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Grass seed on top of soil


How to plant grass seed: for a luscious and healthy lawn

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Many gardeners crave a healthy green lawn, and knowing how to plant grass seed correctly is the most important first step in achieving luscious, soft grass.

A pristine lawn can make all the difference to the appearance of your backyard and is a year round feature of your garden to enjoy. If you choose the best fast-growing grass seed you can quickly see the results.

An important element of how to plant grass seed is getting the timing right, so make sure you first know when to plant grass seed in your zone to get off to a good start, and give the grass seed the best chance of germinating and producing healthy green blades.

Whether you are sowing a new area of lawn, or repairing patches in grass, you need to know how to plant grass seed to ensure success.

How to plant grass seed – what you need

Learning how to plant grass seed is an easy job for any gardener that requires only basic tools. To reseed small patches, you will simply need a garden fork, rake, grass seed and fertilizer. 

If you are covering a large area, it will save you time to invest in a seed spreader. These can be bought inexpensively from garden centers or Amazon .

You may also want to use an aerator to loosen compacted soil and help distribute water and nutrients.

To get the best out of your lawn once it is planted and grown, set it off with stylish lawn edging ideas and care for it with one of the best ride-on lawn mowers. If your grass starts to lose color, then find out when to add lime to lawns to get it back to a luscious, green state.

(Image credit: Marianne Majerus)

What month should I plant grass seed?

The best month to plant grass seed will depend on the hardiness zone where you live.

‘Spring is a great time to fix those bare patches and the earlier we do it in the season, we will find that nature gives us a helping hand,’ says David Hedges Gower, chairman of the Lawn Association .

Early fall is also a good time to plant grass seed for a new lawn.

However, once the grass and lawn is more established, you can plant grass seed throughout the summer. 'Healthy grass is consistent and if you find that you have a couple of bare spots in your lawn then you may want to consider overseeding. This is a great way to sow new seed over existing lawn and can lead to fuller looking grass,' says Chris Bonnett, founder of GardeningExpress .

The best grass seed to use

Choosing the best grass seed will depend on your location, how much sunlight the lawn receives, and whether it needs to be durable enough to withstand backyard soccer games.

‘Identifying what grass currently grows in your lawn will give you a great indicator of what likes to grow there,’ says Hedges Gower. ‘Choosing the same variety makes success far easier in the long run.’

Grasses are broadly made up of cool-season and warm-season varieties – which type you choose will depend on your local climate.  

Cool-season grasses include fescue, ryegrass, Kentucky bluegrass and bentgrass, which grow better in cooler climates. Bentgrass and fescue are widely used in seed mixes, while ryegrass is particularly tough so a good choice for families.

Also known as Southern grasses, warm-season grasses include Bermuda grass, zoysia grass, St. Augustine grass and centipede grass. They thrive in areas with hotter summers and milder winters. 

Bermuda and zoysia grasses are widely used throughout the south, while centipede grass is a good low-maintenance choice. St. Augustine is more shade tolerant than other warm-season grasses.

Many lawns are made up of a seed mix, rather than a single variety. ‘Seed mixtures are generally a blend of species to suit most lawns and guarantee a better strike rate,’ says Hedges Gower. 

‘However, be aware that seeding ryegrass, for example, into a traditional lawn mixture will stand out like a sore thumb, and vice-versa.’

Options include luxury lawn mixes, shade-tolerant mixes, hardwearing family mixes, and fast-growing varieties. Choose a mix compatible with your climate and garden conditions.

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How to prepare lawn for seeding

Good preparation is the most important aspect of learning how to plant grass seed. Luckily, getting it right is easy. 

‘To prepare your soil before planting grass seed, simply till and loosen the soil to create the best growing conditions – you don’t need to put down topsoil,’ says Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of Lawn Love .

To till the soil, Hedges Gower recommends using a fork to lightly dig it over to a depth of about 2-3 inches. ‘This will allow new seedlings to take root,’ he says. 

Remove any rocks and weeds as you go, but don’t apply weed killer as this will hinder growth. 

