This video is a punt for an electronic product called Rapitest. Although it’s an advert it is well worth the 1 min, 26 seconds it take to watch it. It is interesting to learn that a small electronic device can tell you this much about the environment in which you have planted or are planning to plant lawns, shrubs, flowers trees and even plants in containers.

As the spokesperson rightly says, “Healthy soil and the correct soil for the plant in question are key to successful gardening and lawn care.” This little device tests a whole range of factors, including the soil quality. First it measures light so you can be sure you are planting the plant in the right spot. Then it tests fertility so you can see whether composting is required. It also tests the pH so you can ascertain if the soil is acid or alkaline. Some plants are sensitive to pH. Finally it tests moisture. Is the soil too wet, too dry, just right? I like this last feature for house plants, or any plants in containers, which are notoriously susceptible to dying of thirst. This Rapitest electronic soil tester is a neat device for keen gardeners who like accuracy and dislike failure.

Yardsmarts of www.yardsmarts.com give a compact little video (1 min 43 secs) that should leave you in no doubt as to how to fill in that bare patch in your lawn or establish a lawn in a bare yard. The principles are the same no matter the size area you want to seed.

The Yardsmarts commentator recommends spring or fall for planting in the Northern US states which are cooler and summer for the Southern states. You go out and buy a sack (or sacks) of good quality grass seed. Before leaving the store, read the label. Weed seed (there is always some mixed into the grass seed) should amount to no more than 0.2%.

Right, so you go home and prepare the soil by raking it. Then you spread the seed either by hand or using a small spreader (for small areas) or a broadcast spreader (for large areas). The idea is to get about 15 seeds per square inch. Then you tamp or rake the seeds into the soil (small area) or heavy roller (larger area).

Then you need to spread straw or peat moss over the area to keep the seeds in place while they germinate and keep the soil moist. Finally you water the area gently and keep it watered whil the lawn is getting established. Water it twice a day if necessary. You don’t want it to dry out.