When you select the best grass seed for your region and the condition of your lawn's soil and follow a few simple steps, sowing grass seed is an easy DIY project that can transform your lawn into something you can admire with pride throughout the growing months. Doing the following can lead to a great looking lawn.
Time It Right
You need to be sure you're timing it right when it comes to seeding. Cool-season grass seeds such as perennial ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass, or tall fescue are best put down in spring or early fall in the country's northern climates. Southern climate, warm-season grass seed like bermudagrass, zoysia, and centipede need the soil to be warm before it will germinate, so early summer is the best time for these seeds.
Test for Healthy Soil
Before putting down grass seed, it's best to test the pH level of the soil. For it to germinate and grow strong and healthy, the seed should have soil with an ideal pH balance. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14, with the ideal pH range for growing grass seed between 6.0 to 7.0. You can purchase a pH level kit at most home improvement stores or garden centers. If the soil tests as too acidic (pH under 6.0), add ground limestone to it. If it's too alkaline (pH over 7.0), add sulfur, composted manure, or compost to the soil.
Select the Right Grass Seed
For best results, get the best-quality grass seed you can and one well-suited to your climate and your growing conditions. Take into account your budget, the area to be seeded, and your lifestyle. Will your yard get full or partial sunlight? Will there be a lot of foot traffic on the lawn? Will kids regularly be in the yard playing? Are pets going to be out in the yard frequently? These questions and more should be considered before seeding your lawn. Once you've answered all the pertinent questions, selecting the correct grass seed should be easier.
Prepare the Lawn for Seeding
To maximize your seeding efforts and to achieve a healthy and attractive lawn, it's important to prepare properly. For a smooth, level lawn use a short-tined garden rake to remove any rocks or debris, old dead grass, and other impediments that could get in the way of the seed successfully germinating. Then fill in and level off any low spots with quality soil rich with nutrients and composting material. If your lawn has heavy, compacted soil or it's very sandy, seed germination, growth, and the overall health of your lawn can be compromised. If necessary, tilling or aerating before seeding can improve air, water, and fertilizer/nutrient penetration below the yard's surface. Then adding a layer of nutrient-rich composting material over the entire lawn where the seed is being spread will greatly enhance chances for a great looking lawn.
Time to Plant the Grass Seed
After you've prepped, smoothed, and amended the soil, use a spreader to disperse the seed. A broadcast or rotary spreader is a walk-behind or hand-held spreader that spreads grass seed by fanning it out in a circular pattern. It's effective in covering large areas, but not as accurate in tight spaces. For better accuracy in tight spaces and on smaller areas, a drop spreader is more effective. It drops seed straight down in a path the width of the walk-behind spreader while moving across your lawn. With either style, try to avoid getting grass seed or fertilizer in garden beds or on the driveway and sidewalk.
Seed the lawn's perimeter first, which allows you to fill in the rest of the lawn without worrying about missing any of the edges. And, just as you would when mowing, seed (and feed) your lawn with slightly overlapping passes. It's okay to fertilize while seeding as it gives the grass seed a head start to grow strong. Use a granular lawn food specially formulated for new grass. Whether you seed or fertilize first is up to you.
Add a Thin Layer of Topsoil
With grass seed and fertilizer down, cover both with a thin layer (¼") of nutrient-rich topsoil, available from a local home improvement store or garden center. Once applied, drag the backside of a lawn rake over it to ensure proper coverage. The mixture of nutrients and additional fertilizer in the soil helps with water retention to aid in seed growth. On hilly areas of a lawn, cover newly spread seed and fertilizer with straw, which prevents it from washing away in heavy rains. Don't overuse the straw, however; be sure to use just enough so you can still see the new grass seed beneath the straw.
Watering Is Critical
The key to watering newly spread grass seed and lawn food is to keep the top inch of soil consistently moist, but not saturated. Lightly water or mist two to three times a day to keep the lawn appropriately wet. Stop when water starts to puddle on the soil surface and newly seeded area. Once seeds germinate and grass begins growing, water until the top 2 inches of soil is continuously moist. As grass growth continues, you'll gradually transition to watering less often, but more heavily, until the lawn reaches a mowing height of 3". At this point, reduce watering to about twice a week. You'll now be soaking the soil more deeply (6" to 8"), encouraging grass roots to grow strong and deep into the soil.
Mow and Maintain the Lawn
When the grass has reached a height of at least 3", it's time for mowing. Set the lawnmower height so you're cutting off no more than ⅓ of the grass height. Mowing grass too short weakens the grass, allowing for weeds—and potentially disease—to take hold while discoloring a lush looking lawn. Also, young grass is still tender, so avoid foot traffic as much as possible. In addition to mowing, keep up the maintenance on your lawn with lawn and garden tools, regular weekly watering, and nutrient applications with spreaders or lawn and gardens sprayers as needed.
With these easy-to-follow steps, you'll be well on your way to the hearty, healthy lawn you've always wanted!
Product Compliance and Suitability
The product statements contained in this guide are intended for general informational purposes only. Such product statements do not constitute a product recommendation or representation as to the appropriateness, accuracy, completeness, correctness or currentness of the information provided. Information provided in this guide does not replace the use by you of any manufacturer instructions, technical product manual, or other professional resource or adviser available to you. Always read, understand and follow all manufacturer instructions.