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Seeding lawn grass


How to Plant Grass Seed

Planting grass seed is an economical and satisfying way to expand the green space around your home or improve your existing lawn. In order to enjoy successful grass establishment and all the benefits seeding offers, follow these eight steps to grow a lush, inviting green lawn:

  1. Choose the Right Time of Year
  2. Prepare the Site
  3. Prepare the Soil
  4. Choose the Best Seed
  5. Plant the Seed
  6. Water Appropriately
  7. Monitor Seed Establishment
  8. Mow and Maintain

The time of year you plant grass seed has a direct effect on its success. Proper timing helps ensure your grass seed will germinate properly, grow quickly and remain healthy while new seedlings become established.

The best time to plant grass seed varies according to your grass growing region and the type of grass you grow. Lawns across the northern tier of the United States typically consist of cool-season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue or perennial ryegrass. Planting during cool weather in fall and spring coincides with the most active growth periods for these grass types.

In Massachusetts, for example, early fall is the ideal time to plant grass seed.1 At this time, the ground is still warm enough to aid germination, but the days are cool and sometimes rainy. This combination helps ensure newly planted seeds don't dry out. There's also sufficient daylight in early fall to allow new grass to thrive and become established before winter's arrival.

Spring seeding is your second best option for planting cool-season grasses. Aim to seed early in the season, but wait until daytime temperatures are in the 60 to 75 degree Fahrenheit range. This roughly corresponds to the optimal soil temperatures for cool-season grass seed germination. Spring sunshine and rain both contribute to strong grass growth.

For lawns across the southern half of the U.S., warm-season lawn grasses such as Bermudagrass, Zoysia grass, Bahiagrass and Centipede grass are the rule. These grasses are best planted during their optimal growth period, which falls in spring and early summer instead of fall. Wait to plant warm-season grasses until daytime temperatures stay near 80 F or higher and all danger of a late spring frost in your area has passed.


A healthy, attractive lawn starts with proper site preparation. Proper grading of the site prior to planting is important, as it helps ensure water drains away efficiently and allows for easy mowing. Sloping the lawn area away from buildings at a rate of 1 to 2 percent is recommended.2 Avoid creating steeper slopes, as they tend to cause lawns to dry out too quickly. Smooth the site well to avoid depressions, which can create wet spots that are hard to mow and prone to disease.

If you intend to replace the entire lawn, it's important to do a thorough job of removing the old turf. Use a sod cutter to take out the old grass at the roots. Another option for clearing the area is to spray the lawn with a non-selective herbicide, which kills both grass and broadleaf plants. If you choose to spray, follow label instructions for your product closely and avoid any contact with grass or plants you want to keep.

After the product's designated waiting period, reapply as needed to kill any remaining grass. Once you're certain that the turf you want to replace is dead, clear the dead grass from the site and make any needed adjustments to the grade to prepare for seeding.

Optimum soil conditions boost successful seed germination and support healthy turf growth. To prepare your soil for planting, do the following:

To succeed at growing a healthy lawn, it's important to buy quality grass seed that is well-suited to your climate and your growing conditions. Premium, purebred Pennington Smart Seed grasses are water-conserving, drought-resistant and developed for superior performance in home lawns.

Whether you grow warm-season or cool-season grasses depends primarily on where you live. Warm-season lawn grasses are best suited to southern climates and grow most vigorously during the warm months of the year. They typically go dormant and brown in the winter. Cool-season grasses are typically used in northern and transition zone lawns, growing best where summers are moderate and winters are cold. They remain green all year, but can go brown and dormant in heat and drought.

In many areas of the country, you can opt for a mix of seed specific to your region. Smart Seed mixes are designed for lawns in the Midwest, Northeast, Pacific Northwest and Pennsylvania State. If you're growing lawn grass in shade, choose a grass seed product such as Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade, which is formulated especially for challenging low-light conditions. For lawns with variable shade and sun, Pennington Smart Seed Sun & Shade provides the solution you need.

