Planting Grass Seed

When you look at the ugly, bare spots in your lawn, you may not think it is possible to have the thick lawn of your dreams. However, planting grass seed is not as hard as you may think. With the right knowledge, you can plant grass seed successfully and be well on your way to a beautiful lawn.

Choose the Best Grass Seed for Your Yard

If you want to have a beautiful, thick lawn, you need to plant the right type of grass for your yard. Check the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map to see which zone you are in. Choose a type of grass seed that grows well in your area. You also need to plant a type of grass that can handle the conditions in your yard. Some types of grass need shade to grow, while others prefer full sun. If you live in a warm, dry area, you also want to plant grass that is drought tolerant. You may need to plant more than one type of grass if your yard has several different types of growing conditions.

If you don’t plant grass seed at the right time of year, your grass won’t grow well and may not even germinate. If you are growing fescue or other cool season grasses, plant the grass seed in the spring or fall. Cool season grass does not grow well in the heat of the summer. Plant Bermuda and other warm season grasses in the early summer; don’t plant too late, however, because even warm season grass seed will struggle during the hottest part of the summer.

If you are planting a new lawn from scratch, make sure you take this opportunity to prepare the ground well. Remove all the rocks, sticks and debris from the area. Till the ground, breaking up any large chunks of dirt. Smooth out the ground, filling in dips and leveling hills. Use a spreader to distribute the grass seed around your yard according to the package directions. Drag a rack lightly over the seeds to cover them with dirt. Keep the ground moist until the grass is well established.

When you plant grass seed in an existing lawn, you are limited in how you can prepare the ground because you have to contend with the established grass. Get rid of the weeds in the lawn and remove any sticks or debris. Mow your lawn very low so the existing grass does not compete with the grass seed for light. Use a stiff rake to loosen the soil in the bare spots. If the bare spots are small, plant the grass seed by hand. For large areas, you can use a spreader. Drag a rake over the grass seeds to cover them with dirt and ensure good soil to seed contact. Lightly water the grass seeds in so they don’t wash away.

Once you have planted the grass seed, continue to water until it is well established. You can mow once the new grass has reached a height of about 2 inches. During the first year, water deeply once a week so that the newly planted grass seeds develop deep roots.