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Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Someone was telling me that they can use a shredder-blower to shred
peat moss and spray a think layer of it all over your lawn after putting down grass seed, then you water and it helps keep the moisture in and start the seed so it doesn't dry out. What do they call the blower that can do that and what do they usually cost? -- - Mama Bear |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Mama Bear wrote:
Someone was telling me that they can use a shredder-blower to shred peat moss and spray a think layer of it all over your lawn after putting down grass seed, then you water and it helps keep the moisture in and start the seed so it doesn't dry out. What do they call the blower that can do that and what do they usually cost? Wouldn't you rather know if it works before you start spending money? -- Warren H. ========== Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife. Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants to go outside now. Power Lawncare Tools for Spring Clean-up: http://www.holzemville.com/mall/blackanddecker/ |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Mama Bear" wrote in message ... "Warren" wrote : Mama Bear wrote: Someone was telling me that they can use a shredder-blower to shred peat moss and spray a think layer of it all over your lawn after putting down grass seed, then you water and it helps keep the moisture in and start the seed so it doesn't dry out. What do they call the blower that can do that and what do they usually cost? Wouldn't you rather know if it works before you start spending money? I've been told it can work. But go ahead. What is it, and can it work? peat moss can be expensive, it certainly is for the stuff you buy for hanging baskets anyway, and may not be environmentally sustainable if large amounts are harvested. As an alternative, I used frost cloth. I prepared the soil, rakes it, threw on the seed, raked it in to the top soil, watered and staked down some frost cloth across the top. The cloth kept the direct sun off and moisture in and reduced the amount of watering I needed to do. I checked it a few times a day and put the sprinkler on when the soil was starting to dry out. After a few days the grass started to come through and I pulled the cloth back to let the sun in. If not frost cloth maybe light sail cloth or old hessian sacking. It should not be too heavy and cumbersome but not too porous either. rob |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"George.com" wrote in message
... "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... "Warren" wrote : Mama Bear wrote: Someone was telling me that they can use a shredder-blower to shred peat moss and spray a think layer of it all over your lawn after putting down grass seed, then you water and it helps keep the moisture in and start the seed so it doesn't dry out. What do they call the blower that can do that and what do they usually cost? Wouldn't you rather know if it works before you start spending money? I've been told it can work. But go ahead. What is it, and can it work? peat moss can be expensive, it certainly is for the stuff you buy for hanging baskets anyway, and may not be environmentally sustainable if large amounts are harvested. Peat moss also dries out very quickly when exposed to air. Then, two things happen: First, it acts like a sponge and sucks moisture out of adjacent materials, like your soil. This assumes it remains in place, which is probably won't if it's been pulverized and there's any wind. The only correct way to use peat moss on a lawn is to work it into the soil, not just put it on top. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Mama Bear wrote:
Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. Why do you think anyone knows where you can get a blower shredder that will do that? If none of us thinks it's a good idea, why would we have ever shopped for one? You're not getting a straight answer because your original message implied that you weren't interested in whether the idea worked, but just on how to carry-out the idea even if it is a dumb idea. You came here with your mind made up. As Doug noted, the shredded peat moss is going to very quickly dry-out. It's either going to just blow away, or it's going to wick-away water that otherwise could be going to good use. Think about it. Just how would loose peat moss help do anything useful? It's a horrible waste of a natural resource that's being depleted fast enough. As gardeners, even armature gardeners, we should be stewards of the Earth. Wasting peat moss on some scheme that has no benefit is not a good idea. And using a power tool of some sort -- possibly even a gas-powered tool -- is even worse. In an earlier message you said, "I've been told it can work." Well, now you've been told that it doesn't work more than once. I guess if you're prone to go off and do things -- along with spending money to buy stuff to do those things -- without any research just because you've "been told it can work", this should be more than enough to change your mind. It's a dumb idea. But if you really still want to go ahead and do it, then you'll just have to do your own shopping. I know I've got better things to do than shop for you. -- Warren H. ========== Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife. Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants to go outside now. Power Lawncare Tools for Spring Clean-up: http://www.holzemville.com/mall/blackanddecker/ |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Mama Bear" wrote in message ... "George.com" wrote : "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... "Warren" wrote : Mama Bear wrote: Someone was telling me that they can use a shredder-blower to shred peat moss and spray a think layer of it all over your lawn after putting down grass seed, then you water and it helps keep the moisture in and start the seed so it doesn't dry out. What do they call the blower that can do that and what do they usually cost? Wouldn't you rather know if it works before you start spending money? I've been told it can work. But go ahead. What is it, and can it work? peat moss can be expensive, it certainly is for the stuff you buy for hanging baskets anyway, and may not be environmentally sustainable if large amounts are harvested. I'm thinking of the big bales of it that they sell for planting. It's about $4 something for a big square of it. As an alternative, I used frost cloth. I prepared the soil, rakes it, threw on the seed, raked it in to the top soil, watered and staked down some frost cloth across the top. The cloth kept the direct sun off and moisture in and reduced the amount of watering I needed to do. I don't know what frost cloth is, but suspect it would be too expensive to cover an 8000 sq ft lot with it. go and check out a waste exchange programme is one exists in your area. Here is a local example of polypropylene to cover 900 square metres. http://www.rmf.org.nz/terranova/weedmats/ I checked it a few times a day and put the sprinkler on when the soil was starting to dry out. After a few days the grass started to come through and I pulled the cloth back to let the sun in. If not frost cloth maybe light sail cloth or old hessian sacking. It should not be too heavy and cumbersome but not too porous either. Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. the answers you have got thus far is that it is a daft idea and will not work. More than that using enough peat moss to cover an 8000ft lot is a shit load of peat moss and will cost a shit load of money for the moss itself. Even more than that, peat moss takes time to develop and using it as a grass starter is a waste of a resource in my opinion. The only possible way you could use peat moss I can see is to lay long rolls, like laying carpet, of it across the earth. It will be a hassle to continually lift to check the growth of your grass however and roll off when the grass starts to come up. You will not be able to leave the peat moss down as it will simply starve your grass of light. Result, dead grass. No, forget the peat moss, its a bad idea because it most likely won't work as you envisage it, will be a hassle spread any other effective way, will cost too much money that way and is a waste of a natural resource. Find a free, or cheap, source of material that you can stake down over your new seedlings. Leave it down until germination and then lift up to allow the sun in. Its around if you look for it. rob |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Warren" wrote in message
