DONT Waste Your Money on Peat Moss For Renovations and Seeding
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 14 ต.ค. 2024
- 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!
Just Know...We Workin'!!!
Elevated Lawnscapes Merch Available:
elevated-lawns...
Elevated Lawnscapes Partners and Affiliates:
GCI Turf Grass Seed with Mountain View Seed Cultivars
gciturfacademy...
Big League Lawns Roller 10% Discount Code: ELEVATEDLAWNSCAPES23
www.bigleaguel...
Simple Lawn Solution 5% Discount Code: ELEVATED5
simplelawnsolu...
*Please note that these links are affiliate links and at no additional cost to you. I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Please understand that I have experience all of these products and companies listed. I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links. Please only purchase the listed products if they fit your lawn and soil needs to get you to your desired immaculate lawn or garden.
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.
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.
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 🙏🏾!
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.
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
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.
Thanks. I'm so glad I saw this. I was about to put down Peat Moss after power thatching and slice seeding. I hope the slice seeding I did will be enough (slice seeding is a lot of work) and that I can save a bunch of money on the Peat Moss. Now I need to return all the Peat Moss I purchased to put down today. I have my sprinklers set to run 3x a day (every 8 hours - 5am, 1pm, and 8pm) at 10 mins per zone.
Watch your soil moisture you may need to close that time period between watering. Every 8 hours is a long time for the seed and soil to dry out. Something to watch. Good luck.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes Watching it now, I believe I will need to set up the watering every 6 hours.
You need the moss man, no question.
Do what works for you but peat moss is unnecessary.
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 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.
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’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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Really nice coverage for newbies, That help lot to us, I have one question I live in Illinois, It is good to do a overseeing in early fall or no please let me know.
Early fall is a good time to do overseeding. It needs about 45-60 days prior to your first frost for growth and development before the winter.
@@ElevatedLawnscapes Thanks for the reply, I Appreciated, Let me try this year in August end and September 1st week.
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.
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 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 🙏🏾.
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!
Facts!! Seed to soil is all you need!
Completely agree with you on that plus water.
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.
@ElevatedLawnscapes What do you recommend I do for overseeding? My concern is animals and birds eating the seed that I am about to put down. I thought covering with peat moss would help, but I have 7500 sqft of space that I am trying to overseed. How do you make sure that you have good germination? Can you also share how much water is needed to moisten the seed for germination?
Watch my overseeding videos from last year and the previous years. It will provide my recommendations. Birds are not an issue to affect your seed coverage especially if you are just overseeding.
Thanks. I'm about to start a renovation of my lawn. Great information 👍
Glad it was helpful!
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.
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 👍🏾.
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.
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!
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 🙏🏾!
Great advice.
Thank you brother.
No worries!
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.
I've got 10+ year established St Augustine grass(I'm in Florida) and I irrigate regularly but with as hot as it is in the summer and with the soil being so sandy my soil has become hydrophobic. I recently put out a wetting agent but too early to tell if it's done anything beneficial. Doesn't seem to matter how often I run irrigation it seems it needs more. Do you think a mixture of compost and peat spread thinly over the lawn would be beneficial or not worth the time?
I do not think it will be worth the time or money. It will take larger quantities of bulk materials to make a noticeable change in your soil performance.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Excellent points Cam and can't disagree with any of them. 👍💚🦸
Thanks man 🙏🏾! Just striving to provide a different perspective on things and get the community thinking.
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
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.
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 🙏🏾!
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!
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 🤣
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!
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.
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.
Thanks for saving me time and aggravation.
No problem 👍🏾
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.
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!!
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.
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.
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 🙏🏾
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 😂
🤣
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.
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 🙏🏾!
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 🙏🏾!
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.
Love the channel man, thanks for the video!
Thank you and thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
Excellent points discussed in this vlog. Thanks again.
Thank man and preciate you watching 🙏🏾!
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.
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.