'If possible, leave the seed bed for a few weeks and then get rid of any weeds and rake in some lawn feed before sowing,' says the experts at Johnsons Lawn Seed .

If you are applying seed to cover patches in a large lawn, it's a good idea to use an aerator to punch holes into the ground and pull up small plugs of turf and soil.  

'Doing this has two benefits. The first is that some seed will fall into the holes and improve germination. The second is that aerating the soil reduces soil compaction and improves water infiltration,’ says Landscape Tutor Brian Walker. You can buy aerators on Amazon .

To give your grass seed a helping hand, it's important to feed it. Depending on the product, you can apply pre-seeding fertilizer at the preparation stage, or you can wait until after you have sown the seed to use starter fertilizer.

Rake the soil level before planting the grass seed.

How to sow grass seed

For small areas, it's easy to sow grass seed by hand. ‘Carefully spread the seeds on the ground and cover them with about a quarter of an inch of soil,’ says Noah James, owner of Liberty Lawn Maintenance . 

'Moisten the ground, mix the seed and scatter it evenly. Sow 1 1/4 ounces of seed per square yard (35g per square meter) half from right to left and the other half from left to right to ensure a good coverage,' add the experts at Johnsons Lawn Seed.

For larger areas, use a spreader to sow the seed. ‘Trying to use your hands for large areas can lead to very uneven coverage of grass seed,' says Walker. 'I have found that push rotary spreaders do an excellent job. They apply the seed at a consistent rate for uniform coverage.’

Once you have sown your seed, carefully cover the seeds over with soil using either your hand or a rake. 

‘Press the seeds down by standing on them or using a tool like a roller, because they need a firm seedbed,’ adds James.

Take care not to plant the seeds either too deep or shallow. ‘Bury them too deep and they will take longer to germinate. Too shallow and the seeds will be prone to drying out or being eaten by birds,’ says Hedges-Gower.

Once you have planted your grass seed, you can apply starter fertilizer if you didn’t do so prior to planting. Water immediately. 'In case of dry weather use a fine spray to keep the seed bed well watered and moist,' add Johnsons Lawn Seed experts.

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Should I put topsoil over grass seed?

Do not put top soil over grass seed, but you can add a thin layer of organic matter to help the seed to germinate. 

‘Never put topsoil over newly planted grass seed,’ says Yamaguchi. ‘This won’t provide healthy growing conditions – it will actually prevent the seedlings from sprouting by essentially suffocating them.’

‘Leaves, straw, and peat moss can be used to help hold moisture for the seed to germinate and grow,’ adds James.

Once the grass is more established then 'top dressing is something you can do a couple of weeks after fertilizing a lawn if you’re really keen for your grass to grow. Mix together materials like sand, soil loam and peat and apply this to your dry grass. The materials will transfer nutrients back into the soil and promote growth,' says Chris Bonnett.

How often should you water grass seed?

How often you should water grass seed will depend on the weather conditions and climate where you live. Watering is an important part of establishing your new grass, but be careful not to overdo it.

‘Too much water can make it sit too wet and too dry won’t allow the seed to germinate,’ says Hedges Gower. 

‘As a rough guide, a patch of around 3x3 feet (1x1 metre) should need about 15-30 seconds of water every 2-8 hours, depending on how warm the weather is.’

Always check to feel how damp the soil is before applying more water.

Once the grass is established, only water when needed and know when to water grass. 'Overwatering grass can lead to its demise and therefore grass should be watered during the cooler time periods and only once a week. When watering grass you are looking to water deeply to ensure there’s enough water to see through a drought, 'add the experts at Marshalls .

To encourage strong, vigorous growth, How Cobra, manufacturer of garden lawnmowers, recommends watering lawns early in the morning when heat is at a minimum to reduce the amount of evaporation. 'This allows water to penetrate the deeper into the root. An infrequent yet heavy dose of water is also recommended as it’s one of the most effective ways of stimulating stronger grass growth.'

Water butts are also a great way to collect and reuse any rainwater so that it can be saved to keep lawns hydrated and gardens watered as a sustainable garden idea. 

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How do you maintain brand new grass?