... Mama Bear wrote: Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. Why do you think anyone knows where you can get a blower shredder that will do that? If none of us thinks it's a good idea, why would we have ever shopped for one? You're not getting a straight answer because your original message implied that you weren't interested in whether the idea worked, but just on how to carry-out the idea even if it is a dumb idea. You came here with your mind made up. As Doug noted, the shredded peat moss is going to very quickly dry-out. It's either going to just blow away, or it's going to wick-away water that otherwise could be going to good use. Think about it. Just how would loose peat moss help do anything useful? Not only that, but if the lawn were mowed correctly (leaving clippings in place, mowing as high as possible except for the last cutting before winter), there will be plenty of organic matter deposited on the lawn. Peat moss should be saved for garden areas, and used only if the soil is utterly hideous. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Mama Bear" wrote in message
... Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. You obviously didn't have a question. You had a bad idea and you wanted other people to agree with it. That's not happening, so maybe you're one of those people who only recognizes certain sources of knowledge. You know - a badge, a college degree, but certainly not answers from people who may have 30+ years of gardening experience. So, I have an idea. Go to Google and do a web search. Copy & paste the exact line you see below: "cooperative extension" new york But, substitute your state for "new york". In the search results, you should see links to sites that probably will end in .edu. Poke around in those results, find a phone number, and call your CE service for some advice. They will most certainly tell you to have soil tests done from various locations in your yard. And, I'll bet you a year's salary that they will NOT go along with your massive peat moss debacle. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
... "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. You obviously didn't have a question. You had a bad idea and you wanted other people to agree with it. That's not happening, so maybe you're one of those people who only recognizes certain sources of knowledge. You know - a badge, a college degree, but certainly not answers from people who may have 30+ years of gardening experience. So, I have an idea. Go to Google and do a web search. Copy & paste the exact line you see below: "cooperative extension" new york But, substitute your state for "new york". In the search results, you should see links to sites that probably will end in .edu. Poke around in those results, find a phone number, and call your CE service for some advice. They will most certainly tell you to have soil tests done from various locations in your yard. And, I'll bet you a year's salary that they will NOT go along with your massive peat moss debacle. When I mow my yard I collect the cutting and put the clippings in my garden, down the isles and around all plants. My garden looks like it has a green carpet in it. I do this each time I cut grass. It keeps the ground moist and warm in the early Spring and through out the season. After everything is harvested at the end of the season I still put clippings on and in the Spring I deep till it all in. I have had good luck doing this for years and the soil is a black humus. However, I DO NOT put the clippings on the garden if I had recently sprayed for weeds, dandelions, etc. I wait a week or so and after a rain or heavy watering to continue spreading the clippings. I think it is a waste to always mulch or bag the clippings for the waste hauler. For one thing it is doesn't cost anything and why waste money on peat moss? I would only use it for planting trees and shrubs. I live in Illinois. My 2 cents worth. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Dave" wrote in message
news:ZHaZf.669139$084.289026@attbi_s22... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. You obviously didn't have a question. You had a bad idea and you wanted other people to agree with it. That's not happening, so maybe you're one of those people who only recognizes certain sources of knowledge. You know - a badge, a college degree, but certainly not answers from people who may have 30+ years of gardening experience. So, I have an idea. Go to Google and do a web search. Copy & paste the exact line you see below: "cooperative extension" new york But, substitute your state for "new york". In the search results, you should see links to sites that probably will end in .edu. Poke around in those results, find a phone number, and call your CE service for some advice. They will most certainly tell you to have soil tests done from various locations in your yard. And, I'll bet you a year's salary that they will NOT go along with your massive peat moss debacle. When I mow my yard I collect the cutting and put the clippings in my garden, down the isles and around all plants. My garden looks like it has a green carpet in it. I do this each time I cut grass. It keeps the ground moist and warm in the early Spring and through out the season. After everything is harvested at the end of the season I still put clippings on and in the Spring I deep till it all in. I have had good luck doing this for years and the soil is a black humus. However, I DO NOT put the clippings on the garden if I had recently sprayed for weeds, dandelions, etc. I wait a week or so and after a rain or heavy watering to continue spreading the clippings. I think it is a waste to always mulch or bag the clippings for the waste hauler. For one thing it is doesn't cost anything and why waste money on peat moss? I would only use it for planting trees and shrubs. I live in Illinois. My 2 cents worth. Hopefully, you don't use your clippings around edible crops. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Dave" wrote in message news:ZHaZf.669139$084.289026@attbi_s22... