Tossing down seeds won’t get the results you want. Here’s how to prepare for a successful lawn seeding project.
Understand the Types of Seeding
First things first: You have to determine which seeding process to apply to your yard. Here are a few different types of seeding to consider before you refresh your yard.
Reseeding: Reseeding your lawn involves planting new seeds on bare dirt.
Spot seeding: If you’re just planting seeds in specific barren areas, this is called spot seeding.
Overseeding: Overseeding helps make lawns look fuller by filling in sparse or thin grass.
Choose the Right Seeds
Grass isn’t just grass—there are many different types of grasses that thrive in various climates and conditions. For example, you may want tall grasses as a decorative element behind your flower beds or perennial grasses around your maple trees. There are warm- and cool-season grasses to consider, too.
The style of grass you choose may depend on your location and climate, light conditions, your landscape design preferences, and your budget. If you live in an area that typically experiences warm temperatures between 80 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, try planting warm-season seeds like St. Augustine grass or centipede grass. On the other hand, consider using cool-season grasses like fescue if you live in a chillier climate.
Time of Planting
You may wonder how often you should be seeding your lawn in the first place. Should you seed in spring for flowing summer grasses, or do you brave the wintry cold so it sprouts in time for April showers?
Generally, the best time of year to plant grass seeds is in late summer or early fall. The seeds will have less competition from crabgrass and other weeds, they’ll require less water than in the summer, and the soil will still be warm enough for the seeds to germinate before winter.
How to Seed a Lawn
With your sun hat and garden gloves on, cultivate and level your soil, plant the seeds, then water the area.
1. Prep the Soil
Less compacted, aerated soil is the best base for seeding. Clear out any rocks, branches, or other debris that will impede the grassy growth. If you’re reseeding the lawn, you can remove existing grass with a shovel, sod cutter, or herbicides to kill the grass. Note that using an herbicide will take one or two weeks to kill off the old grass.
If the soil is compacted, you can use a tiller to break it up. With compacted soil, air and nutrients can’t penetrate the land as deeply, so it may also need aeration to help the seeds thrive. You can hire a local lawn aeration service for healthier soil before you start seeding, or aerate your lawn yourself.
2. Level the Area
Level your yard by filling in gaps or holes with fresh soil, then rake through the soil to break the soil into small pea-sized pieces. You can check the evenness with a wood board or carpenter’s level, or use your best judgment. Use the back of a soil rake to smooth the soil.
3. Spread Seed and Fertilizer
Spread grass seed evenly across the area at the rate indicated by the manufacturer. You can spread the seed with your hands for small areas or bare spots. For larger areas, use a hand-spreader or push spreader. Spread half the seeds in one direction and half in a perpendicular direction to create a crisscross pattern. You’ll end up with full, even coverage by varying the direction.
The best way to ensure your seeds have the nutrients they need is to apply lawn fertilizer the same day you seed the lawn. Spread fertilizer by hand for small areas or use a fertilizer spreader for larger lawn areas.
Find fertilizers made specifically for seeding or new grass, and then follow the product instructions to give your new yard seeds the boost they need. To find the fertilizer that works best for your lawn, consider a soil test. A home soil test costs about $15 and can measure pH levels and NPK values.
4. Cover with Soil
The next step is essential: covering your seed with ¼ inch of topsoil. This step will ensure solid seed-to-soil contact, which prevents your seeds from drying out. The soil also protects the seed from washing away by wind or water. You can use a soil rake to gently sow the seed into the top ¼ inch of soil. However, if you put the seed any deeper, the seed won’t get enough sun to germinate.
5. Water the Seeds
To germinate your new seeds, you need to keep the soil and seeds moist. You should water your grass immediately after seeding. You’ll want to keep the lawn moist but not overflowing with water for two weeks to give the seeds time to get established. That means misting the lawn about once per day, or watering more often in hot weather.
After the first two weeks, water enough to keep the top 2 inches of soil moist until the grass is about three inches high. Then, you can reduce watering to two or three times per week as the grasses grow deeper roots.
6. Maintain Your Lawn
With your lawn’s bare spots now covered in bright, healthy green grass, it’s time to keep it looking its best. If you planted seeds in late summer or early fall, rake away leaves to help sunlight reach the soil for the seeds and young grass. About eight weeks after seeding, you can start regular lawn fertilization. Although the new grass will look inviting quickly, wait at least one month after seeding before walking or playing on your refreshed lawn.