Summer Annuals 2014 & Patching Grass Successfully

by Rita C. - Panoply

Summer annuals were planted in mid-May, with a nice, clean edge on the beds. With steel edging having been installed last fall, there was grass patching needing attention. What do you do when manual edging delineates your lawn edges? I "seed mulched" it from early spring into mid-May, and the results are pleasing! More in blog post below.

summer annuals 2014 patching grass successfully, flowers, gardening

Summer annuals 2014: purple wandering jew, diamond frost, white vinca, red geraniums, purple angelonia. Note grass patching (approx 8") along steel edging at mulch bed.

Repeat summer annuals on opposite side of front porch. Notw grass patching along steel edging of flower beds.

Outside the front gates: geraniums, angelonia, white vinca, verbena

"Voodoo star" verbena - a new addition to the 2014 annuals

Detail of seed mulching. Grass success from fall to winter was patchy, at best. In early April, I began the seed mulching

Opposite side of porch. Detail shows how the steel edging was placed at point where arc of brick porch met the walkway. The goal was to grow grass where the porch and walkway had been delineated with manual edging.

Within two weeks, I was seeing success of the early April seed mulching of grass seed. Another application of seed was put on this, and the result is what you see in the photo with new summer annuals, above.

Moving on, I continued my seed mulching project along the 100' stretch along the outside of our fence, where continuous weed-whacking had turned grass to dirt.

Enjoyed the project?

You can do it! Saved to your projects

Frequently asked questions

Have a question about this project?

Ask a Question

Comments

Join the conversation

4 comments

Douglas Hunt on Jun 10, 2014
I want steel edging!

1 Reply
- Rita C. - Panoply on Jun 10, 2014
  @Douglas Hunt it's so worth it! My husband loves it, too. He mows our grass, and even needing to spend a little more time trimming against it, he's very happy. Such a clean appearance it gives. Thanks!
  
  Like
Polly Zieper on Jun 22, 2014
please explain'seed mulchin g'- you just spred lots of seed? any fertilizer?

Like Reply
- Rita C. - Panoply on Jun 22, 2014
  @Polly Zieper , my blog link on this post goes into more detail but yes, I spread lots of seed with mostly hand-tilling the areas, and working it into the soil existing. I continued watering regularly. Success, I think, was based on timing (I started in early April), a proven fescue seed (per my garden center's recommendation), and decent soil (although soil can be amended, mine was pretty good to start with).
  
  Like