This video just saved me some money 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿
Nothing wrong with saving some money right? Thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
I used peat moss and it helps hold my seed in place, my yard has a bit of a slope
That is possible but you should not have to bare ground seed very often and at that time incorporating the seed into the soil will serve the same purpose. When overseeding it's also not necessary for peat moss because you already have the canopy of the existing lawn serving the same purpose. I'm not here to convince people one way is better than the other, but in my opinion and experience peat moss is oversold for the benefits it provides.
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.
You just drop that knowledge for real!
Thanks for watching 🙏🏾! Hope it gives you something to consider.
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.
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.
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
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!
Another point is Peat Moss in general is not harvested sustainably. There are only so many places (mainly Canada) where Peat Moss can grow and this causes a major issue in such ecosystems. If you must use a top dressing, use a good screened soil or compost.
I didn't know that about peat moss. Thanks for the info.
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.
Is there anything that can breakdown peat moss? A few years ago, I put down quite a bit peat moss when I overseeded. I had NO IDEA that it could do more harm than good!! It definitely has created LOTS of thatch. I dethatch every fall before I overseed with Scott’s “Thick R Lawn”. Should it be done in the spring too?? I have definitely caused myself a lot more work just to have a nice front yard, ugh!! At my age, I don’t have the energy to dig up & start over.
Any recommendations would be appreciated.
Thank you
The golf courses use heavy core aeration and backfill with sand to remove organic matter. But that is a lot of work also given your situation. Other than that, a full renovation to incorporate the peat moss into your soil instead of having it as a layer. As you can tell from this video, I am not pro peat moss as it can be problematic.
Thank you for the quick response. I just today found your channel and subscribed. Wish I knew about your channel 4 years ago!! Now to work on my “barely existing grass” in the backyard. Recommend Seed for dappled shade??
Thank you
We Workin Outchea 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Yessir...We Workin 💪🏾🌱
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.
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.
Great video, yard looks great 💯💯👍. Thanks for the tips
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it 🙏🏾!
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 🙏🏾!
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.
Hello, Where did you get your phosphite from?
lawnpropesticides.com/product/ele-max-phospite-max-0-0-30/
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.
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.
Great Information 👌🏾
Thanks 🙏🏾
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 👍🏾
You do have a great looking lawn. So maybe your right about Pete moss.
Just giving everyone a different perspective. Thanks for watching 🙏🏾!
What part of Maryland are you from. I’m also located out of Maryland
Yeah...I'm in Maryland.
Awesome video, Awesome content, We Workin 💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾
Preciate that fam! We Workin 💪🏾🌱!!!
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.
Farmers till the ground and dont use peat moss on top. If you renovate, i think people should till the ground and not just use a dethatcher. Tilling the ground will automatically aerate the soil very deep down, and the grass roots can go deep.
I've renovated and tilled the soil before. In my opinion, that was one of the worst decisions I have made in my lawn journey. It is unnecessary for a home lawn situation and causes a significant amount of additional work to level and settle the soil again. I think a light harley rake or aerovator to break up the top 3" or would create a nice seed bed. That typically what they do on sod farms. I do not recommend a deep till of the soil in most cases.
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!
I completely agree. I put down compost.
Thats an option also.
I’ve renovated about 12k of lawn over the last 3 years and not used peet. Well. I have in small areas with wash out. But it’s too expensive in my opinion
I agree with you 💯
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.
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: th-cam.com/video/GTWOT2ExLKU/w-d-xo.html
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!
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 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.
Oh I’m using this Lanzie. At least for a a few years lol.
🤣 gotta get your money worth out of it now.
So someone suggested using detached material instead of peat moss. I haven't seen that nowhere but just recently. Have you seen any results of this?
That doesn't quite make sense to me. Why would I put the material that I just intentionally removed back onto the lawn. If you are doing an overseed you already have an existing canopy of grass that serves the same purpose.
@ElevatedLawnscapes 👍🏽👍🏽 Saw it a couple days ago watching this guy. @ GregPhillips.22 🤷🏾♂️👌🏽
Good one Cam! Talking straight and to the point...😁
Thanks man 🙏🏾!