How to Plant a Lawn From Seed

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.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

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

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

2. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. 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.

9. 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.