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September 1, 2015

Affordable Ways to Plant Grass Seed In Fall!

Tutorial Tuesday (1)

Hello again, savvy savers! I’m not sure about you, but I’m ready for milder weather to start ushering in the change of seasons in my neck of the woods! Though we are in Summer, there are still gardening chores which need our attention at present, including planting various types of grass seed in that will be used this Fall.

So, why plant grass see in Fall? A lush green yard is the envy of every neighborhood, but it can be a challenge to obtain. There is much more to green grass than simply sun and water! A beautiful green yard is often the result of using the correct fertilizer, aeration techniques, type of grass seed used, and most importantly, when the seed is planted. 

Here’s why: The time in which the grass seed was planted is the most important factor in determining proper seed germination. A lush green yard is the envy of every neighborhood, but it can be a challenge to obtain. There is much more to green grass than simply sun and water! A beautiful green yard is often the result of using the correct fertilizer, aeration technique and type of grass seed. The time in which the grass seed was planted is also an important factor. To complicate matters further, the type of grass seed planted and when to plant it varies from state to state, but a general rule of thumbs is that Fine Fescue Grass, Rye Grass, and Kentucky Blue Grass should always be planted in winter. 

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when planting Winter grasses:

  • First, look for any storms that may be coming up. You’ll be more successful if you sow the seeds just prior to a rain shower, but not a down pour, to avoid washing your seeds down the drain.
  • Secondly, do not plant during an extreme cold snap; temperatures of 40 degrees or over during the day are ideal.
  • After you plant your grass seeds, you should see new sprouts no later than two weeks afterwards.
  • If it has been two weeks and there are no grass sprouts or very few then reseed and make sure you water thoroughly.
  • The soil you plant your seeds in should remain moist during germination; moist, not saturated.
  • Do not walk on grass seeds once planted. Grass seed germinates and grows best in dirt that is loose and not compacted. 
  • Compost. Be sure to add compost over seeds when planting. 

Beyond these tips, my greatest piece of advice I can give to those planting grass seed in winter? A natural, organic ground cover! For me, I like to create a re-usable seed blanket for my lawn using Autumnal Display Hay Bales, as so many people use bales as part of their Fall Garden Displays, which were torn apart, and thrown over top of scattered grass seed.

Here how I did it:

  1. Clear your area. I used a blower and mulched under all debris left from the Winter.
  2. Rake your area. Rake, till, or shovel your area until the top soil is loose and easily moved.
  3. Purchase seeds for your yard; find the appropriate type of seeds based on the amount of sun, wind, rain, and what forms of recreation will occur on your seed.
  4. Spread your seed! Lightly and evenly is key here!
  5. Cover your seeds with hay!
  6. Water your seeds daily. In my case, I layered seed today as it was going to rain. Be diligent and water daily, by hand, and do not use a sprinkler.
  7. Lay the Hay! That’s right, shake it up, shake it loose, shake it down to the ground! I danced my way to a covered first tier.
  8. Do not walk on the seeds. Like tile work, work your way from corner to corner, and work your way backwards, and away from your projects!
  9. Allow your seed to grow. Your lawn will begin sprouting in 2-3 weeks.
  10. Maintenance. If you grass has patches where seeds have not grown, use emergency my tried-and-tested seed repair kit, bird seed mix! Take two cups bird seeds, add water until its porridge-like, and apply to the ground! The water will detract birds, and help jump-start the seed germination.
  11.  Grooming. Yes, grass should be groomed, too! Be sure to wait a full two months to mow your new lawn for the first time, and when you do so, make sure your mower is not adjusted down too low, and be sure to be even in your cutting!
  12. Aerate your lawn. Use cleats, spikes, or the like to aerate your soil twice a year, in April and October.
  13. Water your lawn. Water your grass three times a week in Spring and Fall, and daily in Summer, unless prohibited by drought; if drought is an issue consider other means like rain barrels or collected bath water.
  14. Feed your lawn. Be sure to feed your law appropriate lawn-feed in Autumn, and a grass-supported food, bi-monthly in warmer weather. 
  15. Weeding. If you need to remove weeds, use white vinegar in a spray bottle! 