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. You obviously didn't have a question. You had a bad idea and you wanted other people to agree with it. That's not happening, so maybe you're one of those people who only recognizes certain sources of knowledge. You know - a badge, a college degree, but certainly not answers from people who may have 30+ years of gardening experience. So, I have an idea. Go to Google and do a web search. Copy & paste the exact line you see below: "cooperative extension" new york But, substitute your state for "new york". In the search results, you should see links to sites that probably will end in .edu. Poke around in those results, find a phone number, and call your CE service for some advice. They will most certainly tell you to have soil tests done from various locations in your yard. And, I'll bet you a year's salary that they will NOT go along with your massive peat moss debacle. When I mow my yard I collect the cutting and put the clippings in my garden, down the isles and around all plants. My garden looks like it has a green carpet in it. I do this each time I cut grass. It keeps the ground moist and warm in the early Spring and through out the season. After everything is harvested at the end of the season I still put clippings on and in the Spring I deep till it all in. I have had good luck doing this for years and the soil is a black humus. However, I DO NOT put the clippings on the garden if I had recently sprayed for weeds, dandelions, etc. I wait a week or so and after a rain or heavy watering to continue spreading the clippings. I think it is a waste to always mulch or bag the clippings for the waste hauler. For one thing it is doesn't cost anything and why waste money on peat moss? I would only use it for planting trees and shrubs. I live in Illinois. My 2 cents worth. Hopefully, you don't use your clippings around edible crops. Yes I do. I've been doing it for years and I'm still living. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Dave" wrote in message news:EBcZf.911123$xm3.772808@attbi_s21... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Dave" wrote in message news:ZHaZf.669139$084.289026@attbi_s22... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. You obviously didn't have a question. You had a bad idea and you wanted other people to agree with it. That's not happening, so maybe you're one of those people who only recognizes certain sources of knowledge. You know - a badge, a college degree, but certainly not answers from people who may have 30+ years of gardening experience. So, I have an idea. Go to Google and do a web search. Copy & paste the exact line you see below: "cooperative extension" new york But, substitute your state for "new york". In the search results, you should see links to sites that probably will end in .edu. Poke around in those results, find a phone number, and call your CE service for some advice. They will most certainly tell you to have soil tests done from various locations in your yard. And, I'll bet you a year's salary that they will NOT go along with your massive peat moss debacle. When I mow my yard I collect the cutting and put the clippings in my garden, down the isles and around all plants. My garden looks like it has a green carpet in it. I do this each time I cut grass. It keeps the ground moist and warm in the early Spring and through out the season. After everything is harvested at the end of the season I still put clippings on and in the Spring I deep till it all in. I have had good luck doing this for years and the soil is a black humus. However, I DO NOT put the clippings on the garden if I had recently sprayed for weeds, dandelions, etc. I wait a week or so and after a rain or heavy watering to continue spreading the clippings. I think it is a waste to always mulch or bag the clippings for the waste hauler. For one thing it is doesn't cost anything and why waste money on peat moss? I would only use it for planting trees and shrubs. I live in Illinois. My 2 cents worth. Hopefully, you don't use your clippings around edible crops. Yes I do. I've been doing it for years and I'm still living. Don't do it to your kids. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
On Tue, 04 Apr 2006 19:18:12 -0500, Mama Bear wrote:
Someone was telling me that they can use a shredder-blower to shred peat moss and spray a think layer of it all over your lawn after putting down grass seed, then you water and it helps keep the moisture in and start the seed so it doesn't dry out. Sounds like you're talking about some variant of hydroseeding/hydromulching. The smallest, lightest duty unit I've ever seen was about $3-4K, if I recall correctly. Big ones, self-propelled, I believe are in the $100K+ range. And chopped straw, sometimes with a tackifier, is typically used. Sphagnum's a pretty primo product for such a use. If you really want to go this route, I'd look for a big landscaping company of the type hired to seed golf courses or estates or highway cuts. Personally, I've started a lot of lawns over the years with nothing more than scattering seed by hand over worked up soil, raking and treading it in, and adding a topping of compost or mulch if I've got it handy. Watering is the big key to the project, which is why I tend to renovate lawn in the fall, just before the rains start. Kay -- NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
With new construction and no grass at all, some landscapers have a truck
that blows a green slurry over the intended lawn area. I don't know what all is in the slurry, but I believe it includes a starter fertilizer, some fast growing ryegrass seed, a slower growing better grass seed, and plenty of green dye. The idea is you get an instant lawn, first consisting of the green dye, replaced by the rye grass, which in turn is replaced by the better grass. The sprayer they use is quite large, and I have never looked for nor seen one for sale, and I would think it would be wasteful for a homeowner to purchase such a large machine for a single use. If you want this done, contact a landscaper, but I would think a good landscaper would use the more traditional method of checking, smoothing, and rolling the soil, sowing the seed, raking it in, putting some kind of protective covering over it, and watering frequently until the lawn is established. Incidentally, installing a sprinkler system before doing this is an excellent idea, as you can set it to keep the soil moist during germination. The protective covering is to keep the birds from eating your seed. When I do a small area, I cover it with the plastic equivalent of cheesecloth; it lets in the light and water and air, but keeps the birds at bay. For a larger area, I buy some straw and strew it over the area, it doesn't protect from the birds as well, but gives generally good results, and you don't even have to pick it up; the grass will grow through it, and it will eventually decompose. Note that I said straw, not hay. Hay is full of seeds and you don't want that unless you are starting a hayfield. Mama Bear wrote: Someone was telling me that they can use a shredder-blower to shred peat moss and spray a think layer of it all over your lawn after putting down grass seed, then you water and it helps keep the moisture in and start the seed so it doesn't dry out. What do they call the blower that can do that and what do they usually cost? |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
... "Dave" wrote in message news:EBcZf.911123$xm3.772808@attbi_s21... Hopefully, you don't use your clippings around edible crops. Yes I do. I've been doing it for years and I'm still living. Don't do it to your kids. Chop them up and spread the clippings around the edible crops? |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Snooze" wrote in message . com... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Dave" wrote in message news:EBcZf.911123$xm3.772808@attbi_s21... Hopefully, you don't use your clippings around edible crops. Yes I do. I've been doing it for years and I'm still living. Don't do it to your kids. Chop them up and spread the clippings around the edible crops? The clippings are good, except that he said he uses a few lawn chemicals on his grass, and at some point afterward, the clippings end up spread around his vegetables. Since none of the chemicals sold for lawn care have been, or ever will be proven safe, this is risky. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Mama Bear wrote:
Mama Bear wrote: Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. Why do you think anyone knows where you can get a blower shredder that will do that? If none of us thinks it's a good idea, why would we have ever shopped for one? You're not getting a straight answer because your original message implied that you weren't interested in whether the idea worked, but just on how to carry-out the idea even if it is a dumb idea. You came here with your mind made up. As Doug noted, the shredded peat moss is going to very quickly dry-out. It's either going to just blow away, or it's going to wick-away water that otherwise could be going to good use. Think about it. Just how would loose peat moss help do anything useful? It's a horrible waste of a natural resource that's being depleted fast enough. As gardeners, even armature gardeners, we should be stewards of the Earth. Wasting peat moss on some scheme that has no benefit is not a good idea. And using a power tool of some sort -- possibly even a gas-powered tool -- is even worse. Aw jeez, I had to get into a nest of environazis too! Not supposed to use water to grow my grass or power tools? I suppose I should abandon all modern things and move back to the caves. In an earlier message you said, "I've been told it can work." Well, now you've been told that it doesn't work more than once. I guess if you're prone to go off and do things -- along with spending money to buy stuff to do those things -- without any research just because you've "been told it can work", this should be more than enough to change your mind. It's a dumb idea. But if you really still want to go ahead and do it, then you'll just have to do your own shopping. I know I've got better things to do than shop for you. You apparently don't even believe in modern technology or having a lawn. Jeez. And what you've gotten out of this is that we're saying it's not environmentally sound? You have a big comprehension problem, don't you. The point is that there is no benefit to shredding and blowing peat moss on the lawn, but plenty of costs. It's a cost/benefit thing. Economics. Once again, the peat moss will dry-out when shredded. Some of it will blow away. What's left will wick water away from the soil and seed, resulting in the opposite effect of what you apparently think it will have. But you apparently still want to go ahead with this foolish, pointless plan. That's fine with me if it were just you wasting your time and money. But you're harming my environment to no benefit of your own. So not only is your plan pointless and costly, it harms the environment. So you're not just wasting your own time and money, you're impacting the rest of us, too. The economics of this are just totally upside-down. Once more in case you missed it: Your plan is dumb. It wastes money. It wastes resources. And, if anything, it's affect will be the opposite of what you want. -- Warren H. ========== Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife. Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants to go outside now. Power Lawncare Tools for Spring Clean-up: http://www.holzemville.com/mall/blackanddecker/ |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. Your original question was: "Someone was telling me that they can use a shredder-blower to shred peat moss and spray a think layer of it all over your lawn after putting down grass seed, then you water and it helps keep the moisture in and start the seed so it doesn't dry out." "What do they call the blower that can do that and what do they usually cost?" No one seem sable to tell you what the blower is called, nor what they cost, as no one has actually heard of this process being used to mulch grass seed. Moreover, no one actually seems to think it will work and/or is worth trying, myself included. Why do you not go back to the person who told you this information and quiz them further? rob -- |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Mama Bear" wrote in message
... Aw jeez, I had to get into a nest of environazis too! Environazis? Is that defined as someone who's aware of something you weren't? As far as your plan, if it were a good idea, I would've heard of it sometime since 1970, when I began gardening. And, I would've seen it being done by landscapers. Sharper minds than yours would've arrived at the same idea years ago. It has not happened. If you need to know more about how to use peat moss go to the store and actually read the information on one of the big bales. If it's accurately written, it will tell you that peat moss needs to be worked into the soil to at least 6-8 inches. If you're ready to do that on an 8000 sq ft lawn, knock yourself out. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
... "Snooze" wrote in message . com... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Dave" wrote in message news:EBcZf.911123$xm3.772808@attbi_s21... Hopefully, you don't use your clippings around edible crops. Yes I do. I've been doing it for years and I'm still living. Don't do it to your kids. Chop them up and spread the clippings around the edible crops? The clippings are good, except that he said he uses a few lawn chemicals on his grass, and at some point afterward, the clippings end up spread around his vegetables. Since none of the chemicals sold for lawn care have been, or ever will be proven safe, this is risky. It was a bad attempt at a joke...chop up the kids, use them as mulch...nevermind. The joke failed so badly, cpr won't save it. Might as well print it out, chop it and spread it among the plants. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Snooze" wrote in message . com... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Snooze" wrote in message . com... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Dave" wrote in message news:EBcZf.911123$xm3.772808@attbi_s21... Hopefully, you don't use your clippings around edible crops. Yes I do. I've been doing it for years and I'm still living. Don't do it to your kids. Chop them up and spread the clippings around the edible crops? The clippings are good, except that he said he uses a few lawn chemicals on his grass, and at some point afterward, the clippings end up spread around his vegetables. Since none of the chemicals sold for lawn care have been, or ever will be proven safe, this is risky. It was a bad attempt at a joke...chop up the kids, use them as mulch...nevermind. The joke failed so badly, cpr won't save it. Might as well print it out, chop it and spread it among the plants. Got it now. :) |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
I replied earlier, but I inadvertently sent it to only one person. Here it
