Disclosure: Post and giveaway sponsored by Pennington Smart Seed, but all opinions are my own. Please see below for additional disclosure. All opinions are 100% my own.

---

Spring is here and that means it is time to get out in the yard. We did not have very cold temps this past winter here in Texas, so the weeds in our yard are plenty. Sad news for sure. But, my husband is hopeful that we can smother the weeds and get the grass looking great again. Good thing we have help from Pennington Smart Seed.

Pennington Smart Seed

Texas is known for its drought conditions. In fact, it was not just Texas this last year. In 2012, the U.S. experienced the hottest year on record and two-thirds of the country faced drought. This was the most ever experienced. And that is where Pennington Smart Seed comes into play. Pennington Smart Seed remains green for up to three weeks without water. Plus, even better, it requires up to 30 percent less water year after year than ordinary seed.

Lawns require approximately 1 inch of water per week to stay green in the summer, which equates to about 2,500 gallons of water per week to keep an average-sized lawn green.

2,500 gallons a week? Wow! In steps Pennington Smart Seed. These drought-resistant seeds help establish fuller, healthier and greener lawns, while efficiently using natural resources. The seeds contain beneficial micro-organisms that attach themselves to the emerging seed roots for denser, deeper roots. Plus, each seed is further enhanced with Pennington’s exclusive MYCO Advantage seed technology.

Lawn and Garden Care 101

Ok, now you have the proper product (Pennington Smart Seed), so we need a Lawn and Garden Care 101 how-to. Here are a few tips from Pennington:

1. First things first, you must prepare your soil. Pennington suggests tilling to a depth of at least 4-6 inches.
2. Conduct a soil test to evaluate the condition and level of nutrients in the soil. YOu can have this done by a professional or you can do it yourself using a test kit from your local agricultural extension office.
3. Apply any fertilizer and soil amendments at recommended rates to continue to prepare your yard. If you are not able to conduct a soil test, then go ahead and apply a complete lawn fertilizer according to its recommended rates.
4. Work the fertilizer or amendments evenly into the soil and rake the soil surface smooth. This will produce an ideal bed for the seed to establish healthy roots.
5. Sow the grass seed evenly according to its recommended seeding rates and then rake the seed into the soil at least ⅛” deep. 
6. Keep the area well watered until the seeds germinate. Once the seedlings have grown enough to successfully establish a lawn, you will only water when needed. During germination though, make sure to water every day to keep the soil moist. This will further help to promote a strong root system. After two weeks, you can then switch to only watering every third day for 15-20 minutes until the grass is fully grown. In general, you can expect to water every fourth day for 20-30 minutes to maintain the health of your newly established lawn.

Now wait and watch! I cannot wait to see how well our grass looks after a week or more… especially these bare spots we worked on filling.

Disclosure: Central Garden & Pet partnered with bloggers such as me to help educate us all about their Pennington products. As part of this program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the use of the products. Central Garden & Pet believes that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Central Garden & Pet’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. A winner will be chosen by random and gift card fulfillment will be handled by a third party.