So, that’s it! That’s how you can achieve your best lawn, for those with Fine Fescue Grass, Rye Grass, and Kentucky Blue Grass, is to plant your lawns in winter!

Here’s to gardening,

mbnlogosm

Mid-Season Linen Change Tutorial

Tutorial Tuesday

  

Hello again, savvy savers! For this weeks Tuesday Tutorials, I want to share with you a mid-season change to my bedroom linens in my master bedroom. As longtime readers will know, I’m a sucker for fluffy linens and towels, and as a general rule of thumb always change linens seasonally. This past weekend, for a change of pace (and due to the fact that Mississippi and most of the deep south actually has a true Indian Summer), I opeted to change my linens. 

So before showing my newly pull out set, I wanted to share a few rules for changing linens seasonally:

1. Higher thread count doesn’t always mean higher quality: It goes without saying that one should purchase the best linens one can afford. While this may sound like a bank-busting practice, think again! Did you know that any thread counts exceeding 500 are actually two textiles that are woven together, and so linens in the 350-450 category, priced between $20.00-$30.00 after coupon at stores like Bed Bath & Beyond will due. You will save money, and chances are will sleep on sheets without synthetic finishes; chemicals used to treat all thread counts above 500 count.

2. Some materials are cooler than others: Synthetics have a tendency to trap heat, making for a more uncomfortable sleep experience; quality cotton keeps you cooler, and can even keep you warmer in winter. Egyptian cotton also helps to remove all impurities, mites, and dust too. Also worth noting, for menopausal women prone to hot flashes and night-sweats, cotton should be your go-to for most linens, including blankets and layers, for they help to provide moisture-wicking coolness at night.

 

3. Wash new sheets before you use them. Make sure that you wash your sheets at least two times before putting them on your bed, to remove any irritants on sheets.

4. For sleepers with sensitive skin: Always wash linens in a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup borax powder. 

5. Wash linens weekly: Toss bedding in the laundry basket every seven to 10 days. Quilts can be steamed in the dryer weekly as well.

 

Tutorial Tuesday (1)22

So onto my reveal. I firmly believe, seasonal bedding makes all the difference in the way your bedroom feels. I seasonally change out my linens for several reasons, including that a change of pace and color scheme is always pleasant, but my primary reason in doing so is to help cut down my cooling costs in the warmer weather months. As I live in Mississippi, and the seasons are anything but normal and average, we have warmer spells lasting until nearly Thanksgiving many years, and so thinner, layered sheets and linens help keep my husband and I cooler in the summer evenings, but also help break the chill of central air and ceiling fans as well.

 

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In warmer months I use:

  • Layer one: lightweight jersey sheets; I rotate between aqua, coral, and cream.
  • Layer two: A lightweight knit blanket; I seasonally use a blanket in a box weave pattern in aqua.
  • Layer three: A thinner, patterned quilt, folded in half along the bottom half of the bed; this layer is removed at night.
  • Layer four: A lightweight throw; I again us an aqua throw, which is removed at night.

In cooler months I add additional pillows. As with my other seasons I use two Euro Inserts and cream colored cases for summer, and then two sets of queen-sized standard pillow inserts, one set of these pillows being cooling gel pillows from Sam’s Club, both with two sets of funky pillow shams; I like to mix and match patterns for the standard pillowcases, for a more shabby chic look. I then add several throw pillows, and in this case a set of coral-inspired pillows, in the front; please note, I always buy throw pillows within a month of a season ending, and generally pay 80-90% off at Bed, Bath & Beyond. I also purchase other bedding items out of season as well.

This set will stay on my bed until the end of September, in which case I will switch to a Halloween set, and then an Autumn ensemble, and then a winter/holiday set which will stay on until Spring. I find that cooler layer help my husband and I sleep better, help out body temperature stay better regulated, and all without having to sacrifice style in doing so!

Here’s to saving!

mbnlogosm