Probably just too hot for starting grass. And peat is never a good idea for topping. When it dries out it makes a nearly impermeable layer.

Wait until cooler weather and cover with pine straw.

I'd use straw (not hay) instead of peat. I would not scrape off the seeds. There's no point. They aren't going to cause any problems and a few might just decide to sprout or you might feed some birds.

Thanks everyone. Several youtube video preseners recommend to use peat moss. If its no good I wonder why they recommend it. Can grass cuttings be an ok cover?

They'll dry up and disappear quite quickly. Pine straw will stay put for a long time and protect the newly emergent grass as it grows.

Peat and peat moss are two different things. Often, people will recommend substances that are either:

1) Common and cheap where they live and, if not common and cheap where you are, could be replaced by a different thing that is common and cheap near you or

2) are things they are getting paid to promote.

Grass cuttings will be fine. Not too thick. Certainly not matted. Better dried or mostly dry.

Plant mondo grass or liriope. Stands up well to foot traffic, dog pee, and people who don't know how to parallel park.

They have peat, not peat moss, at the local store in a big 50 litre bag. Would that work to put on top, a .25 inch layer, of the just planted grass seeds to keep moisture in after watering, for a few weeks, until it can germinate? The videos say water 3-4 X daily on hot days. I just don't want to rot the grass seed by overwatering. The temperatures for the next 4 days will be 20-24 degrees centingrade maximum. That is positive news. We had another rain today. Will a lot of the seed that didn't wash away have been ruined by the 3 rains in the last 4 days ?

NO! do not use peat. When it dries it creates a layer that water cannot penetrate. Wait until the weather is cooler, use seed appropriate for your area, and cover lightly with straw or seedless hay.

Thank you Laceyvail. Those sound like good ideas.

This might have been a good spot for one of those grass seed blankets.

Maybe you are right, Shripp.

Thanks dchall. That's a great, and comprehensive answer. What you say is rright. Right now, I've put off the grass project. It's just too hot ! It's Hungary, by the way.

I agree with you about the walking on the seeds. A few years ago, I seeded an area, and the seeds literally kept blowing away. I walked on them to press them into the soil and that worked very well.

For now, waiting for cooler weather The area where the grass is is exposed. Most of the new area where I planted grass is doing well (planted about two months ago before the much smaller strip next to the street). However, because there is no shade, I water twice a day. It's drought resistant grass My experience is that this grass will bounce back, even if it turns brown But some of it doesn't and weeds begin to take the place of the grass that didn't come back. It makes me wonder if a few trees would be a good idea, though trees bring their own problems. I love the idea of just wonderful green grass. It looks spectacular in the Spring and early Summer. But the heat of Summer can make it difficult for this grass or a rose tree or other plants.

Here is the problem. You want to grow grass in the "hell strip" between two paved areas. Typically the sunlight warms up those paved areas well beyond the air temperature, and that warm pavement remains warmer into the night. The soil between the paved areas dries out much faster than the soil back away from the pavement. Are there any grasses in Hungary which perform well in the summer heat? And do any of those remain green in the winter?

What grass seed is available? What varieties did you plant?

Hi dchall san antonio,

You have some good points there. And yes, I have noticed the effect in other places in the lawn. Grass near the house or near walls, gets heated more and has difficulty thriving.

Generally, the drought resistant grass I put in is holding up well. I do water it at least once a day (evening) and in the morning too when it looks like it's going to be hotter than usual.

I planted the thin strip next to the street (maybe 1 to 1.5 feet) too late in the season, so the new greass has too much didficulty. Also, I made the error of using real peat in that strip (to keep moisture in), and that worked well initially and the grass started growing. However, one commenter warned not to use pure peat because it hardens and then water has difficulty getting through. Maybe she was right. I don't know. The thing that I suspect is if I plant during a cooler season, which will come fairly soon, this will give the grass a better chance for its roots to take hold until next Summer. I suspect that if I plant new grass there in early September, with some new top soil, and of course a good watering schedule, that the grass will grow and get about 7 months to mature and get a better hold there. Of xourse, I will water it next Summer regularly and watch conditions.

Thanks for the astute advice. Living in Texas probably gives you a lot of experience with warm weather.

For now the grass project is on hold until the slightly cooler weather comes.