How to Plant a Lawn From Seed

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Planting grass from seed is an inexpensive way to grow a beautiful new lawn, but you need to prepare the soil carefully and watch over the sprouting seeds. Here are the basics.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

Broadcast Spreader
Garden Hoses And Attachments
Grass Seeds
Lawn Fertilizers
Lawn Rollers
Mulch

Step1

Select the right type of grass for your area (see "eHow toChoose a Lawn Grass').

Step2

Measure the square footage of your planting area to determine how much seed you'll need. Purchase the seed at a local nursery or garden center. Information on the package will tell you how much to buy.

Step3

Prepare and level the soil, as described in "eHow to Plant a Lawn.'

Step4

Set your seed spreader (a drop spreader used for fertilizer works best for most lawns) at the appropriate setting and fill it with half the seeds.

Step5

Walking at a steady pace, sow the seed over the planting area, moving back and forth in opposite directions. Repeat the process using the rest of the seeds, walking at a 90-degree angle to your original paths. This will ensure that the seed is sown evenly.

Step6

Fill a cage roller with fine-textured organic mulch, such as peat moss or ground bark. Walking quickly, push the roller over the planting area so a thin layer (1/8 to 1/4 inch) of organic matter covers all the seeds. This will help keep the seeds from drying out.

Step7

Push a water-filled roller (about a third full) over the entire area to make sure the seeds and soil are in good contact.

Step8

Water the seedbed thoroughly so the soil is moist to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Apply the water slowly so that the seeds do not wash away.

Step9

Keep the seedbed moist (but not soggy) until the seed germinates and the new grass is a few inches high. In hot weather you may have to water more than once a day.

Tips & Warnings

Once you have thoroughly wet the seedbed after planting, you only need to water enough to keep the top inch moist.
Germination will take 5 to 14 days, depending on weather and grass type.
When the grass is 1 to 2 inches high, you can begin to water less often, but avoid letting the planting area go completely dry.
Heavy watering may wash away the seeds, and watering too frequently may rot the seedlings.