THE GERMINATOR

DAYS 1-10

We set the automatic sprinklers to sprinkle at 7:30 am, 11:30am, and 4:00 pm
for 10 mins each time.
It seemed like forever for the first signs of growth and then it took off

May 17, 2013  just after Hydro-seeding
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May 21 (4 Days) after seeding

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May 22 (Day 5)
Signs of life from below, I found one blade.
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May 24 (Day 7)
Its almost a forest Now!
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May 26 (Day 9)
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May 27( Day 10)
Now we're cooking with Grass!
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So far, it seems to be following as expected.
Germination should be between 5 and 10 days minimum.
Looking good if you ask me!

Preparations

Our preparations / soil conditions 

Our soil conditions : We have a really sandy soil mixture here.  I would hesitate to say its a sandy loam, but it is  mostly sandy, With a little bit of clay. 

It was recommended to prevent compaction and help water retention that we add some perlite to the soil and some organic material( compost).

  More work than I thought it would be, but we:

( Started this process in Sept. 2012 and seeded May 2013

1 Removed all the vegetation by hand picking and Round up weed killer (several times)

2 Roto-tilled the soil to  7 inches or so.

3 Roto-tilled  Both 2" of Perlite and a 1/2 in. of organic compost into the soil

4 installed  a new popup sprinkler system with hunters mp 1000 Rotator nozzles( high efficiency)

5 Regraded and smoothed the soil and some light compaction with a Sod Water wheel roller.

6 hydroseeded with Pearl's Premium

At the recommendation of the Pearl's Premium Staff,  They suggested best results With spreading the Seeds by hydroseeding the Area, because of the fertilizers, Tackifiers, and wood fiber mulch that all help to protect the seeds from washing away and from birds eating the seeds.   So we Started our Pearl's Premium experiment on May 17, 2013

Note: If you dont do Hydro-seeding make sure you put a layer of compost or something to cover the seeds  they need something to cover them to keep them moist. The label doesn't say it as a part of planting instructions but if you know anything about planting new grass seed it needs to be covered by at least  1/4 in. of soil or compost. I read a lot of peoples reviews about how the followed the instructions on the label to a "T", and no results!!!!! 

Bags of Perlite Used to amend the soil.

Spreading the perlite before roto-tilling.

After the Perlite was mixed in.

Sprinkler pipes

Regrading the soil(palates work GReat for this)

Hydro- seeding may 17 2013

Let the Watering Begin!!!!!!!

PEARL'S PREMIUM Grass Seed, Does it  grow in Southern California?

Ultra low Maintenance Grass ?????

I have put this Blog together  in order to provide my experience with trying to grow a  Pearl's Premium Lawn  here in southern California.  If you are like me you  are probably here because you are Looking to Spend less time, and less money and still enjoy the benefits of a lush Green lawn.

I hope to do a semi-detailed blog of how well the lawn does  here in the San Fernando Valley.  It seems to me there is very little documentation on how well  these seeds do here in Southern California over  the long term. I hope that this will help others in making the decision whether or not to try Pearl's Premium, however I know that so many  factors will play into the success of the lawn for each situation and soil type.

I have done as much research as I could on this blend of grass seed. I even called The company and Spoke to the Man behind the Product Jackson Madnick( I think) to get the best  results possible. I will list as many of the details as I can in the blog. I hope this Blog over the next couple of years will be helpful to others interested in the results of this experiment.