is for the group. The peat moss sounds like a fine idea to me, despite what some others have speculated. I would go with a report from someone who has tried it long before I'd go with the nay-sayers on this newsgroup who have not. Your climate matters a lot of course. As to cost, that varies too; around here peat moss is extremely cheap; it comes on a truck by the yard if you want it. I sympathize with the original poster, who asked a simple question and got sermons in response, but never an answer. (No, I don't know either where to buy such a blower.) As added material, I will point out that using peat moss to start a lawn implies that it will be kept moist. Moist peat moss won't blow anywhere, and neither will it wick water from the ground. As for wicking significant water out of the ground, I know that peat pots do that if they are only partly buried, but I think this is sufficiently different. Added even later (From http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/): "After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure a quality product." So the idea is not unknown. The sarcastic tone of some posters here, who wrote from ignorance as if they actually knew something about the topic, is not justified. "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... "Warren" wrote : Mama Bear wrote: Can someone please answer my original question, without going off on tangents like this? Thanks. Why do you think anyone knows where you can get a blower shredder that will do that? If none of us thinks it's a good idea, why would we have ever shopped for one? You're not getting a straight answer because your original message implied that you weren't interested in whether the idea worked, but just on how to carry-out the idea even if it is a dumb idea. You came here with your mind made up. As Doug noted, the shredded peat moss is going to very quickly dry-out. It's either going to just blow away, or it's going to wick-away water that otherwise could be going to good use. Think about it. Just how would loose peat moss help do anything useful? It's a horrible waste of a natural resource that's being depleted fast enough. As gardeners, even armature gardeners, we should be stewards of the Earth. Wasting peat moss on some scheme that has no benefit is not a good idea. And using a power tool of some sort -- possibly even a gas-powered tool -- is even worse. Aw jeez, I had to get into a nest of environazis too! Not supposed to use water to grow my grass or power tools? I suppose I should abandon all modern things and move back to the caves. In an earlier message you said, "I've been told it can work." Well, now you've been told that it doesn't work more than once. I guess if you're prone to go off and do things -- along with spending money to buy stuff to do those things -- without any research just because you've "been told it can work", this should be more than enough to change your mind. It's a dumb idea. But if you really still want to go ahead and do it, then you'll just have to do your own shopping. I know I've got better things to do than shop for you. You apparently don't even believe in modern technology or having a lawn. Jeez. -- - Mama Bear |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message
... I replied earlier, but I inadvertently sent it to only one person. Here it is for the group. The peat moss sounds like a fine idea to me, despite what some others have speculated. I would go with a report from someone who has tried it long before I'd go with the nay-sayers on this newsgroup who have not. Your climate matters a lot of course. As to cost, that varies too; around here peat moss is extremely cheap; it comes on a truck by the yard if you want it. I sympathize with the original poster, who asked a simple question and got sermons in response, but never an answer. (No, I don't know either where to buy such a blower.) Nobody else knows where to buy one, either. Imagine trying to blow feathers onto your lawn, or flour. That's what it would be like to try and blow peat moss onto the lawn. As added material, I will point out that using peat moss to start a lawn implies that it will be kept moist. Moist peat moss won't blow anywhere, and neither will it wick water from the ground. As for wicking significant water out of the ground, I know that peat pots do that if they are only partly buried, but I think this is sufficiently different. Added even later (From http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/): "After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure a quality product." So the idea is not unknown. The sarcastic tone of some posters here, who wrote from ignorance as if they actually knew something about the topic, is not justified. The responses became sarcastic when the OP decided she didn't like the answers, and only wanted to hear "yes", when in fact, the answer is "no". If you don't have an open mind when you ask questions, then don't ask. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Andrew Ostrander wrote:
The peat moss sounds like a fine idea to me, despite what some others have speculated. I would go with a report from someone who has tried it long before I'd go with the nay-sayers on this newsgroup who have not. Your climate matters a lot of course. As to cost, that varies too; around here peat moss is extremely cheap; it comes on a truck by the yard if you want it. I sympathize with the original poster, who asked a simple question and got sermons in response, but never an answer. (No, I don't know either where to buy such a blower.) As added material, I will point out that using peat moss to start a lawn implies that it will be kept moist. Moist peat moss won't blow anywhere, and neither will it wick water from the ground. As for wicking significant water out of the ground, I know that peat pots do that if they are only partly buried, but I think this is sufficiently different. I take it that you haven't tried this, either, so your word carries no more weight than anyone else here. (Actually less, since you haven't built any credibility yet.) So why do you think that peat pots partially burried wick water out of the ground? It's because the peat is exposed to the air. Then the peat touching the ground wicks water away to replace what is being dried out by the air. Spreading peat on top of the ground will have the same effect. Peat, in order to retain moisture, cannot be exposed to the air. Peat exposed to air will dry out, and will then grab any moisuture it can. The peat pot partially exposed is very much the same as shredded peat laying on the surface in this regard. Also, if you shred peat, and let it dry out, it will be very light. So yes, some of it will blow away. Added even later (From http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/): "After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure a quality product." So the idea is not unknown. There are plenty of old wives tales out there. This one makes sense only if the depth of your thinking goes one level. (Peat wants to hold water, so it must hold water close to the seeds if I spread it on top of them.) If one isn't capable of thinking one step further, then it makes sense to them, and they'll be puzzeled at why they have to water so much more than the guy who though ahead and didn't spread peat on top of soil. The sarcastic tone of some posters here, who wrote from ignorance as if they actually knew something about the topic, is not justified. Not only don't you know anything about peat, you don't know what sarcasm is, either. What do you think our motivation is? Our motivation is to stop someone from doing something stupid and wasteful based on half-baked ideas. Peat laying on top of soil will dry out. The only way it will not dry out is if you water *more* than you would if it wasn't there. If you really want to use peat to retain moisture, you need to work it into the soil so it's not exposed to the air. You can't just shred it, and blow it. Give it some real thought, and you'll see that this is not a position of ignorance. Thinking the peat laying on top of the soil does any good is a position of ignorance. -- Warren H. ========== Disclaimer: My views reflect those of myself, and not my employer, my friends, nor (as she often tells me) my wife. Any resemblance to the views of anybody living or dead is coincidental. No animals were hurt in the writing of this response -- unless you count my dog who desperately wants to go outside now. Power Lawncare Tools for Spring Clean-up: http://www.holzemville.com/mall/blackanddecker/ |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Mama Bear" wrote in message