Once amendments are complete and your soil surface is smooth and prepped, broadcast the seed evenly according to your seed product's recommended seeding rates. Remember to carefully review the seed package label instructions and follow the guidelines. Misapplication of seed can lead to unsatisfactory results.

Choosing the right type of spreader for your situation helps you get the results you need. A drop spreader drops seed straight down in a path the width of your spreader as you move across your lawn. This type of spreader maneuvers well in tight spaces and is ideal for small lawns (less than 5,000 sq. ft.), which typically require more precision in where the seed lands.

A broadcast or rotary spreader comes in walk-behind and hand-held types that spread seed by fanning it out in all directions, providing more uniform coverage. These spreaders are ideal for large lawns, but they lack the precision drop spreaders provide.

Once you finish spreading the seed, use a rake to lightly work it into the soil at a depth of about 1/4 inch. Don't bury the seeds any deeper; grass seed needs adequate light to germinate quickly. After raking, pass over the area with a roller, which helps ensure the good seed-to-soil contact your new seed needs.

Overseeding is the process of planting grass seed into an existing lawn. This is done to improve your lawn's overall look and health, thicken your grass, minimize weeds, fill in bare or damaged areas, or convert to another type of lawn grass. Also, southern lawns are often overseeded with a cool-season grass to provide green color during winter months. When overseeding, broadcast the seed over the lawn, and water it in well, following the same instructions as for new lawns.

Keeping grass seeds and seedlings constantly moist but not soggy is critical to successful grass-seeding efforts. Water newly seeded areas two to three times a day with a light spray to keep the seeds moist. Stop watering when puddles begin to appear on the soil surface. Once the seeds germinate and grass seedlings begin to grow, gradually transition to watering less frequently but more heavily. Taper off watering as the grass becomes taller and more mature.


Depending on the type of grass you're growing, germination may take anywhere from five to 21 days. Expect your new grass to take another four to 10 weeks to root well and become established. It will take a full season for most grasses to mature to the point where they're ready for steady foot traffic.

Once your new seedlings reach about 1 inch in height, examine the newly seeded area for any bare spots or places you may have missed. Reseed the bare areas, and repeat the process as needed until new seedlings are thick and you're satisfied with the results.

Once your grass reaches 3 inches high, it's ready to withstand mowing. Always follow best practices for mowing lawns, including the recommended mowing heights for your type of grass. Never remove more than one-third of the grass blade in a single mowing or you can stress your grass and invite lawn disease, lawn weeds and weak growth. With fall-planted cool-season lawns, your first mowing may need to wait until the following spring.

During the first season of establishment, young grass is still tender, so avoid as much foot traffic as possible. Keep your grass growing strong with regular maintenance, including irrigation. Water as needed to supplement rainfall so your lawn receives about 1 inch of water per week under normal conditions.

Begin fertilizing cool-season lawns four to eight weeks after seed germination, but never later than November. For warm-season grasses, wait until the following spring to feed your new lawn. After initial feedings, you might need to fertilize up to four times a year, according to your soil test recommendations. Retest the soil every three to four years, and adjust accordingly.

Conclusion

By choosing the best grass for your region and your lawn's conditions — and following these simple guidelines — planting grass seed is a straightforward project that will transform for your yard. Pennington is dedicated to providing you with the resources and premium products you need to grow lush, beautiful turf. You and your family and friends can enjoy all the benefits of a beautiful, natural lawn.

Total Time Required to Transform Your Lawn: 6-12 weeks, depending on the region, weather and grass type.

How hard you'll have to work on a scale of 1-4: 3 (a little work goes a long way especially during the prep phase)

Time breakdown:

Pennington and Smart Seed are registered trademarks of Pennington Seed, Inc.