Feeding a new lawn is one of the most important steps to maintaining it after you have mastered how to plant grass seed .

‘Seedlings require a lot of food in the initial germination phase. We need to turn this into a nice lush adult grass plant as quickly as possible,’ says Hedges Gower.

Feed your lawn every 4-8 weeks until it is well established, then twice a year.

Don't reach for the lawnmower too quickly. New lawns shouldn’t be mowed until the grass reaches three inches tall. Make sure you know how often you should mow your lawn so you don't destroy all of your hard work in planting grass seed.

'Reseeding lawns after heavy footwall will help recover dull patches and bring back its lush color,' add the Cobra experts.

‘If filling in patches, continue to mow the lawn as usual but keep the blade slightly higher in order to allow the new seedlings a better chance to absorb more food and water,’ says Hedges Gower.

In addition, know how to aerate a lawn to improve a lawn's overall health, and try to keep pets off the grass as their urine is high in nitrogen, which can easily scorch lawns when undiluted.

What is the easiest way to plant grass seed?

The easiest way to plant grass seed is by hand. 

‘Carefully spread the seed throughout the areas where you want to see new growth occur,' says James. 'Lightly water thereafter in order to soak the seeds and help encourage new growth.’

Will grass seed grow if you just throw it on the ground?

Grass seed will not grow well if you just throw it on the ground. While you might be lucky and some grass seeds will take root, for a healthy patch of grass or lawn, it requires more care and attention, as outlined above.

It's worth your time and effort learning how to plant grass seed as 'the cheapest way to get a thriving garden is by growing a lawn by seed, as turf isn’t cheap and can be difficult to lay. With seeding, you’ve got much greater control over which species of seed are going into your new lawn,' explains Carlos Real, managing director of TotalLawn .

How can I make grass seed germinate faster?

To make grass seed germinate faster:

As editor of Period Living, Britain's best-selling period homes magazine, Melanie loves the charm of older properties. I live in a rural village just outside the Cotswolds in England, so am lucky to be surrounded by beautiful homes and countryside, where I enjoy exploring. Having worked in the industry for almost two decades, Melanie is interested in all aspects of homes and gardens. Her previous roles include working on Real Homes and Homebuilding & Renovating, and she has also contributed to Gardening Etc. She has an English degree and has also studied interior design. Melanie frequently writes for Homes & Gardens about property restoration and gardening.

Should I put topsoil over grass seed?

​          As springtime approaches many of us to start to think about our front lawn maintenance plans. It seems like our front lawn is often the one that we are most concerned about because of the curbside appearance of our home. With the thought of front lawn maintenance, you may be thinking about planting some grass seed. Having grass seed planted is usually one step that many think about when they are thinking about improving the quality of their grass. Especially when it comes to their front lawn, but the next question is often one that we think about and are not sure about asking. Many wonder, “should I put topsoil over the grass seed?” That is a wonderful question and one we know the answer to.
 
          Having topsoil spread over the seeds after it has been planted may seem like a good idea, but let us let you why it is not. While the thought may cross your mind that it would protect the seed and help it germinate unfortunately grass seeds when sprouting are not easily able to push through the heavy earth material like topsoil. When placing topsoil over newly planted seed it will actually suffocate the grass seedlings and ultimately they never have the chance to even get started. There is a proper way to prepare the soil for planting grass. Preparing the soil with a seeding technique and aeration allows for the best protection and prevents from losing any seedlings.
 
          When seeds sprout they have some unusual habits, they are a bit different than other seedlings that you may be used to working with. Many types of seeds are an oblong shape and are small. Unlink other types of seeds, grass seeds are not able to push their way through topsoil or earthy materials. They are very tiny and quite actually really sensitive in the germination stage. Even though they can not be covered with topsoil or earthy materials they can not be let exposed either. Grass seed loves a warm niche in the soil with moisture. If that can be achieved the seed will germinate and provide a wonderful lush lawn of grass. The only cool thing about grass seed is that it grows very rapidly.
 