... http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...932762-4657705 This entire time I thought you were going to use something like a chipper/shredder to launch the peat moss everywhere. I had no idea you were going to try and use a leaf blower to spread the stuff around. Please, please, please, get someone to make a video of you using the leaf blower. For what it's worth, in the spring time, I just buy a few bags of composted steer manure and spread that around with a rake. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Mama Bear wrote in
: "Andrew Ostrander" wrote : (No, I don't know either where to buy such a blower.) I've since found out that Toro makes shredder blowers for around $80. it's for shredding leaves for compost, not blowing peat moss on the lawn. it would not do what you wanted. it would make holes where the discharge chute is. we have a chipper/shredder & use a tarp under the discharge chute. As added material, I will point out that using peat moss to start a lawn implies that it will be kept moist. Exactly. We have a sprinkler system. Now maybe we don't even need the peat moss, and we could just turn the sprinklers on a few times a day to keep the soil moist. The problem last year was that we didnt get the new sprinkler system installed until the weather was already warm and the weeds took over this new lot. we had to battle them. Now we have about 50% grass after the battle of last year and want to get 100% grass by this year. you really should have done your seeding in the fall. grass grows better when fall seeded. as you found last year, when you spring seed you get a lot of weeds. i would seed now with a blend of something fast growing (like annual rye) & then reseed again in the fall with more perennial turfgrasses for your area. just don't expect your lawn to look great for another couple years. 8000 sq.ft. of lawn just sounds like way too much bother, but that's me... and i have cute llama lawnmowers. lee -- war is peace freedom is slavery ignorance is strength 1984-George Orwell |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Mama Bear" wrote in message ... "Doug Kanter" wrote : "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... Aw jeez, I had to get into a nest of environazis too! Environazis? Is that defined as someone who's aware of something you weren't? No, someone who makes fluffy sounding statements like: to good use. Think about it. Just how would loose peat moss help do anything useful? ***It's a horrible waste of a natural resource*** that's being depleted fast enough. As gardeners, even armature gardeners, ***we should be stewards of the Earth.*** Wasting peat moss on some scheme that has no benefit is not a good idea. ***And using a power tool of some sort -- possibly even a gas-powered tool*** -- is even worse. - Mama Bear Well....sounds like he's read a few things that you haven't. Based on your logic, nobody is allowed to have knowledge that you don't. That's weird! How do you choose a doctor? Look for a little kid with a toy stethoscope? |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Mama Bear" wrote in message
... Anyway, screw the idea, the guy who originally suggested it may have been off his rocker. Why do you say that? Further conversations with this individual? |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Mama Bear" wrote in message
... http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/ * After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure a quality product. That advice is incorrect. I'd like to know how I can do something, not how I can't. Crapping all over anything anyone wants to do, is not helpful. It looks like usenet is a useless wasteland of frustrated hourly workers who take out their frustrations by flaming anything that anyone posts. Thanks a hell of a lot. If you want to know how to plant a new lawn, then that's the question you should ask. You would've gotten plenty of positive and useful feedback. But, you DID NOT ask that question. This is what I saw in your first post, with regard to "blowing peat moss on lawn": "I've been told it can work. But go ahead. What is it, and can it work?" Are those your words? |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Mama Bear" wrote in message
... Moist peat moss won't blow anywhere, and neither will it wick water from the ground. That's what I was thinking. As peat moss dries, it sometimes forms a crust which can be difficult for seed to penetrate. This is why it's supposed to be mixed into the soil. I have a question. Have you ever actually handled peat moss that's been broken down from chunks into a powdery state? I mean....have you touched it with your hands, especially when it's dry? As for wicking significant water out of the ground, I know that peat pots do that if they are only partly buried, but I think this is sufficiently different. Added even later (From http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/): "After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure a quality product." So the idea is not unknown. The sarcastic tone of some posters here, who wrote from ignorance as if they actually knew something about the topic, is not justified. Ask a simple question on usenet and everyone is an expert, even when they don't know what they're talking about. I have another question. Two, actually. No...wait. Three. 1) Tell me how long I've been gardening and how many dozens of books I've read on the subject. 2) How long have you been gardening and how many books you've read on the subject. 3) You said "everyone is an expert". When you asked your original question, did you want advice from someone who was NOT an expert? If so, why didn't you ask anyone who knew what they were talking about to please refrain from answering? |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... Moist peat moss won't blow anywhere, and neither will it wick water from the ground. That's what I was thinking. As peat moss dries, it sometimes forms a crust which can be difficult for seed to penetrate. This is why it's supposed to be mixed into the soil. I have a question. Have you ever actually handled peat moss that's been broken down from chunks into a powdery state? I mean....have you touched it with your hands, especially when it's dry? As for wicking significant water out of the ground, I know that peat pots do that if they are only partly buried, but I think this is sufficiently different. Added even later (From http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/): "After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure a quality product." So the idea is not unknown. The sarcastic tone of some posters here, who wrote from ignorance as if they actually knew something about the topic, is not justified. Ask a simple question on usenet and everyone is an expert, even when they don't know what they're talking about. I have another question. Two, actually. No...wait. Three. 1) Tell me how long I've been gardening and how many dozens of books I've read on the subject. 2) How long have you been gardening and how many books you've read on the subject. 3) You said "everyone is an expert". When you asked your original question, did you want advice from someone who was NOT an expert? If so, why didn't you ask anyone who knew what they were talking about to please refrain from answering? Your claims here that you are speaking from authority make you sound like a midaeval church official who denied that heavy bodies fall as fast as light ones. You have never tried this, or spoken with anyone who has. Experiment is a lot more conclusive than theory. As for wicking, if peat is mixed into soil many pieces of peat undoubtedly stick out a bit. Yet the peat-soil mix is not dried out by any wicking effect. It is, in fact, a recommended mix for starting sod where peat is cheap. Yes, I have handled peat. I have also tossed handfuls of it onto my garden and seen them in the same spot months later, having failed to notice your opinion and blow away. (and yes, that's sarcasm.) |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"enigma" wrote in message