Sources:

1. University of Massachusetts Amherst, “Lawn Renovation and Overseeding."

2. Ricigliano, D., "Lawn Establishment, Renovation and Overseeding," University of Maryland Extension, 2016.

3. Nathan, M. and Fresenburg, B., "Soil Testing for Lawns," University of Missouri Extension, June 2008.

4. Grande, J., "Seeding Your Lawn," Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, February 2004.

A Simple Guide to Success

Lawns are everywhere. Some are highly tended; others, not so much. My own lawn is a mixed planting of three types of turf grass (Kentucky blue, fescue, and perennial rye grass), clover, violets, ground ivy, and various other “weeds”, which is exactly how I like it (and so do the resident honey bees and bumble bees!). Regardless of how perfectionistic you are about your lawn, at one point or another, you’ll find yourself needing to plant grass seed. Whether it’s to fill in a bare spot left behind by Fido or a wayward snowplow, or to install a brand-new lawn after a construction project, learning how to plant grass seed is a necessity for most homeowners. This article offers a simple guide to success, no matter the reason for your reseeding efforts.

There are many different types of lawn grasses. Be sure to choose varieties that are suited to your climate.

Start with the best type of grass for your climate

As a professional horticulturist and a former landscaper, I’ve seeded dozens of brand-new lawns over the years, and I’ve over-seeded bare spots in hundreds more. No matter how large or how small your job is, success always starts with selecting the best grass seed for your region. Different grass species thrive in different climates. There are cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses. The label of the package will tell you which grass varieties are included. It will also tell you whether or not there is a starter fertilizer included. Do not choose a blend that includes weed control products. They could harm young seedlings.

Which grass seed is best for your yard also depends on the amount of sunlight it receives. I suggest contacting a local garden center or feed store and speaking with them about the best options for your region. There are also some useful online maps with all the information you’ll need to choose the appropriate grass species for your growing conditions if you live in the US.

Some brands of grass seed come blended with a “filler” product intended to help you distribute the seed evenly and to act as a protective covering. I personally avoid these products because they are more costly than purchasing a bag of high-quality plain seed and they don’t cover as large of an area.

Preparing the ground for planting

After selecting and purchasing the seed, it’s time to prepare the soil for the planting process. This is a very important step in knowing how to plant grass seed successfully. The tender roots of young grass plants will not grow well in compacted soils so it’s essential that this step be done properly. Here are instructions for prepping the ground to overseed bare spots in an established lawn and instructions on how to prepare for planting grass seed in a large bare area.

Preparation for seeding a bare spot in the lawn: Begin by using a cultivator to remove the dead grass. If it’s a small spot, use a hand cultivator. If it’s a larger spot, use a diamond hoe or warren hoe. Then, dig up the area down to a depth of two or three inches with a shovel or trowel. Loosen the soil and break up any clumps.

To repair a “doggie spot” in your lawn, start by removing the dead grass.

Preparation for planting grass seed in a large bare area: If you want to know how to plant grass seed in larger areas successfully, begin by loosening the top three to five inches of soil. Use a rototiller for the job if it’s a very large lawn area. Use a shovel or hoe if it’s an area that’s just a few square feet.

For a smaller area, break up the soil using a warren hoe or a shovel. Larger areas may require a rototiller.

Whether the area is small or large, after loosening the soil, it’s time to rake it smooth. Use a bow rake or a seeding rake to further break up any soil clods and rake the soil out into fine particles and a smooth finish. Use the tines of the rake to smash any large clumps of dirt if necessary.

After loosening the soil, rake it out smoothly and break up any clumps.

The final step of site preparation for planting grass seed is to water the area well. Putting seed down on damp soil encourages speedy germination and provides immediate moisture to emerging roots.

Wetting the area before planting is an important step in the process.

How to plant grass seed

For small areas, use your hand to distribute the seed, flinging it out over the area. For large areas, use a walk-behind broadcast spreader or a hand-held hopper spreader to disperse the seed. It’s all too easy to put down too much seed, or conversely, not enough seed. When you’re finished, the grass seeds should be evenly spread over the soil surface. They should be about one-quarter to one-half inch apart (obviously no one expects you to actually measure – just eyeball it). If you sow grass seed too thickly, the plants will outcompete each other and their growth will suffer. If you don’t sow them thickly enough, weeds may move in.

