How to Plan and Plant a Lawn

Nothing feels as good under bare feet as a lush lawn does. It is incomparable
for romping, strolling or simply enjoying your own bit of green
earth. Good news: The best method of planting a lawn is a well-known
recipe. Follow it for virtually guaranteed success.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Plan the lawn's size and shape, keeping maintenance and watering needs in mind. Lay out your lawn so that you can mow without stopping or backing up. Also make mowing quicker by avoiding sharp curves and corners and including a border.

2. Choose which kind of grass to plant, using your region as a guide. Some grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, fescue and ryegrass, prefer cool northern weather. Bermuda, St. Augustine and zoysia prefer hotter southern climates. Tall fescue is popular in areas where the regions merge.

3. Test the soil before planting, then correct it accordingly. Organic matter is usually recommended, and often the acid balance-- called pH--needs adjusting with lime or sulfur. Spread a 2- to 3-inch (5 to 8 cm) layer of organic matter over the area and incorporate it 6 to 9 inches (15 to 23 cm) into the soil.

4. Plan and lay out a sprinkler system, especially if you live where the growing season is naturally dry (see 118 Lay Out a Sprinkler System). If you live where summer rainfall is normally abundant, buried sprinklers are optional but convenient.

5. Sow seed if you're planting at the right time of year; late summer or early fall is best. Sowing seed in spring can work, but weed competition will be more severe. Sod is normally a safer choice because you can plant it any time of year.

Tips & Warnings

• Where lawn is harder to grow and mow, such as on slopes and under trees, plant ground cover plants instead.
• For recommendations on specific lawn types, rely on local resources such as a cooperative extension, a nursery, or a landscape designer or consultant.
• Where summer-long drought is common and water scarce be mindful of a lawn's prodigious appetite for water. Chose a drought-tolerant grass and minimize lawn area (or eliminate it all together).