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Seeding along new driveways | Step by step grass seeding
Seeding along a new driveway
How to finish the paving job right!
Now that your new driveway has been installed, it’s time to finish off the rough edges. Work begins with removing all the excess stone and concrete in order to provide a good seedbed for newly planted grass seed.
Next step… rough grade the existing soil to match the new grade.
The final grade needs to be smooth enough for lawn mowing so there aren’t any any humps or ridges that will result in scalped areas when mowed. The final step is adding screened topsoil to create the finished grade. Once this soil is graded, it’s time for grass seed, fertilizer and topdressing. Photos below show all these steps in order.
1. Remove the debris
Wait to begin seeding work until the new concrete has had time to cure and the forms have been removed.
Remove excess concrete and construction debris from the driveway edges, being careful not to undermine the concrete slabs.
Pile the excess concrete, rocks, and roots in a disposal pile for later removal from the work site.
2. Rough grade the existing soil
Check the existing grade along the new driveway to see what adjustments might need to be made
Use imaginary grade lines (yellow lines in the photo) to guide your soil grading work. Cut off the high spots enough to leave room for screened topsoil as your finish layer.
Dump larger clumps of cut soil in areas requiring the most fill, leaving space on top for a screened topsoil finish coat. Walk-in or tamp this soil to compact it.
3. Finish grade driveway edges
Calculate how much screened topsoil you will need for your finished grade. Lightly tamp or walk over the new topsoil as it is added to compact it. Be careful not to compact wet soil too much.
Use the back of your steel rake to grade shredded topsoil even with the top of the concrete. The finished grade shouldn’t have any humps and ridges that will cause a lawnmower to scalp the grass.
Apply your grass seed mix and starter fertilizer to the finished grade. Starter fertilizers are high in phosphorus.
Topdress your newly seeded areas with mushroom manure or another suitable topdressing like clean straw.
Experience has shown that leaving mushroom compost topdressing part way onto the concrete can help discourage washouts along the edge when it rains.
Keep your new grass seed moist with daily watering. Spot-seed any bare or thin areas in 3 to 4 weeks. Mow the grass when it needs cut.
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