In smaller areas, grass seed can be spread by hand. For large areas, use a mechanical spreader.

How to ensure good coverage

Sometimes it’s challenging to ensure ample coverage of grass seedlings. If you are using a drop spreader, I suggest distributing the seeds in one direction and then making a second pass in the perpendicular direction. This two-directional overseeding promotes more even grass seed germination and distribution. If you are spreading the seed by hand, it’s a bit easier to eye, but dropping the seeds from different angles helps.

What to put on top of newly planted grass seed

After the seeds are sown, cover them immediately to protect them from birds, keep them moist, and prevent them from washing away in a heavy rain. There are several different mulches you can use for the job. In my experience, straw (not hay, which can be filled with weed seeds), screened compost, or mushroom soil are prime choices. These products also act as soil amendments when they break down and can improve your soil’s fertility and structure. All three of these options are available from your local garden store or landscape supply center. Erosion mats are another option. They can easily be unrolled over the area with little mess and are biodegradable, though they’re also a good bit more expensive than the previous choices. Peat moss is not a good idea because it can repel water once it has dried out.

No matter what you choose to use to cover grass seed, more is definitely not better. One-quarter of an inch is about as thick as you should go. Compost and mushroom soil are great for covering fall-seeded lawns. Their dark color absorbs the sun’s heat and keeps the soil warm all night long. This speeds germination and encourages rapid lawn establishment prior to winter’s arrival.

After spreading the seed, cover the area with a mulch of straw, fine compost, or mushroom soil.

How long does it take for grass seed to germinate

Some varieties of turfgrass take longer to germinate than others. For example, perennial rye grass germinates in as little as 3 to 5 days, fescues take more like 10 days, Kentucky bluegrass takes 2 to 3 weeks, and warm-season grasses like centipede, Bermuda, and zoysia grasses can take over a month. If your grass seed is a mixture of varieties, know that not all of them will germinate at the same time. To encourage good germination and a healthy start no matter which type of grass seed you planted, it’s critical that you keep the seeded area and the young plants well-watered until they are established. See the section below on watering for more info on how and when to water new grass.

Water newly planted grass in well and keep it watered until it’s established.

Planting grass seed in fall

In many climates, the best time to plant grass seed is in the autumn. The still-warm soil of late August, September, October, or November encourages optimum root growth, while the cooling air temperatures discourage excessive top growth. This is perfect for establishing lawn grasses and promoting extensive root growth.  It also makes the turf more resistant to drought and better able to access nutrients in the soil. In addition, in most regions, fall also brings increased amounts of rainfall. This means you won’t have to lug out the hose and sprinkler as often.

It’s time to plant grass seed in the fall when nighttime temperatures drop down to about 60 degrees F. Keep an eye on the forecast. Opt for sowing grass seed when there’s a day or two of rain predicted.

Planting grass seed in spring

Spring is another great time to seed the lawn. It’s particularly good if you live where springs are long and cool. For spring planting, it’s absolutely essential that you continue to regularly water the seed and the sprouted grass through the remainder of the spring, summer, and well into the fall. Establishment failures are often connected to improper watering. Early summer is another possible time, but you’ll need to water more often.

How often to water grass seed after planting

Water newly planted grass seed daily if the weather is over 80 degrees F. Every other day is a good watering schedule if temperatures are cooler. Prior to germination, wet the top inch or so of soil. But, once the grass seed germinates and begins to grow, reduce the frequency of irrigation but water more deeply. Once your new grass is about two inches tall, reduce your watering schedule to once or twice a week, but water until the ground is wet down to a depth of about three inches.

Once grass is fully established, stop irrigation all together, unless there’s a prolonged period of drought. When it comes to watering established lawns, it’s always better to water less frequently but very deeply. Always water lawn in the morning, if possible, to reduce the chance of fungal disease issues.

Young grass plants can be mowed when they are 3 inches tall.

When is it safe to mow new grass?

