The use of an all-natural water conservation agent when seeding or sodding a lawn is a relatively new technique but according to one horticulturist, it can help to significantly reduce the amount of water, energy and fertilizer needed to grow a healthy turf.

Renovating and growing sustainable grass can be problematic. James Rafferty, horticulturalist and owner of Lawn Wranglers of Belleville, Ill., recently offered his advice on how to succeed in this endeavor.

Among his recommendations is to plant grass seed or install sod in the fall when the ground is warm and the air is cool. Optimal air temperature is???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+75 degrees and above during the day and below 70 degrees at night. Preferably begin the process before the leaves have begun falling from the trees and just after a good rain, when the soil is soft.

Aeration, power raking, tilling and slit seeding are all good techniques for disturbing the soil and removing debris and dead grass. Rafferty recommends incorporating a natural compost to the prepared areas at this time to provide much needed nutrients to the soil and prepare it for germinating seed and growing grass.

He also advises to use compost instead of straw to cover the seed after it has been distributed.???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+???(R)???AE'?N????e'?N,A+Compost can hold six times its own weight in water, provide nutrients to the soil, break down thatch buildup and is weed free, unlike straw.

When selecting the appropriate grass seed or sod, Rafferty recommends answering a few qualifying questions first such as: what will the turf be used for, how much sun or shade does the area get, how warm or cool is the climate, and what is the budget.

New sod and seed should be watered once or twice a day. Rafferty suggests watering enough to keep the sod and soil wet, being careful not to cause pooling of the water, as watering too much can be more detrimental than not watering enough. Watering in the morning is optimal, but hotter days may require additional frequency.

Removing falling leaves from newly seeded or sodded areas will protect the new growth from being smothered and give it a better chance to grow.

One other recommendation from Rafferty is to use an all-natural water conservation agent while seeding, sodding and growing lawns.

"No matter what type of soil you have, whether it's full of clay or rock, I recommend using an agent such as H2OExcel from Brookside Agra," says Rafferty.

According to the manufacturer, the product is formulated from a blend of desert plant extracts, and it naturally reduces soil surface tension to allow soils to absorb water three to five times faster, and alters the soil profile to allow fertilizers, nutrients and oxygen a more efficient path to the root zone.