Grass Seed: Why Choose Our New Product?
Creating a lawn that looks lush and vibrant can feel like a challenge, especially when deciding on the best way to achieve it. Grass seed is an affordable and versatile option, ideal for both establishing new lawns and improving the health and appearance of existing ones.
This is why Online Turf are excited to introduce our new product, Rye Gold Lawn Seed. Using the same premium blend of perennial ryegrass and red fescue found in our best-selling Rye Gold Turf, it is designed to deliver professional results, handle heavy foot traffic, thrive in shaded areas, and maintain its vibrant green colour all year round.
Why Choose Rye Gold Lawn Seed?
Our Rye Gold Lawn Seed allows you to achieve the same exceptional results as when purchasing rolls of our best-selling Rye Gold Turf. We have grown and sold this high-quality turf for over 20 years, with its carefully selected seed mix perfect for the UK climate.
At the heart of our Rye Gold Lawn Seed is a carefully balanced mix of perennial ryegrass and two varieties of red fescue. Ryegrass maintains its vibrant green colour year-round and thrives even during the colder, wetter months. It can germinate at temperatures as low as 7°C, giving you peace of mind that your lawn will grow, even in the unpredictable British weather.
Ryegrass is also one of the most adaptable and durable grass types. It’s perfect for gardens with heavy foot traffic or for family gardens with children and pets, ensuring you have a lawn that stays in excellent condition with minimal maintenance. Check out our 'Why Ryegrass is Great for Your Garden' for more information on the benefits of ryegrass for your lawn.
The two varieties of red fescue that we add to our blend are perennial grasses known for their fine texture, resilience, and ability to form dense turf. They also allow our Rye Gold turf to thrive even in more shaded areas, which is our advantage over other seed blends.
Mixing the fescues with the ryegrass creates an even more hardwearing lawn with a richer, deeper green colour, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. After all, who doesn’t want a stunning lawn that rivals those of professionally landscaped gardens?
Grass Seed Uses
There are two main ways in which our new product can be used: starting a new lawn from scratch and overseeding.
Starting a brand-new lawn is typically done when there is no existing turf, or when the current lawn is removed to start anew. This may involve digging up the turf manually using a flat shovel or turf cutter and is usually done if the lawn is in poor condition due to neglect or past diseases.
For this method to be successful, it is essential to remove any weeds or debris and ensure the grass seed makes good contact with the soil. After clearing, you should loosen and level the soil with a rake to make sure you have an even lawn surface ready for seed to be sown. New grass seed should be sown at a rate of 35 grams per square metre.
Overseeding, on the other hand, involves sowing grass seed onto an existing lawn without disturbing the turf or soil and is usually sown at a rate of 25gms per square metre. This method helps restore the lawn’s density, improving its overall health, appearance and resilience without the need to completely replace the turf. It is particularly beneficial for lawns showing signs of decline like thinning grass or bare patches.
Overseeding introduces new grass varieties that improve strength and make the lawn more resilient to wear, disease, and environmental stress. For the best results, start by scarifying the lawn to ensure the seeds make proper contact with the soil and give the new grass the best possible start.
It is also an effective solution for lawns affected by moss or weeds. Scarifying helps remove these unwanted plants, while overseeding fills in any gaps, creating a dense lawn that naturally suppresses them.
Many people also use this method as a preventative measure and recognise it as an essential part of their annual lawn maintenance as it allows them to prevent the issues listed above from arising, ensuring that the turf stays beautiful all year round, benefitting from more colour and improved resistance to wear, shade, and drought.
To learn more about the differences between growing a brand-new lawn and overseeding, read our 'How to Use Grass Seed' blog.
How Long Do Grass Seed Take to Grow ?
The amount of time it takes for grass seed to grow depends on the type of seed used, your local climate, ground quality, and watering schedule. For optimal results, make sure that you sow your grass seed between March and May, or from September to mid-October, ensuring moist soil conditions.
The ryegrass included in our seed mix is known as one of the most competitive and fast-growing species. If the temperatures are warmer, customers using our mix can, on average, expect to see their seed germinate in as little as 1-2 weeks, with another 6-8 weeks before the grass is fully established.
However, if you choose to sow your grass during a colder time of year, this timeline may extend to 2-3 weeks before the seeds germinate, followed by a slowed-down period of growth. Frosty temperatures may also prevent the seeds from germinating altogether, until the temperature rises again.
Grass Seed VS Turf
But what are some benefits and disadvantages that grass seed have over turf?
Benefits of using grass seed
- Affordability: Grass seed is much more affordable than turf. For instance, our 1.275 kg bag of seed, priced from £14.99, covers up to 60 square metres, while a 20 kg bag priced from £149.99 covers up to 800 square metres. For price comparison, visit our products page and select the type of turf you would like to purchase for an instant quote.
- Convenient Storage: Grass seed can be bought ahead of time and stored until the weather is suitable for sowing. In contrast, turf must be laid within 24 hours of delivery, as it will begin to deteriorate if not used quickly.
- Easier to Transport: Grass seed is lightweight and easy to transport, often resulting in lower delivery fees when compared to turf. It can also be collected directly, avoiding delivery fees altogether. Grass seed can also be a particularly beneficial option for areas where turf delivery is not feasible.
- Faster to Apply: Depending on the condition of your garden, spreading grass seed is quicker than laying turf.
Drawbacks of using grass seed
- Longer Wait Time: Unlike turf, which provides immediate results, grass seed takes longer to establish. In ideal conditions, it generally takes around 7-10 weeks for grass seed to fully germinate and grow, possibly even extending up to 6 months if sowing in cold, winter conditions.
- Pest Issues: Birds and other pests may eat the seeds before they have a chance to sprout. For tips on preventing this, check out our 'Sowing Grass Seed' guide.
- Risk of Poor or Failed Germination: If the ground isn’t properly prepared or if the grass seed is stored incorrectly-such as in high heat or humidity-there’s a risk the seeds won’t germinate at all. The seeds may also be ‘washed out’ during heavy rain.
Grass seed can be a fantastic alternative to turf rolls for many people. It’s versatile, allowing you to start a new lawn from scratch or overseed an existing one, and a great option if you don’t need an instant lawn or if you're in a location where turf delivery isn’t feasible
Our new Rye Gold Lawn Seed is the perfect product for a durable, lush looking lawn with no hassle- it comes in our easy to use 1.275kg box and covers up to 60 square meters - perfect for smaller lawns or overseeding. Our handy box contains information on optimal seeding times and has a QR code linking you to our ‘Sowing Grass Seed Guide’ so provides plenty of information on how to use the product. It also has a useful built-in applicator to make your seeding process as easy as possible.
Have any questions about our new product? Feel free to get in touch with us today.