Mow new grass when it reaches a height of about 3 inches. Mow high through the first growing season (3 to 4 inches). Make sure your mower blades are sharp (here’s my favorite sharpening tool) so they cut the grass cleanly, rather than tearing it which can create an entryway for disease.

When to fertilize new grass

When learning how to plant grass seed, many people think you should add fertilizer at planting time. This is not a good practice however, because fertilizers (especially salt-based synthetic lawn fertilizers) can burn tender young grass roots. Instead, top-dress the lawn with compost (here’s how) or use an organic granular lawn fertilizer instead of a synthetic brand. You can start to fertilize new lawns after you’ve mowed the grass 6 times.

Now that you know how to plant grass seed, it’s easy to see how doing it right can make all the difference. Follow the steps outlined above and you’ll have a healthy, thriving lawn instead of one that’s struggling.

For more on growing a beautiful landscape, please visit the following articles:

How to sow lawn grass - planting a lawn, how to properly plant it in a country house with your own hands

A beautiful, neatly trimmed lawn always favorably emphasizes the garden's landscape solutions, allows you to focus on flowerbeds, borders, ornamental shrubs, coniferous and deciduous trees. Despite the fact that it is easy to sow a green lawn, you need to know the rules for preparing the site, how to sow lawn grass and care for it.

Varieties of lawns

Depending on the method of creation, lawns are divided into roll and seed lawns, according to the time of existence - into annuals and perennials. The composition and purpose of the grass cover are divided into several types:

With the right choice of seed and following the rules for planting ornamental grass, after a couple of years, the turf becomes dense and thick. Therefore, it is worth breaking up the site and starting to sow lawn crops.

Meadow

The purpose of the meadow lawn is to decorate garden areas for walking, playing and relaxing. Usually they are planted not in the front, but in shady and sunny places in the background. The basis of the future lawn is the already existing herbage, to which cereal mixtures are carefully sown. To do this, the turf is treated accordingly. Sowing the lawn is carried out manually - a third of the bayonet spades dig the top of the soil, level and sow field mint, white clover, foxtail, alfalfa, fescue or timothy grass. You can plant small bulbous plants that give the lawn naturalness and brightness. To keep it looking neat, one mowing a month is enough. The first is carried out immediately after the flowering of the bulbous.

Gardening

This type of lawn is used for cottages, parks, recreation areas, areas near roads and highways. It must be shade-tolerant, drought-resistant, tolerant of mechanical stress. In addition to sowing ordinary grass, it is planted with forest and common bluegrass, perennial reygars, rootless wheatgrass and furrowed fescue. With the right selection of them, the lawn does not require special care, with the exception of regular removal of weeds and mowing at intervals of once a week.

Sports

Sports lawns are used in the arrangement of grounds for playing football, golf, hippodromes. They are subject to the highest demands. The coating must withstand heavy loads during active movement on the grass. Only plants that are strong, quickly recovering from damage and have a powerful root system are sown. The most suitable for sowing:

Mowing the grass is carried out often and low. If necessary, aerate the ground to prevent waterlogging and deterioration of the quality of the lawn.

Decorative

This lawn cover is used to decorate any area. For sowing, soft and juicy herbs are used, which have a bright color and a beautiful appearance. It is not recommended to walk on such lawns, as they are easy to damage and disrupt the existing harmony. Plantings, especially flowering lawns, require careful care, despite the fact that outwardly they resemble a wild meadow. You can sow the area near the house, park, near paths, flower beds and the entrance. St. John's wort, daisies, cornflowers, bluebells and poppies are used as seed. The decorative lawn is mowed several times a season, moistened if necessary.

When is the best time to plant lawn grass?

Lawn grass can be sown in spring or autumn. Planting should begin as early as April, when the soil is moist and warm. The sun is not yet as active as in summer and cannot destroy the newly sprouted sprouts. They have time to take root well, get stronger by autumn and successfully endure wintering.

