I’m all about the before and after.
I’m sucker for them.
And when I see something on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram with a claim about how you won’t believe what this person did with this or that …
or to this or that …
I hightail it over there as fast as I can. I drop everything. The email I was composing or blog post I was writing or photo I was editing forgotten. Because life as I know it can’t possibly go on if I don’t see for myself the amazing after …
regardless if this is an on-the-cheap ugly builder grade kitchen transformation …
or that (according to a Facebook or Twitter or Instagram claim) is a jaw-dropping craft made from an empty toilet paper roll and a glue gun.
Because, let’s face it, before and after transformations are sexy …
and effortless …
and amazing! 🙂
They give us hope for our ugly builder grade kitchens and pile of empty toilet paper rolls.
And with all that said, let me share with you my amazing-you-won’t-believe-your-eyes growing grass from seeds before and after.
Drum roll please …
Sigh.
I know, I know.
Not sexy. Nor effortless.
But, in all fairness, this before and after can’t easily be fixed with a can of paint or dab of hot glue. I’m at the mercy of Mother Nature (to whom I would be extremely grateful if she threw some rain my way this week).
I fear the draw-dropping-how-did-she-do-it-after may be a month or more away. So in the meanwhile, I thought I’d share the process …
… well, my process.
I have my fingers crossed it works.
(Between you and me, I don’t have much of green thumb; hence the dismal ‘before.’)
On to the process: I started with my go-to Scotts products from my local Ace Hardware. The staff there was really helpful in steering me to products that would work best. Like since I was starting with, basically, a blank slate they recommended the Scotts Turf Builder Lawn Soil as a base.
And since my front lawn is the size of a postage stamp, Ace recommended the Scotts Handy Green Hand Held Spreader for seeding.
Finally, once my grass starts to sprout, they suggested I use the Scotts Hand Held Spreader to, well, spread Scotts Halts Crabgrass Preventer. Because crabgrass growth thrives here in Chicago …
in fact, it seems to be my specialty! 😉
My first step was clean up.
Turns out, we haven’t raked leaves in a very long time. Oops! I filled three Ace lawn and leaf bags.
Oh, and as an aside, those yellow leaf scoopers are my new favorite tool. There come in a pair and cut my leaf-gathering clean up time in half.
Up next, I raked the soil and dug up more troublesome weeds. Followed by a thin layer of the Scotts top soil spread with a rake.
I used the handheld spreader to spread the seeds (I used Scotts Kentucky bluegrass blend because that’s what Ace Hardware recommends for our region).
After a bit of watering, the waiting game begins …
And while I wait for my grass to grow, you can enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card from Ace Hardware. Enter here …
Good luck!
🙂
Today’s post was written as part of my role as an Ace Hardware Blogger. I was compensated by Ace for this post and for the products used, but all opinions about the products, about growing grass from seeds, and about Ace Hardware are my own.
i would give the card ot my husband so he can buy tools and such for work.
I’d use it towards some outside necessities that we need like a pitch fork and shovels!
demureprincess7(at)gmail(dot)com
They sell a great product called wet and forget that works wonders outside of the home. I would also buy some landscaping supplies.
I would use it to purchase things for the backyard for the spring and summer like garden soil and seeds.
I would buy all the flowers I could get for $100!
I would buy paint and supplies.
I would use it to buy paint for my bathroom.
I would use it to spruce up my porch
I would browse the flowers and outdoor areas then buy pretty flowers.
I’m in desperate need of new garden tools
We are in need of a gas powered blower and edger.
Believe it or not, I am going to Ace today to buy some solution to remove the moss from my landscape boulders. I have stared at it for a few years and now I am ready to do battle with my wire brush.
I would purchase flowers and anything else that looks interesting.
Good luck with the seed. My Mike (as opposed to yours) is an expert grass grower so let me know if you need help. We dug up all the perfectly fine sod in the back yard last fall and reseeded. The front yard we did the year before. He uses a few Scotts products so that is probably what we would buy. Or better yet I think I would like to buy my potting soil . Or light bulbs, I always need light bulbs.
I have so many projects going right now that I would have to spend it on paint for yet another project that I want done. LOL It motivates me to have the materials all waiting for me to run through my to do lists.
I could use this gift card for so many things I cant even list them! Thank you for the opportunity!
I feel your pain. I’ve been having a devil of a time trying (unsuccessfully) to get grass to grow. When we built our house they took away all the topsoil and gave us back like two percent of what would have been necessary to actually make it grow. Criminal. I really need some super duper grass seed.
great post I myself am trying this grass growing from seeds as well so i wish us both luck and a green green grass fingers crossed
My yard is in meed of some TLC too so that’s what I would spend a gift card on!
This spring clean-up has made me realize….we need some skinny rakes…to rake all the leaves and pine needles from in between our evergreens and bushes! 😉
Wow do I need this!!!
I would buy as many herbs and flowers that $100 would buy!
I would buy shelving for our garage.
We just moved to a new house and have no grass. This gift card would mean we could get some grass started in our yard.
I would use the Ace gift card to buy paint, yard waste bags, and flowers for my planters.
I love shopping at ACE!!! I would LOVE a gift card for them! I would have so much fun!
My husband has a lot of outside projects to do so I’d give it to him to buy whatever he needs.
I would get some stuff for my garden. It would make it easier to garden.
I would give it to my Dad and we’d use it to fix our lawn/yard after a rough NE winter and a Vole invasion! (Nasty critter that’s like a mouse and mole which digs LONG LONG tunnels). Plus I’d buy plants/seeds for his Deck so that they’d grow for father’s day.
Re: before and after – while not much now, it will grow and you’ll be proud of the growth you created!
I need to re-finish my deck and I need a new barbeque.
Thanks for the chance to win! I would use the gift card to buy things to spruce up my boring yard…flowers, maybe put in a small garden, some decorative lawn ornaments. 🙂
I would use it to buy paint for my living room! 🙂
Ugh, I feel your pain. I’m good with flowers but horrible at getting grass to grow. So I’d probably buy flowers!
I would buy paint.
I use all Scott’s products so a gift card would be fantastic. I just used the crab grass preventive… you can only deal with that in the spring at the perfect time. In a few weeks I can do some re-seeding. It’s really not hard and I bet those guys at Ace can give you some advice!! 🙂
Jane x
I’ll get lawn fertilizer and grass seed.
I would use it for supplies for the new deck we are building.
I would use the gift card to buy some new gardening tools for the yard.
I would use it to buy some paint or some plants.
What a wonderful opportunity! Thank you! I certainly need a couple of bags of grub killer, some lime, fertilizer and seed!
I would use it for seeds and some new garden tools.
I would use it toward supplies to build my three boys a tree house.
I want to put in some raised beds for our vegetable plants.
Oh I would love to do what you did with the grass! My grass has been having a hard time with the dogs…and I have a few bare spots I would love to seed. I think you did a great job…I hope you will post an update on your grass!!!
I would get a rack, fertilizer, abd maybe new drill.
I would purchase garden tools with the gift card.
I would buy paint, maybe some plants, and/or a new door mat. Thank you so much for the opportunity!
during the next paint sale
I would definitely use it for some paint!
I would use it to buy paint.
tools and for landscaping items
The first thing I would get would be a new hose and nozzle and then maybe some flowers or shrubbery fro around the porch.