          Planting grass can also be tricky with getting the best location depth wise when it is planted. Grass seed is best planted at a depth of about ⅛ inch to ¼ inch below the surface. Dispersing the seeds with a spreader or by hand allows the seeds to make contact with the soil, but always make sure that the lawn has been treated and aerated before seeds are placed on the lawn. The aeration allows the soil to be broke up just enough that it gets below the surface but does not get covered with a thick layer of earthy materials. Ideally, aeration will create a shallow planting place for each one of the seedlings to germinate and thrive in. The rule of grass seed and making sure that it has not been overcovered is that you should be able to see about 10 % of the seed when it is in the earthy material. Seeing too much or too little of the seeds can indicate that the soil is not aerated enough or that it has been aerated too deeply. It typically takes about three weeks for grass seeds to sprout.
 
            Along with planting grass, there are additional tasks that can be completed to protect and help the grass grow well. Many think that putting topsoil over the seeds would protect it, but in fact, that will actually suffocate the seedlings rather than doing any good. We suggest that straw, hay, or any other type of mulching material be used. Spreading a thin layer of about ¼ inch of this material will be able to protect the seeds from the common wind and even pests. It also helps to provide the soil with moisture retention. When moisture is maintained it allows the germination process to take place in a timely manner and allows the seedling to thrive. Adding straw, hay, and other mulching materials not only protect the seedlings and keeps the moisture after it degrades it adds nutrients to the soil that provides for some great establishment for the grass seeds. Water and adding a protective layer really does help it become the beautiful lawn that you are looking for.

Tips for creating and maintaining a beautiful lawn on your property

The lawn ennobles the space of the garden and serves as an ideal backdrop for ornamental plants, emphasizing their beauty. In addition, the green lawn has a calming effect on the human nervous system, has a beneficial effect on well-being, and gives rest to the eyes. It is easy to breathe on the lawn because it purifies the air by increasing the oxygen content. And in the hot season, the lawn evaporates a significant amount of moisture, which increases the humidity of the air and reduces its temperature.

The lawn can be laid out throughout the site, created in front of a terrace or house. You can also make a lawn in the center of the garden composition, decorated with flowering plants, it will look very attractive.

Depending on the further use, the main types of lawns can be distinguished:

The lawn is started after a thorough leveling of the surface of the land, after the construction of a residential building, after laying all communications and paths, after planting trees and shrubs. At the same time, the paths next to the lawn are made below its level, for the convenience and safety of working with a lawn mower. For the device of paths do not use gravel and crushed stone. It is better to break flower beds along the edges of the site. The place under them is cut out after the germination of the lawn - it is not recommended to leave the ground unsown.
It is better to choose a sunny place for the lawn. Ideally, buildings, trees and shrubs should not shade the future lawn for more than 4 hours a day. Melt and rainwater should not stagnate in the soil.

Landing time

The most convenient time for planting is spring or late summer, autumn. But the best time for laying a lawn is considered to be the end of April - the beginning of May, when the weather is moderately warm, and the soil is still quite wet. When soil preparation takes place in the fall, planting is done on the condition that before the cold weather the grass has time to rise by 10 - 15 cm. Otherwise, it is better to postpone sowing until spring.

Soil preparation

To ensure a high quality lawn - even, dense, without drops, the soil under it is carefully prepared:
  1. Weed removal

    One of the problems of lawns is weeds and perennials. They must be destroyed before sowing the lawn, otherwise it will be very difficult to deal with them further. If time permits, treat the area several times with Roundup or Ground herbicides and dig out the weeds. Next, you need to loosen the ground and wait for the emergence of new weeds, and then re-treat everything with herbicides.
    see all herbicides →

  2. Site cleaning

    Free the area from debris and stones, uproot stumps and roots (if any).

  3. Soil loosening, drainage

    Level the soil surface and dig with a shovel or walk-behind tractor to a depth of 20-25 cm.

    If necessary, make drainage (if the soil is sandy, in which water does not linger, it is not necessary). To do this, remove the fertile layer of soil, fill in a layer of gravel or crushed stone 10 cm thick, and then a layer of sand of the same thickness. Tamp both layers. Lay a fertile layer on top and compact.
    If the top layer of soil was removed during construction, fill it with normal soil. In the case of placing a lawn in place of the garden, additional work is not required.

