Demanding lawn grasses want good turf soil as a base layer for dense, vital growth. This premise applies whether you are installing or repairing a lawn. It is a point of honor for the ambitious hobby gardener to mix the lawn soil himself. This guide has tips for the ideal composition.
How do I mix lawn soil myself?
To mix lawn soil yourself, combine 40-50% loamy garden soil, 30-35% compost soil and 15-20% quartz sand. Ideally, the ingredients are available in your own garden or can be purchased. Then sieve the mixture for a finer consistency.
Recipe suggestion for good lawn soil
Conventional garden soil does not meet the requirements of lawn seeds so that they can germinate quickly and root strongly. Similar to the recipe for a gourmet dish, the perfect lawn soil requires a balanced combination of different ingredients. The following composition has proven itself well in practice:
- 40-50% clay-containing garden soil
- 30-35% compost soil
- 15-20% quartz sand
Ideally, all the ingredients are available in your own garden. Alternatively, you can purchase the components at hardware stores and garden centers. Gardeners who make their own compost and ensure he althy garden soil with vital soil life have an advantage.
First sift - then distribute
Lawn seeds are picky when it comes to the consistency of their base layer. If the lawn soil you make yourself is too coarse, many seeds will refuse to germinate or will root very weakly. The result is a patchy patchwork carpet instead of a velvety green lawn. You can prevent this nuisance by sieving ready-mixed lawn soil.
You need a soil sieve (€32.00 on Amazon) with a mesh size of 6 mm, a shovel and two buckets. Gradually shovel the mixed lawn soil into the soil sieve. Take the sieve between both hands and shake it over one of the two buckets. Whatever doesn't fall through the mesh and can't be crushed with your fingers, throw it into the second bucket.
It is undoubtedly a laborious task to sieve lawn soil before spreading it on the subsoil. The reward for your efforts is an even, dense lawn because the seeds have ideal conditions for germination and rooting.
Tip
When purchasing ready-made lawn soil, environmentally conscious hobby gardeners ignore products containing peat because they can no longer tolerate the overexploitation of irretrievable moorlands. Renewable raw materials, such as coconut soil, have long since proven to be an ideal substitute for peat. Take a look at the composition and please give preference to peat-free lawn soil, such as Neudohum from Neudorff.
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