Among the advantages of spring sowing:

Planting in April has its drawbacks - return frosts are possible, which can destroy crops, and rapidly developing weeds are no less dangerous for them.

It is permissible to plant lawn grass in September. Before the onset of frost, the root system is already developed and can overwinter, there is enough moisture in autumn for germination and plant growth. In October, the lawn is planted only in regions with a mild climate without sudden changes in temperature.

Where can I plant?

It is easy to seed and grow a lawn, but without regular care it will look untidy. It is important to choose the right location. Well-lit areas with clay or sandy soil are most preferred. Wetlands are suitable for laying out a lawn only when carrying out full-fledged drainage work. You should not place a lawn next to flower beds, rose gardens, alpine slides, since lawn grass can easily develop a new territory and damage cultivated plants. So that after the lawn is sown, it does not spread, the territory is marked out and limited with the help of a curb tape.

Where can I buy lawn seeds?

Quality seed with high germination for a perfect lawn. You need to buy them in trusted specialized stores for gardeners. You should pay attention to the description and proportions of the components in the mixture, which are indicated on the product packaging. Most often, it has a name according to the functionality of the lawn - sports, decorative, meadow. If necessary, a mixture of seeds of different herbs is made independently immediately before sowing.

Lawn grass sowing methods

Lawn grass can be planted manually or with the help of special tools. In order to evenly distribute and plant the entire plot with seeds, it is divided into zones. Using a rake, grooves are drawn on the surface of the soil and planting material is distributed over them. The seeder is easier to work with. Seeds are divided into two parts - one is sown with lawn grass horizontally, the other vertically.

Lawn Seeding Technology Step by Step Guide

To evenly sow lawn grass and get a beautiful lawn, follow the scheme:

  1. Mark the boundaries of the site.
  2. Dig it up, removing weeds.
  3. Lay the drainage layer.
  4. Apply fertilizer to the soil.
  5. Planting seeds.
  6. Watered.

Preparing for sowing lawn grass

Before sowing lawn grass, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work. Tools needed:

From the place of the future lawn, you need to remove debris, if necessary, uproot shrubs and stumps.
Selecting a site

Before planting lawn grass, you need to study the light, drainage and soil composition of the site. It is difficult to find the ideal site, but any one can be improved. First, they are determined with the cardinal points and shading. The lawn is not afraid of northern winds, and heat and drought reduce the quality of lawn grass. It is best if the lawn is lit by the sun for most of the day, and fruit or deciduous trees do not grow at its very edge, but at some distance.

A shady place is of little use, because in such conditions the sowing grass in the country house stretches, turns pale and is affected by diseases. Closely spaced trees take moisture and nutrients from the soil, clog the lawn with foliage and dry branches.

It is better to sow in soil with a pH of 5.5–6.5, a humus content of about 3%, nitrogen - 10 mg, phosphorus - 20 mg, potassium - 25 mg per 100 g of soil.
Removing weeds

Before planting lawn grass, the earth must be carefully dug up to a depth of 20-25 cm, removing roots, weeds and stones. It is not necessary to leave wooden fragments in the ground, later they will rot, voids form, and then lawn irregularities. Earthen clods are broken with a rake or pitchfork.

For the final disposal of weeds, the prepared area is kept “fallow” - it is left unsown for a month so that unwanted plants appear during this time and can be easily removed. You can sow green manure - lupine, sweet clover, vetch.

Drainage

If you have to sow lawn grass in an area with stagnant water, you need to install a drain. On sites with a slope, an open drainage system is equipped:

  1. Dig trenches 0.5-1.5 m deep and up to 0.5 m wide, directing them to a gutter or reservoir.
  2. Cover the bottom with geotextile.
  3. Stones, gravel, broken bricks are laid on a third of the ditch volume.
  4. Top with soil.
  5. Packed.
Creating a closed drainage system is more difficult. A network of pipes is laid on crushed stone bedding, connected into a single circuit and brought out to storage wells. Cover with soil from above, tamp it down and sow lawn grass.
Soil fertilization

Before sowing lawn grass, fertilizer is applied during the digging process. Nitrogen-containing mixtures are most suitable for this purpose. 7-10 days before sowing the lawn, they are applied at the rate of 50 g per 1 m2. Close up to a depth of 5-6 cm. In order for top dressing to be distributed evenly, fertilizer is mixed with sand in a ratio of 5: 1. After preparation, the site is compacted with rollers or feet.

