Todd: Drought restrictions just hit Colorado.
Patrick: There’s never been a better time to plan for a more water-wise lawn. I’m here with Todd Land. Todd, could you tell us a little more about Buffalo Brand?
Buffalo Brand: A Colorado-Owned Seed Company
Todd: We are a local Colorado-owned seed company out of Greeley, Colorado. We really pride ourselves on having varieties and species that work very well in the arid west, especially for our unique Colorado climate.
Patrick: We carry a wide variety of Buffalo Brand seed at O’Toole’s. A couple of our favorites are DuraTurf and Low Maintenance Mix.
Fixing Dead Spots with Colorado’s Choice BOSS
Patrick: Well, after this dry winter, I think a lot of people will be finding some dead spots in the lawn. For overseeding, patching, or top dressing a lawn, we always like to recommend Colorado’s Choice BOSS, Bio Organic Soil Supplement. It’s a great mixture of peat moss and compost, and it also contains mycorrhiza, which helps the root system of the grass absorb more water and nutrients from the soil. Todd, you’re the grass seed expert. How do we fix these dead spots?
Todd: We’re going to show you a really quick and easy way to patch your lawn. So, we take our BOSS, handy five-gallon bucket. Go Broncos. We’re going to fill the bucket only about halfway up. We’ll take a big handful of seed, take our shovel, and we’re going to stir it. And as you can see, we’ve tilled up a little bit with our three-prong. We’re going to take our seed and soil, pour it right over our areas that need patching. And you can either smooth it out with a rake. I’m just going to do it by hand. We’ll put just a little bit more of the BOSS on here. Take a rake, just kind of tamp it down a little bit, and then water it.
Watering New Seed (and Restriction Exemptions)
Patrick: We’ve got our seed down now. So the next important step is watering.
Todd: You’re going to want to make sure you’re watering for about 14 days, but you only want to water to let the soil get wet. You don’t want it to run off.
Patrick: And of course, in a dry drought year like this, many of us are under watering restriction. But a lot of places will offer exemptions for new grass seed and new sod, so check with your local water district for more information.
Mowing Through Dry Conditions
Patrick: What are some other tips to keep your existing lawn going well through the dry conditions? How about mowing?
Todd: You really want to mow about every seven days, if not just a little bit longer. With the water restrictions we’re probably going to have most of this summer, you’re not going to need to mow much more than that. And you want to keep your mowing height right about two inches.
WaterSaver Lawn Food and the Cycle-and-Soak Method
Patrick: Think watering restrictions means your lawn’s done for the season? Think again. Colorado’s Choice WaterSaver Lawn Food is a locally made organic fertilizer that was specifically designed for Colorado drought conditions. It can help you reduce water by up to 30%.
Todd: We talk about, in our industry, cycle and soak. You want to just water for maybe five to seven minutes, let it rest for about 20 minutes, and then another five to seven minutes without having any sort of runoff.
Colorado Companies, Colorado Lawns
Patrick: Yeah. Well, Todd, it looks like we’re in for another crazy Colorado growing season.
Todd: Yes, we are. And as a Colorado company, we understand the challenges we face here in the arid mountain west.
Patrick: We’re a local company too, and that’s why we always prioritize Colorado companies and suppliers. At O’Tooles, we’ve got the products you need to help your lawn survive the season.