. .. you really should have done your seeding in the fall. grass grows better when fall seeded. as you found last year, when you spring seed you get a lot of weeds. In order for her to do that, she would've had to listen to people who she calls "experts". But, in an earlier message, she said disdainful things about "experts". Maybe she should tell us what authorities she DOES trust, and how she decides who to listen to. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message
... "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Mama Bear" wrote in message ... Moist peat moss won't blow anywhere, and neither will it wick water from the ground. That's what I was thinking. As peat moss dries, it sometimes forms a crust which can be difficult for seed to penetrate. This is why it's supposed to be mixed into the soil. I have a question. Have you ever actually handled peat moss that's been broken down from chunks into a powdery state? I mean....have you touched it with your hands, especially when it's dry? As for wicking significant water out of the ground, I know that peat pots do that if they are only partly buried, but I think this is sufficiently different. Added even later (From http://www.greengate.ca/lawns_sod/): "After seeding apply a thin layer of peat moss over the entire area. This helps retain moisture and holds the seed to ensure a quality product." So the idea is not unknown. The sarcastic tone of some posters here, who wrote from ignorance as if they actually knew something about the topic, is not justified. Ask a simple question on usenet and everyone is an expert, even when they don't know what they're talking about. I have another question. Two, actually. No...wait. Three. 1) Tell me how long I've been gardening and how many dozens of books I've read on the subject. 2) How long have you been gardening and how many books you've read on the subject. 3) You said "everyone is an expert". When you asked your original question, did you want advice from someone who was NOT an expert? If so, why didn't you ask anyone who knew what they were talking about to please refrain from answering? Your claims here that you are speaking from authority make you sound like a midaeval church official who denied that heavy bodies fall as fast as light ones. You have never tried this, or spoken with anyone who has. Experiment is a lot more conclusive than theory. "tried this" - I assume you're talking about mechanically launching peat moss. That's correct - I haven't seen it done. Let me ask you something: If you see 1000 landscapers create new lawns, and NONE of them "blow" peat moss onto the surface, does that tell you anything? Let's assume also that 10% of these people are not private business people, but work for municipalities, which often have plenty of money for the latest equipment. Why do you suppose you and I haven't seen this launching idea done with peat moss? As for wicking, if peat is mixed into soil many pieces of peat undoubtedly stick out a bit. Yet the peat-soil mix is not dried out by any wicking effect. It is, in fact, a recommended mix for starting sod where peat is cheap. Yes, I have handled peat. I have also tossed handfuls of it onto my garden and seen them in the same spot months later, having failed to notice your opinion and blow away. (and yes, that's sarcasm.) I noticed that the OP has now said that the person who suggested the idea to her in the first place might not be so reliable. Maybe she'll explain why later today. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
"Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... "Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message ... "tried this" - I assume you're talking about mechanically launching peat moss. That's correct - I haven't seen it done. Let me ask you something: If you see 1000 landscapers create new lawns, and NONE of them "blow" peat moss onto the surface, does that tell you anything? Let's assume also that 10% of these people are not private business people, but work for municipalities, which often have plenty of money for the latest equipment. Why do you suppose you and I haven't seen this launching idea done with peat moss? I expect blowing on peat moss is not the most cost-effective way to establish a new lawn in most situations. But the OP did not ask how to establish a new lawn, she asked where to buy a tool, and in response she got general advice. This advice was presented as factual but it was not based on experience, and I did not and do not agree with the advice. I reproduce it he Peat moss also dries out very quickly when exposed to air. Then, two things happen: First, it acts like a sponge and sucks moisture out of adjacent materials, like your soil. This assumes it remains in place, which is probably won't if it's been pulverized and there's any wind. The only correct way to use peat moss on a lawn is to work it into the soil, not just put it on top. I will also point out that she is not starting a new lawn but trying to fill in an existing lawn, so comparisons with starting new lawns are not very informative. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Hi,
I am a home owner with a bad lawn not a professional. I have tried using peat moss and it did work quiet well. I put down the peat moss just spreading it around with a shovel. Then I sprinkled seed and some fertilizer. Then plonked more peat moss on top. I kept it watered using a ordinary hose and sprinkler on a timer. Worked quite well. I got my peat moss from home depot as well as the grass seed. I live in New York and I did this last fall round about September time. Grass came up in about 5 days. The advantages of peat moss over top soil and other admenments I think is easy of spreading it around. As for a blower I have one of these as well. I did not use it to spread the peat moss around though. The blower I have is a RedMax 8001. It is a back pack blower. I suppose you could use it to blow stuff around, but not quite sure how that would help? Good luck with your lawn. warmest regards, Mike. Mama Bear wrote: Someone was telling me that they can use a shredder-blower to shred peat moss and spray a think layer of it all over your lawn after putting down grass seed, then you water and it helps keep the moisture in and start the seed so it doesn't dry out. What do they call the blower that can do that and what do they usually cost? -- - Mama Bear |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
I see two significant advantages to using peat as described -- it reduces
