Planting a New lawn from Seed the Right way

So your decision is made to save some money and plant your new lawn from seed. This route may take a little longer, but it gives a better degree of control in what will be going on in your lawn for the next couple of months. Unlike when you sod, seeding gives you a chance to remediate a problem area in your soil without having to remove a dead patch of sod. The best time to plant your new seed is in the late summer or early fall. This type of climate with warm days, cold nights, and increased rainfall, provides an ideal environment to germinate your new turf seeds. Another benefit of this timing is that most weeds will have stopped germinating by this point and will not compete with your new seeds for nutrients and water. If late summer or early fall are not an option then the next best time to plant would be early spring. One thing to note here is that if you do plant in the early spring your planting steps will be a little different. For more info on early spring planting consult a local nursery or gardening center for specific info on you region.
Seed selection is another area you can benefit from your local experts. Do to advances in recent years in agriculture, your choices for grass have increased dramatically. No longer do you have to settle for a strain that you don’t want because it isn’t “right” for your climate. To get even more foolproof results you can go with seed mixtures. Seed mixtures will give you the best results because you will get a variety of various species that are selected for a specific trait. These mixtures will provide you with your best chance for a successful lawn if your yard has a combination of different types of soil (ex. Wet, dry, sunny, or shady).
Now it’s time to get dirty. Before you can begin planting your seed you need to make sure your soil is prepared and up to par. To find out more on this go check out some of my other entries in this blog. I cannot stress this point enough, final soil prep, seeding, and insuring your seed is planted at the proper depth is absolutely critical. The soil should be raked free of all unwanted debris. Large stones or clumps of soil will prevent good root propagation in the area so make sure you remove undesirable material. Large stones may also become a safety hazard upon your first few times mowing your new law so take extra care in this area.
Next step is to spread your seed. Whatever the recommended seed count (per square inch) is, divide that in half and set your spreader up for that seed count. Once you have your spreader all set up, going in one direction only, completely cover the area where you want to have your lawn. With that done, prepare to do a second pass but this time make your pass perpendicular to your initial pass. This method will give you your best coverage. Now that your seed is down you need to rake your seed to approximately a quarter inch in depth and then use a water roller that is only a quarter full to lightly pack that soil down on the seeds.
Now all that is left is for you to ensure your soil stays moist. The top two inches must stay moist until your seeds have good root development. Some slight drying on the surface is fine but should be kept to a minimum. To aid in moisture retention you can use multiple light waterings and straw mulch that stays moist and prevents moisture evaporation. If straw is used spread it out so you can see about a third of the soil through it.
You may also consider using a herbicide for weed control. Make sure to use a product that is labeled for Newly Seeded Lawns. If you do not feel comfortable working with chemicals there are numerous professional pesticide applicators for hire in the phone book.