While it鈥檚 tough to look at the golden grass of summer and imagine a lush green lawn, now is the time to start preparing if a new 鈥� or renewed 鈥� lawn is on your fall garden to-do list.

Once the heat of summer yields to a cooler mix of sunny days and fall rains, it鈥檚 the perfect time to seed your lawn, says Rob Hendrickson, owner of the locally owned and operated , serving the Comox Valley since 2002.

鈥淵ou want a mix of sun and rain so that your lawn will take quickly 鈥� that鈥檚 why spring and fall are ideal,鈥� Hendrickson says.

• For existing thin or patchy lawns: Start by raking over a layer of Black Gold鈥檚 Triple Lawn Mix, a blend of sand, black mulch and compost that鈥檚 ideal for top-dressing and repairing lawns 鈥� simply spread and seed! The sand will provide some added drainage while the compost will help fertilize the lawn, Hendrickson says.
• For a new lawn: Opt for screened topsoil, ideal for either seeding new lawns or in garden beds. Without the mulch of the Triple Lawn Mix, the topsoil compacts a little more to keep the watered seed in place. For optimum root development, Hendrickson recommends applying the soil at between 7.5 and 15 centimetres deep (three to six inches). 鈥淭he roots will grow as deep as the soil, and the stronger the root system, the better your lawn will survive the stresses of winter rains and summer heat,鈥� Hendrickson says.

Those needing a small amount of soil for seeding a small area can pick up product in 5-gallon buckets, or if you have a truck, pick up a half-yard or yard scoop.

Delivery is also available, from small and medium truckloads to larger vehicles delivering up to 12 yards of soil or 15 yards of mulch.

RELATED READING: Gardening or landscaping, you need to strike Black Gold

You鈥檝e got the right soil, now what?

With a quality soil in place, choose a local suited to our West Coast climate; for high-traffic areas, consider a premium playground mix, such as Black Gold鈥檚 mix of fescue, ryegrass and Kentucky blue.

Water your seed in well, then make sure you keep the lawn watered while the seed germinates and root development continues.

Learn more at , stop by at . or call 250-338-0338. And follow them on to stay up to date with all the Black Gold news!

RELATED READING: Give your garden and landscape projects a local boost