Grass grows everywhere, you could say. But lawn grasses also need special soil to thrive. In addition, the lawn not only has to grow, but also has to anchor itself firmly in the ground so that it is resilient. Whether potting soil is suitable for this is questionable at first.
Is potting soil suitable for lawns?
Potting soil is less suitable for lawns. If you sow new lawn, the blades of grass will root together more quickly and will be easier to pull out. Due to its loose structure, the soil cannot cope with the stress placed on the lawn. If the lawn grows on potting soil, it can be damaged much more quickly.
The suitable soil for sowing lawns
The soil in which lawn is sown should contain compost and humus as well as clay and sand. Depending on the soil conditions, the soil may need to be prepared.
Components of lawn soil
Experts recommend the following soil mixture for optimal grass growth:
- about a 50% compost content
- a humus content of 30 to 40%
- a 10 to 20% proportion of sand
- Fertilizer
The pH value of the soil is ideally between 5.5 and 6.5. In such a loose soil mixture, the seeds can sprout well and the young grasses can develop well. However, such soil is rarely found in the garden. Therefore, it needs to be prepared with the required ingredients. If you have a completely new system, you can also buy pre-packaged lawn soil (€11.00 at Amazon) from a specialist store.
A loamy soil requires a generous amount of compost and some sand. If the soil is too sandy, it can also be improved with compost. Incorporating rock dust also serves to improve the soil.
The suitability of potting soil
This soil is specially formulated for potted or container plants. It contains up to 90% peat, lots of humus and various fibers. It also contains lime and sufficient fertilizer for the first few weeks. This is usually the so-called NPK fertilizer, which consists of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P) and potassium (K).
Potted plants feel at home here, they can root well and have enough food and water. Lawn seeds will certainly grow well in this soil and grow satisfactorily. However, since potting soil has a loose structure and ideally does not collapse and compact, it is unlikely to withstand the stress on the lawn. Lawn that grows on potting soil may still be walkable, but play will certainly damage the lawn damage.
Poting soil can of course be used for minor repair work on the existing lawn.
