How to Plant a Lawn With Seed

Its that time again, your grass is beginning to turn yellow and crunchy and you need to put that new seed down quick! You will learn how to sew new seed and ensure new grass growth, even in the hottest of climates.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Lawn mower
• grass seed (if weather is very hot, I recommend using Bermuda in the summer, and annual rye in the winter)
• Topper/Fertilizer

1. Mowing the lawn
   
   
   First put your lawn mower on its **lowest** blade setting. This is important as you want to cut the grass as close to the soil as possible. On the lowest setting, mow the entire lawn.

2. Spreading the seed
   
   
   Using the spreader, or by hand, evenly spread the grass seed over the entire yard. Add more seed to high traffic areas (these areas will be easy to identify as the grass will be shorter, yellow, and soil will be easier to see in high traffic areas)

3. Spreading the Topper/Fertilizer
   
   
   You may want to use gloves, this stuff is smelly! Evenly distribute topper, manure or fertilizer of your choice over seed. There will be charts on the bags that will explain the exact amount per square foot. As a general rule of thumb, this topper/fertilizer not only nourishes the seed, but protects it from the elements and birds. You should not be able to see the seed after spreading the topper or fertilizer.

4. Water generously.
   
   
   If the summer is particularly hot and you are worried about keeping the ground moist, water twice a day, once early in the morning and again in the evening.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful of rocks and other hard objects when mowing on the lowest setting

[Mitestarossa]

on 4/2/2009 I just planted a lawn with seed last spring. It is more work than using sod, but it is a lot cheaper.