  4. Soil improvement

    With heavy clay soil, it is worth adding river sand to the ground, with acidic soil - add lime, with excessively chalk - peat. Compost (completely rotted) or biohumus can be used as organic fertilizers. 7-10 days before sowing, a complex mineral fertilizer should be applied to the soil, evenly distributing it over the site and planting it in the soil with a rake.

  5. Soil leveling

    In a small area, this can be done with a shovel and rake, but when arranging large lawns, it is better to use a cultivator. Grains of soil after this should be no larger than a grain of wheat so that the grass sprouts evenly. During this operation, small depressions are filled up and tubercles are cut off.
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  6. Rolling or compacting the soil

    For germination, the seeds must be in as close contact with the soil as possible. Therefore, immediately before sowing, the ground must be compacted with a roller. This procedure also allows you to identify any irregularities that will need to be loosened with a rake.

    The soil can also be compacted with its own weight, replacing the skating rink with a large board: shift it over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe site and, often stepping over, walk along it from one end to the other.
    Compacting the area under the lawn should only be in dry weather on dry soil.
    It is impossible to walk on compacted soil. In dry weather, 2-3 days before sowing, the plot must be watered.

Lawn grass selection

For humid climates, lack of sunlight and frosty winters, a bentgrass-dominated mixture is recommended. Herbs resistant to drought and frost: bluegrass, ryegrass, fescue.
For sports and strengthening lawns, grasses with a high ability to restore are used: red fescue, meadow foxtail, meadow bluegrass.
If you include mainly seeds of perennial plants in the mixture, green lawns will delight the eye for more than one season.

We recommend growing not just one variety of grass on the lawn, but mixtures of several varieties. Baucenter hypermarkets have ready-made seed mixtures:

You can make a good lawn mixture yourself, for example, this: red fescue (different varieties), meadow grass, perennial ryegrass, white bent grass and highland bent grass (shoot-like). These herbs are emerald green with silver tints. Seeding rate per 1 square. m - from 20 to 40 g.

View all lawn grasses →

Even seeding

If there was no rain, the day before sowing, the land is watered abundantly.
In order to see where you have already sown and where not, we recommend mixing the seeds with sand.

Sow the seeds in dry, calm weather. When sowing, make sure that the seeds are evenly distributed. To do this, measure the area, divide it into square meters and for each square meter weigh as many seeds as recommended for this grass mixture. Scatter each part of the seeds first along the plot, then across.
A large area can also be divided into strips and the strips can be sown first along and then across, capturing about 8 cm of the adjacent strip. Plant more densely at the edges of the lawn.

Then plant the seeds into the soil with a fan rake to a depth of about 1 cm and lightly roll.
Water the crops immediately with plenty of water from a watering can or sprinkler, and be sure to use a nozzle with a fine spray, otherwise you will simply wash the seeds off the lawn and bald spots may appear on it). From the moment of sowing the seeds, the earth should be constantly moist.
If possible, it is best to cover the crops with a light non-woven material to protect against birds and retain moisture. If the weather is dry after sowing, then the site will have to be watered regularly.
Shoots usually appear after 2-3 weeks. Until that time, it is better not to let animals go there and not to go by yourself. When the grass grows to 5-6 cm, the surface of the lawn should be rolled with a light roller so that the soil raised by the seedlings is compacted. After a few days, the crushed shoots will straighten. And after about 8 weeks, a uniform, dense cover should form on the lawn.

First haircut

The grass can be cut for the first time 4-6 weeks after germination. Further, it is produced no more than once a week.

Watering

The lawn requires frequent watering, otherwise the grass may burn out in dry, hot weather. Watered with a hose or sprinkler. It is better to water in the evening, 1-2 times a week, plentifully, in order to moisten the roots and soil well.

See everything you need for watering →

Features of varieties:

If the mixture is dominated by bent grass - watering every other day.
Ryegrass, fescue, bluegrass can be watered less frequently, if it rains often, natural watering is enough.
In a well-groomed, strong lawn, weeds do not take root; after cutting, weed seedlings die.