How to scatter seeds?

Grass seeds are poured into a container and mixed thoroughly, as during storage they may become caked and lose their uniformity. To sow evenly, shallow furrows are made in the upper layer with a rake. The whole lawn is divided into four parts and each is sown separately, first along the horizontal grooves, then along the vertical ones. Seeds are distributed manually or with the help of small seeders. The average consumption rate is 40 g per 1 m2.

It is worth considering that it is necessary to plant seeds on the lawn with an overlap of 8-10 cm beyond the intended border, so that there are no bald spots along the edges. From above close up with a rake the area where they sowed.

Watering

Once the lawn grass has been sown, water the surface of the soil in a finely dispersed way so that the water does not wash out the seeds. After moistening, there should be no puddles and washouts. The earth must be wetted to a depth of at least 10 cm. In the future, watering is carried out once every 3-5 days, as the surface dries up, avoiding waterlogging. The mode is adjusted depending on the frequency of rainfall and air temperature. The first shoots appear after one to three weeks, they may be uneven. As soon as the lawn grass grows a little, you can water from a watering can with a fine spray or using a sprinkler. Do not allow a strong pressure of water, so as not to wash the newly formed roots of plants.

How to care for the grass on the lawn?

If you properly organize the care of the seeded lawn with your own hands, it will not lose its attractive appearance over time. Grown plants need to be watered so as to wet the soil 15-20 cm deep. The operation is carried out early in the morning, late evening watering can provoke fungal diseases.

Mowing is carried out at intervals depending on the purpose of the lawn, but at least once every three weeks. This can be done with a trimmer or lawn mower. Shearing not only achieves leveling of the grass cover, but also stimulates its growth. They mow in dry weather, passing in two directions, first across the lawn, and then along. Grass is raked and removed.

Twice a year, aeration of the soil is necessary so that air enters the roots through dense turf. For this purpose, the soil is pierced to a depth of 15 cm with mechanical aerators or conventional pitchforks.

Lawn replanting

If necessary, grown lawn grass can be moved to a new location instead of re-sown. This is required in the case of redevelopment of the site or the construction of buildings on the site of the lawn. They act according to the scheme:

  1. Thoroughly shed the lawn.
  2. Dig a hole 10 cm deep in the new location.
  3. Pour sand on the bottom, add fertilizer.
  4. Watered.
  5. The old lawn is dug around the perimeter.
  6. Remove the sod in small sections and transfer to the prepared hole.
  7. Tightly laid, corrected so that it is higher than the usual position.
  8. Trample and water.

Anyone can grow a lawn

If you follow all the rules and recommendations, you can plant and grow a beautiful lawn with your own hands quite quickly. Even an inexperienced gardener will cope with the task. By choosing the right seed and place, it is not difficult to create a lawn of any kind and functionality that will decorate the landscape or serve as a place for games and recreation.

How to plant lawn grass - do-it-yourself lawn preparation

So! You have decided to get a lawn in your area. A reasonable question arises - when and how to plant lawn grass?
Let's start in order.

Content:

How to choose lawn grass
When to sow lawn
Preparing the soil for lawn grass
How to plant lawn grass yourself
How to care for lawn grass
Seasonal lawn care

How to choose lawn grass

The decisive issue for the choice of lawn grass mixture is its intended purpose. Usually the name of the lawn grass that you see on the packaging speaks for itself. For example:

Sports turf is a turf for high traffic areas. It can be sports and playgrounds, playgrounds for active games of dogs. Such a lawn is resistant to trampling, but grows quickly, which requires frequent mowing.

