Starting a New Lawn by Seed
Starting a new, healthy lawn by seed can be a somewhat tricky task. If improperly established, the lawn will not flourish and may soon be overtaken by weeds. With a little careful preparation and planning, however, you will be sure to have a beautiful lawn that will last for years to come.
Preparing the Ground for Seeding
The first step in successfully starting a lawn from seed is to prepare the soil. This is best down in the fall, but can also be done during the spring if it is impractical to wait. If your soil is heavy and compact, you need to first till or aerate the dirt. The loose soil will make it easier for the seedlings to become established in your lawn. Compost should also be added to the dirt. This is particularly helpful in clay dirt because the compost will help break the soil up. In addition, compost adds valuable nutrients to the soil that will help the lawn grow, which is generally necessary for sandy soil.
If you plan to aerate the soil to prepare it for seeding, you should spread at least 2" of compost over the soil first. If, however, you intent do aerate the soil, you should spread the compost over the dirt after aerating. In addition, you should only add ¼ - ½" of compost in this case.
Providing the Ground with Nutrients
In addition to proper aeration, the ground needs to have the right nutrients for proper lawn growth. The ideal pH level for a lawn is 6.2-6.5. If the pH needs to be raised, lime can be added. Fertilizer should also be added to the ground prior to planting seed. After the lawn is established, you should continue applying fertilizer once every spring and three times every fall.
Laying the Seed
After the ground has been properly prepared, it is time to lay the seed. The type of seed used depends on the area where the lawn is being grown. Certain types of grass seeds are better suited for shadier areas while other seeds are best for areas receiving a great deal of sunshine. In general, an area receiving less than 4 hours of sunlight per day should be seeded with shade grass seed.
It is possible to lay the seed at the same time as the lime and fertilizer, though it is best to apply the fertilizer and seed first in extremely dry weather. In this case, the fertilizer and lime should be spread and well-watered a few days before spreading the seed.
Covering the Seed
Once the seed has been spread, it needs to be covered with either straw or peat moss. This helps the grass seed retain its moisture. For areas in the range of 400 to 800 square feet, one bale of straw should be used. 1 bale of peat moss should be used in areas ranging from 500 to 1000 square feet.
The seed should be kept moist until it begins to germinate. This means it will need to be watered twice per day for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Once it begins to sprout, the lawn should be deep watered with ½" water twice a week. This will help the lawn develop deep roots, ensuring a strong, long-lasting, beautiful lawn.