If you're on a job that requires working underground, removing vegetation or disturbing the soil increases the chances of soil erosion. There are several steps to follow to establish proper vegetative cover if you’re reseeding the disturbed area. 

You should take care of initial seeding, mulching and watering, and the homeowner should be responsible for future seeding and watering. If you need to establish a new vegetative cover over disturbed areas, work directly with the client or landowner to ensure they understand the importance of good vegetative cover. 

Follow these basic steps to guarantee proper vegetative cover for new installations: 

Step 1. Rough grade the area you’ve finished working in, and ensure water will drain from the area instead of pooling at the site. If possible, finish grading with good topsoil. 

Step 2. Apply the proper amount and type of fertilizer (a soil test is recommended so you know how much and what type to apply). If you haven’t done a soil test, a general rule of thumb is a 20-27-5 fertilizer applied at a rate of 5 pounds per 1,000 square feet. 

Step 3. Till fertilizer into the top inch of soil and do a final grading with a rake. You can do a light rolling of the soil, which will show low spots or irregularities in the area. The soil should be firm enough to prevent ruts made by seeding equipment but loose enough that seed can be raked easily into the top quarter inch of soil. 

Step 4. Apply seed. The time of year may dictate the type of seed you want to put down. Cool season grasses such as tall fescue, perennial ryegrass or Kentucky bluegrass will do best when seeded in late August through early October. If you are completing a project and using cool season grass seed and need to get seeding done before those dates, be sure to tell the homeowner that care and watering will need to be done to help ensure a good grass stand. 

A warm season grass is generally established in late spring or early summer. Check with the homeowner or a local lawn care professional for types of warm season grasses. 

Follow the seeding rate as listed on the seed bag, but here’s a general rule of thumb for spring and fall planting:

Step 5. Rake or drag to cover seed lightly. If the soil grading was done properly, the soil bed should work well and allow the seed to be lightly covered. 

Step 6. Mulch with straw. Light straw mulch should sufficiently reduce any potential soil erosion until the grass gets established. One bale of straw should cover approximately 1,000 square feet. This will shade the ground and prevent rapid drying of the soil surface. 

Step 7. Water the seed. Moisten the seedbed — do not saturate — to a depth of 1 to 2 inches. For continued ground cover growth, ensure the homeowner waters the area up to four times a day with light applications of 1/8 to 1/4 inch of water. This should continue until they see 2-inch-tall seedlings. 

These basic steps in addition to recognizing the issues created with warm temperatures and rainfall events will ensure successful vegetative cover. 

There are also several habits you should avoid. Don’t plant trees within 20 feet of septic tanks or lateral lines.

Trees can produce roots four times the width of the tree canopy so maintaining a proper distance from trees will prevent damage to septic tanks and lateral lines. If there is a lagoon instead of lateral lines, trees should be a minimum of 30 feet from the lagoon. This allows for proper lagoon function, and it keeps most tree debris from entering the lagoon. 

What tips or tricks do you have for establishing proper vegetative cover? Post a comment below.