouble areas is that its related to water, amount of light, or something in the soil preventing sufficient root growth for the grass to survive.
I just did a Reno and raked in the seed and used slopemaster on really bare spots that I thought would get washed. No peat moss. Yard is coming up great. Peat moss is certainly not needed.
Nice. I have heard good things about the slopemaster product but I haven't used it yet.
For our clay soils in Northern MN definitely using peat moss.
Do what works for you but its definitely not a must have. Thats the main point.
Hello, Where did you get your phosphite from?
lawnpropesticides.com/product/ele-max-phospite-max-0-0-30/
Do you have the link to that GCI Turf peat moss video?
I do not. He released that video a couple days before I released this video. I would look around the same timeframe on his channel.
Valid points but I think I'm gonna still use it as I don't have irrigation and even watering up to 4 times a day during my fall overseed I still had lots of seeds drying so I'm not taking any chances. Considering the price for premium seed, I want maximum success rate obviously. I will use the garden weasel for seed to soil contact and then put a light layer of peat moss on top for the sake of of it's moisture keeping properties.
I hear ya and its your choice to make. I think you have been following me long enough to know what I'm gonna say 🤣.
You don't have to have a irrigation system to water your lawn. Polo and I both have made videos to show how to make diy systems from store bought items or professional items. I do not buy into the "i do not have irrigation statement"...I'm just being 💯. Im setting up an above ground system to water a 20k sq ft area. Its matter of if you want to/can afford to water. If cost is the issue that...I COMPLETELY understand, thats different.
If your seeds are drying out your watering is not dialed in and needs some work. Once you dial that in on the timers, sit back a have a cold beverage and watch the grass grow till your first mow. Because that's all you are gonna have to do in the lawn for a couple weeks.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes I definitely plan to get the watering dialed in, drinking a cold one, and watching that grass grow.
@@I3arbarian My man!
@@ElevatedLawnscapes Thanks for all the knowledge.
@@I3arbarian No problem. Thanks for supporting!
Another great advantage peat moss has is the organic nutrients it gives to the lawn and to the microorganisms in the soil.
It also deters the birds from eating the seed.
Give me peat moss any day. Its dead cheap also.
The roller is the only disadvantage as it is expensive but you can hire it I believe…
If it works for you go for it. Peat moss gives organic matter to the soil but not necessarily nutrients. Yes, birds may eat some seed but in my experience its a non-factor at the end of the grow-in especially if its an overseed. I have heard peat moss ranging from $10-15 per bag that adds up if you have the average 5-7k sq ft lawn. Times are a little tighter now days for some ppl and peat moss is one item that could be cut from the lawn budget and still have success. Its not a requirement. Thanks for sharing your experience 🙏🏾
I cannot stand spending money on peat moss especially since it’s 25 dollars for a block of it now. I remember when it was 10 dollars!
Exactly! Many people are looking for ways to save money. In my opinion, thats the first one that should be on the chopping block. Thanks for watching.
Have not watched all the way through but 100%. The stuff has gotten tooooo expensive even with your own labor not being accounted for.
Also agree on watering as solution instead - today even if your don’t have a in ground irrigation and fancy controller unit - you can buy and setup better sprinklers cheaper now with fancier water timers. 60 bucks buys a qlty 4 zone with fully programable 4 cycles per zone - even can add soil water sensor if you want.
You are speaking my language Patrick!!! Those are all the points 💪🏾
Excellent video. However, I swear by peat moss for smaller areas. In my experience as a homeowner (not a professional lawncare service), it is an exceptional catalyst for seed germination, notwithstanding your and Pete's assertions to the contrary. In my "unscientific" observations, seed frequently germinates several days sooner when peat moss is applied compared to areas without it. And I am blessed to own an irrigation system. Due to the issues you raise, I would not consider it for large projects.
In my opinion, the perception that seed germinates faster with peat moss is because it helps to hold consistent moisture. Therefore, it compensates for improper watering during the germination period.
I might agree with you if I watered “improperly”. But I don’t. And since consistent moisture is a critical component to seed germination my experience is more than just a “perception “.
@@dalewiley9208 Well, if you have a method that works use it! At the end of the we have to make the decisions that are best for our personal lawns and no 2 lawns or irrigation systems are the same.