How to Use a Grass Seed Slicer

A grass seed slicer is a type of furrowing and planting machine used for large-scale seeding and turf renovation projects. The process of using this machinery is called slice seeding, or renovation seeding. Cutting and sowing in shallow furrows prevents the seed from running off or washing out as a result of hand watering and rain. Using a seed slicer to cut shallow furrows for the grass seed is especially useful when sowing grass seed in large areas of existing turf, as without the furrows the grass seed would rest in the grass rather than making contact with the soil, thus preventing germination. The slice seeding or renovation seeding machine is a large-scale piece of equipment meant to be used by ranchers, pasture owners and lawn crews charged with maintaining golf courses. The slice seeder cuts shallow furrows in the existing turf, uses tubes to deposit grass seed and then covers the furrows. The slice seeder incorporates the entire seeding process into one run across the existing turf, shortening the time and effort needed to re-seed or renovate large areas of grass and pasture land.

Things You'll Need

• Slice, or renovation, seeder
• Mower with debris collector attachment
• Grass seed
• Gasoline
• Large turf area
• Caution flags

Instructions

1. Mow the existing turf grass, as long grass presents a greater risk than short of catching the new grass seed and preventing it from reaching the soil where it can germinate. During or after mowing, make sure the mower picked up all mowing and thatch debris, so the debris is out of the way.

2. Rent, borrow or purchase a slice seeder. A slice seeder, or renovation seeder, is a gasoline-powered riding machine with a cab for the driver, made specifically to cut shallow furrows in existing turf grass over large areas such as range and pasture land. It has several circular blades at its front that cut straight furrows in the turf as it is driven over the land.

3. Gas up the slice seeder, if necessary, and set the furrowing blade depth to 1/8 to 1/16 inch.

4. Load the machine with grass seed as per the manufacturer's instructions.

5. Flag with red or yellow caution flags anything on the land to be slice seeded that could damage the slice seeder, or that could be damaged by the slice seeder, such as large rocks or roots that cannot be removed. Avoid the flagged items when slice seeding the turf.

6. Turn the slice seeder on and drive it slowly back and forth across the area to be seeded, just as one would push a lawn mower over a smaller area. Slice seed the turf in either direction unless there is a slope on the property to be slice seeded. Slopes must be slice seeded at a 90-degree angle to the slope, to avoid the shallow furrows turning into water slides for grass seed and fertilizer during rainstorms and hand watering.

References

• Overseeding
• Turfgrass Improvement Program
• Guidelines For Seeding New Pastures and Renovating Old Pastures