How to Seed a Lawn in Seattle
An even expanse of green lawn is a visual pleasure and a place to play. Seattle's long periods of cool, damp weather are ideal for growing a healthy lawn. When planting a lawn or reseeding an existing lawn, take advantage of the cool, damp winters to provide the seeds with the moisture they require. Seed a lawn in Seattle between Sept. 1 and the middle of October, when the weather has cooled and the winter rains are pending. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Remove all weeds and weed roots from the intended Seattle lawn area. Spread a 2- to 4-inch layer of compost or well-seasoned manure over the lawn site. Using a rototiller, work the compost into the top 6 to 12 inches of soil. Preparation of the soil can be done any time in late summer before fall seeding.
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Rake the area smooth, using a metal rake. Take out any humps and mounds to make future mowing easier because they cause lawnmowers to shear off high areas creating unsightly bald patches.
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Rake the area just before spreading the seeds on your lawn to break up and loosen the top 1/2 inch of soil. If the soil is dry, place a sprinkler on the area or hand water it until the top 1/2 inch is damp.
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Fill a seed spreader with the desired grass seed or grass seed combination. Seattle's damp cool growing season is ideal for all common lawn grass seed varieties.
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Spread the seeds evenly over the lawn area. Check the seed package to determine how dense the grass seed should be and how much is needed to cover the lawn area, as density of grass seed varies depending on the type of grass. Make one pass over the area working up and down in straight lines. Make a second pass over the area working back and forth in lines perpendicular to the first pass.
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Rake the grass seed into the soil using the back of a metal rake or a light leaf rake. As an alternative to raking, scatter a 1/8 inch layer of compost loosely over the grass seed to protect it. In Seattle's wet winters, the compost layer will hold the seeds in place and protect them from birds until the grass germinates.
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Watering is only necessary if the weather is dry. If no rain fall occurs or if the top of the soil feels dry to the touch, water the area until it is evenly damp to a depth of about a half inch. Water whenever the top of the soil begins to feel dry. When planting grass seeds in the fall in Seattle, watering will not likely be required.
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Tips & Warnings
To reseed a bare spot on an existing lawn, rake the area smooth then spread the seeds evenly over the area as indicated on the package. Spread a 1/8 inch of compost over the new grass seed. Reseed between early September and mid October.
Hand-held and push spreaders are available for rent or purchase at home and garden stores.
