PRATO READY | SOWING | |
| Installation period | All year round, even with very low or very high temperatures | Soloin the spring or, preferably, in the autumn months |
| Irrigation | Abundant after laying, ordinary after 4/5 days | Delicate and difficult to manage. It will be necessary to wisely irrigate the soil for the first 50/60 days, making sure that it always has the right humidity, avoiding periods of dryness or excess irrigation that could cause, especially in the first days, displacements of the seed. |
| Installation | Quite easy, even for a beginner. Just follow a few basic rules (see our article "How to lay the lawn ready"). | Difficult for those without great experience or suitable equipment. The main problems are: uneven distribution of the seed or in the wrong quantity, removal of the seed by insects and birds, bad management of irrigation, overwhelming weeds. |
| Weed control | Easy, as an already dense and mature lawn is laid that leaves no room for weeds. The "clod" of lawn placed on the ground prevents the passage of light, a fundamental element for the germination of weed seeds present in the soil. | Difficult due to poor ground cover in the early stages of lawn seedling growth. It will therefore be necessary to fight weeds with selective weeding, bearing in mind that there are various types of weeds and therefore it will be necessary to choose the right herbicide. Furthermore, the majority of weeding (especially the most effective ones) are classified as "pesticides", so to purchase and use them you must be in possession of the "Licensed for the purchase and use of pesticides", the so-called "license". There are also varieties of weeds that cannot be fought with selective weeding, so they will need to be removed by hand. |
| Uniformity of coverage | Immediate total uniformity. | Nothing for the first 20/30 days. Light coverage after 60 days and full coverage after about 120 days. Possible empty or thinned patches caused by seed displacement or improper watering. |
| Usage | Light trampling immediately, intense after 15 days. | Light trampling after 3/4 months, intense after 6/7 months. |
| Slope land erosion | The ready lawn immediately protects the ground from erosion (if the slope is considerable, fix the "clods" with pegs planted in the ground). | The risk of soil erosion, with the dragging of seeds and seedlings is very high in the first 30/60 days and possible up to the sixth month in case of heavy rain. |
| Aesthetic aspect | Excellent and immediate. | Not optimal for at least 4 months. |
| Cost | Higher initially, but without further additional costs in subsequent periods other than normal routine maintenance. | Lower initially, but if we consider the workforce (which must be done by qualified personnel with specific knowledge of lawns) and the products to be used to achieve the maturation of the carpet in the best possible way, the gap it almost vanishes. |
NB. the comparison simulation was created taking into account a Microterma lawn, a type that is best suited to the vast majority of the Italian territory.
Conclusion:
albeit with a higher initial cost, the "lawn ready"guarantees" an optimal and immediate result of the turf.
The realization of a good turf with sowing, even if possible, requires specific knowledge that sometimes even operators in the sector (gardeners or nurserymen) unfortunately do not have.
For those wishing to opt for sowing, therefore, we recommend relying on specialized operators in the sector with proven experience and knowledge on the creation of turf.
For those wishing to carry out the sowing with "do it yourself", we recommend that you inquire well about the techniques, times and products to use. And speaking of the latter, the choice of products (starting withseeds) and essential for the success of the turf. So get advice from experts.
The team ofPrato ErbosoShopwith its decades of experience in the field is at your disposal for any information.