the frequency of waterings that are needed and surrounds the seeds and provides them with a constant level of humidity. It sounds like a good idea to me. And you could have had the same results with less water if you didn't have to provide enough water to both keep the peat hydrated and have enough left over for the seeds to germinate. You wasted money on the peat, and then you wasted money by having to water more. Unless you mix the peat into the soil, there is zero advantage to using it. In fact, if you just spread it on top, it's a waste. A waste of peat. A waste of water. And a waste of effort. The peat has no nutriative value, and if it's not mixed in the soil, it does nothing to help the soil at all. -- Warren H. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Question: In 30+ years of gardening, I've have never seen any advice
indicating that peat moss did NOT need to be mixed into soil. Never. Not once, and this includes gardening veterans like James Crockett, Alan Lacy, Henry Mitchell, Fred McGourty, Russell Page, Christopher Lloyd, etc. They were gardening for 30-50 years before I even began. None of them suggest that it's a good idea to just sprinkle peat moss on top of soil. What evidence do you have that suddenly makes this a good idea? "Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message ... I see two significant advantages to using peat as described -- it reduces the frequency of waterings that are needed and surrounds the seeds and provides them with a constant level of humidity. It sounds like a good idea to me. And you could have had the same results with less water if you didn't have to provide enough water to both keep the peat hydrated and have enough left over for the seeds to germinate. You wasted money on the peat, and then you wasted money by having to water more. Unless you mix the peat into the soil, there is zero advantage to using it. In fact, if you just spread it on top, it's a waste. A waste of peat. A waste of water. And a waste of effort. The peat has no nutriative value, and if it's not mixed in the soil, it does nothing to help the soil at all. -- Warren H. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Think about the purpose of using peat moss this way. It is not to improve
the soil. It is to help establish fresh additional grass in an existing sparse lawn that will not be dug up. The purpose of the peat moss is to retain moisture as the seeds germinate and develop. My evidence is my own observation that peat moss remains moist much longer than the surface of my lawn. Thus a lawn with peat moss on top will need less frequent watering, perhaps twice a day to keep the grass seed moist instead of every hour during midday. It will also shield the seeds from the direct sunlight, which could dry them out no matter what they're on. The claims of you and your authorities that mixing peat moss into soil is the best way to use it to improve the soil, and just leaving it on top is, at best, useless, seem undeniable. But that is not the goal here or the situation. The moss will be kept moist until the grass is established. The fact that peat moss is useful when dug in does not prevent it from being useful in other ways too. "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... Question: In 30+ years of gardening, I've have never seen any advice indicating that peat moss did NOT need to be mixed into soil. Never. Not once, and this includes gardening veterans like James Crockett, Alan Lacy, Henry Mitchell, Fred McGourty, Russell Page, Christopher Lloyd, etc. They were gardening for 30-50 years before I even began. None of them suggest that it's a good idea to just sprinkle peat moss on top of soil. What evidence do you have that suddenly makes this a good idea? "Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message ... I see two significant advantages to using peat as described -- it reduces the frequency of waterings that are needed and surrounds the seeds and provides them with a constant level of humidity. It sounds like a good idea to me. And you could have had the same results with less water if you didn't have to provide enough water to both keep the peat hydrated and have enough left over for the seeds to germinate. You wasted money on the peat, and then you wasted money by having to water more. Unless you mix the peat into the soil, there is zero advantage to using it. In fact, if you just spread it on top, it's a waste. A waste of peat. A waste of water. And a waste of effort. The peat has no nutriative value, and if it's not mixed in the soil, it does nothing to help the soil at all. -- Warren H. |
Shredding & blowing peat moss on lawn?
Your observations are at best the products of delusion. Please accept that I
mean this in a good way. You have no idea what you saw. The only possible exception to what I've said is that you are home all day long, and are able to hose down the lawn's surface every couple of hours. Aside from that possibility, or living in a climate where it rains lightly and endlessly every day, there are no other explanations. "Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message ... Think about the purpose of using peat moss this way. It is not to improve the soil. It is to help establish fresh additional grass in an existing sparse lawn that will not be dug up. The purpose of the peat moss is to retain moisture as the seeds germinate and develop. My evidence is my own observation that peat moss remains moist much longer than the surface of my lawn. Thus a lawn with peat moss on top will need less frequent watering, perhaps twice a day to keep the grass seed moist instead of every hour during midday. It will also shield the seeds from the direct sunlight, which could dry them out no matter what they're on. The claims of you and your authorities that mixing peat moss into soil is the best way to use it to improve the soil, and just leaving it on top is, at best, useless, seem undeniable. But that is not the goal here or the situation. The moss will be kept moist until the grass is established. The fact that peat moss is useful when dug in does not prevent it from being useful in other ways too. "Doug Kanter" wrote in message ... Question: In 30+ years of gardening, I've have never seen any advice indicating that peat moss did NOT need to be mixed into soil. Never. Not once, and this includes gardening veterans like James Crockett, Alan Lacy, Henry Mitchell, Fred McGourty, Russell Page, Christopher Lloyd, etc. They were gardening for 30-50 years before I even began. None of them suggest that it's a good idea to just sprinkle peat moss on top of soil. What evidence do you have that suddenly makes this a good idea? "Andrew Ostrander" wrote in message ... I see two significant advantages to using peat as described -- it reduces the frequency of waterings that are needed and surrounds the seeds and provides them with a constant level of humidity. It sounds like a good idea to me. And you could have had the same results with less water if you didn't have to provide enough water to both keep the peat hydrated and have enough left over for the seeds to germinate. You wasted money on the peat, and then you wasted money by having to water more. Unless you mix the peat into the soil, there is zero advantage to using it. In fact, if you just spread it on top, it's a waste. A waste of peat. A waste of water. And a waste of effort. The peat has no nutriative value, and if it's not mixed in the soil, it does nothing to help the soil at all. -- Warren H. |
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