Lawn care

Especially careful care of the lawn requires in the first year. After the first mowing, further care should consist of timely watering, fertilizing and weekly mowing. In winter, it is desirable to prevent accumulation of snow on the lawn, the installation of slides.
With regular mowing, combing is carried out every 2-3 mowing and fertilizers are also applied. The only exceptions are mineral fertilizers of prolonged action.
This is a new group of fertilizers with a slow release of nutrients depending on the needs of the plants. The controlled release of a complex of nutrients, placed in a special shell (membrane), prevents their dissolution immediately after application. The flow of nutrients through the membrane depends on the soil temperature, ensuring the action of fertilizers for a long period of time.
View all fertilizers →

Shearing or mowing

They are carried out at a grass stand height of 10-12 cm with a lawn mower or a scythe, always at the same height: not lower than 4-5 cm from the soil surface. Frequent mowing improves the density of the grass, contributing to the density of the turf, on such a lawn it is pleasant and useful to walk, run barefoot. Grass near flowers, stones, trees and paths is recommended to be trimmed with a trimmer.

The last time the grass is cut from late September to mid-October, in such a way that it has time to grow up to 7-8 cm before frost.
When mowing, small grass should not be left on the lawn, we recommend that it be immediately collected and used as a fertilizer for flowers or other plants.
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Lawn care

Against the background of the lawn, flower beds, separately lying stones, shrubs and decorative design elements are clearly visible. Planted plants should have spectacular decorative qualities: large bright flowers or beautiful leaves, be tall enough to stand out against the background of the lawn. For this purpose, perennial peonies, delphinium, phloxes, spray roses, liatris, mordovnik, hydrangea, etc. are suitable. Long-blooming seedlings are planted from annual flowers - these are lavatera, tagetis (high), zinnia, dahlia, decorative sunflower; from biennials - Turkish carnation, stock-rose. Ornamental plants can be placed in groups, the size and number of plants depending on the area of ​​​​the lawn.

Planting and lawn care require a lot of effort and time. But all the hard work will certainly be compensated by the amazing natural beauty that will decorate your site and delight the whole season! And how good it is to relax on a hot afternoon!


Will lawn seeds grow if I sprinkle them on the ground? — Ideas for home

Heading: Home repair and maintenance

Preparing now means less work later.

Simply spraying lawn seed over a muddy bed is not an ideal planting method. When it comes to lawns, haste is wasted and your efforts to create a lawn for your summer dinner will backfire. Some seeds germinate despite harsh treatment, but properly seeding your lawn prevents months of fertilization, sweating, and swearing from weed-infested struggles. You'll have a thick, healthy lawn perfect for a Labor Day barbecue.

Germination


Heavy rains can damage tender roots.

Grass seeds require direct contact with the soil for good germination. This strong contact provides the necessary amount of moisture in the seeds and promotes strong root development. While seeds on the soil surface can germinate, unfavorable conditions reduce the rate of germination, wasting your investment. The sun and wind also dry out both dirt and poorly rooted seedlings. In fact, this is how preemergence herbicides work. The chemical barrier of the herbicide prevents root growth and the dehydrated seedling dies.

Seeding Procedures


Kentucky bluegrass, fescue and other cool season grasses grow well in fall temperatures. The same low temperatures stop weeds like crabgrass from spreading during the warm season, giving your seeds time to root without competition. Use a rotary spreader or drip spreader to sow half of the grass seed from north to south and apply the other half from east to west. Rake the seeds lightly to a depth of 1/4 inch and use a lawn roller to press the seeds firmly into the soil.

Soil Preparation


Do not till silty soil as this creates heavy hard clods.

The thickest and lushest lawn starts long before the seeds hit the ground. Correcting soil problems before planting is much easier and more effective than trying to fertilize the soil from a bad lawn. Test your soil, add missing nutrients, and add aged compost or other organic matter to clay or sandy soil. Make any necessary adjustments to the first 4-6 inches of the layer and water well to allow them to settle.

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