Parterre lawn - a lawn with a decorative function, serves as a backdrop for solitary plants and flower beds. It has a bright color and a beautiful sheen. Requires regular watering and space open to sunlight.

Dwarf Lawn is a turf made up of low-growing, slow-growing grass species, making it easy to care for and minimizing the need for mowing. It is more often used as decorative, because it is subject to trampling.

Slope Turf - In this turf, the grasses are selected to form a strong root layer (turf) that is able to hold the soil on the slope and prevent erosion.

When to sow lawn grass

In central Russia, lawn grass seeds can be planted immediately after the snow melts (late April - early May) and until the very end of the confidently warm season (usually October). In a later period, it is not recommended to sow the lawn, since the plants will not have time to fully get stronger before wintering, and as a result, in the spring it will be necessary to oversow, or even re-sow the lawn.

The most favorable period for sowing lawn grass is the end of April - May and September - the beginning of October.

If fresh fertile soil is brought in, it is worth waiting 1-2 weeks before sowing. After spilling the soil, wait 3-4 hours, then sow the lawn.

If sowing lawn grass is carried out in the summer, it is worth waiting for rainy cloudy days.

Do not overdo it with watering. Before germination - watering every day, then no more than 1 time per week.

The first lawn mowing is done when the grass is about 15 cm high.

Before planting the lawn, a drainage system must be established, and, if provided, an electrical supply system and an underground irrigation system.
In order for the lawn to look perfect, it is necessary to level the soil. The slope can be 1-3% to facilitate surface water runoff. A large lawn area can be given a greater slope, but not more than 30%.

Soil preparation for lawn grass

Weed removal

Removing weeds will ensure friendly seedlings, improve the appearance of the lawn and make it easier to further care for it.

Weed control methods:

Freezing is the death of underground parts of weeds in winter. To do this, in the fall it is necessary to carry out deep digging of the soil.

Suffocation is a long-term method based on repeated cutting of weeds at a shallow depth (harrowing for 2-3 years), the effect is achieved by exhausting the rhizome.

Provocation - a couple of weeks before sowing, it is necessary to prepare the soil, and when a lot of weed sprouts appear, they are loosened on the surface, thereby destroying them.

Mulching - covering the soil, depriving weeds of light. For this purpose, ripened compost is well suited, and crushed bark under trees and shrubs.

The new primer is the most effective, but laborious and more expensive method. Removing the old soil and laying out the new soil with a drainage system - the soil is removed to a depth of 30 cm and laid out in layers: crushed stone, sand and black earth, and a rolled lawn is laid on top or seeds of lawn grass mixture are sown.

Herbicides - Weeds must be treated when they are actively growing, but must not be mechanically damaged. Within 5-10 days, the herbicide spreads over the entire area of ​​the plant and after 20-30 days the plant dies entirely. Approximately 15 days after the action of the preparation, the land can be cultivated. Herbicides are best applied in the fall if lawn grass is planned to be planted in the spring.


Plots on which weeds have already been removed, it would be good to protect from those that have not yet been processed.

The surface of the soil under the lawn must be leveled - there should be no mounds or holes. As a result, water will accumulate in the pits, which will lead to wetting of the grass, and the bumps will make it difficult for the lawn mower to work.

Soil fertility

The thickness of the fertile layer for the proper development of lawn grass should be at least 10 - 15 cm.
The soil should be improved, depending on its characteristics.

The soil mixture and all its components should be mixed well and embedded in detail into the soil, loosened to a depth of about 40 cm, so that the lower layers do not subsequently move upward. When carrying out these works, it is necessary to remove from the ground all parts of plants that have previously been treated with chemicals, and their roots must also be carefully removed.

In order to make it convenient to care for the edges of the lawn, it is better to fix them. Borders are usually decorated with materials such as gravel, crushed stone or pebbles. You can also use a stone border or tile - this will also look advantageous in a decorative way, and will give you access to mow the edges of the lawn, which will make mowing much easier.


How to sow lawn grass with your own hands