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Overgrown Guide To Planting Grass Seed - The Conclusion
Planting grass seed requires more than just sowing on top of the soil. Seed germinates best when it is mixed in with, or pressed into, the soil. Some people do both, some do one or the other. The goal is to improve germination by contact with moist soil. Read more about grass seed germination. Raking the seed lightly will mix the soil and seed together. Some seed will become buried, while some remains exposed. Seed should not be buried more than ¼” so do not dig into the soil with the rake. Just lightly move over the surface. Try to develop a technique that will leave the seeds evenly distributed over all areas. Avoid dragging them all to one spot. Work back and forth in a consistent manner until you have mixed the entire lawn area. It may actually work easier to use the back, flat edge of the rake, rather than the tooth edge, for mixing very shallow in the soil. Look for spots that seem a little thin with seeds after raking. Use the extra bit of seeds that you set aside. Broadcast thinly, by hand, over those areas, or save it for later application. Some lawn projects may be able to skip the raking. If you have prepared the soil, done the final leveling, and the soil is quite soft, it may be fine to proceed without raking. Spread the seed and press it into contact with the soil using the lawn roller. If the soil has crusted over, it is best to rake the seed into the soil. Read the section above on checking the condition of the seed bed.
After planting the grass seed, should you roll over the seed or not? The next step is optional, but recommended. Lawn rollers are necessary for leveling the soil when you prepare it. They are just as important for good seed germination. Five dollars a day for rental is a worthwhile investment. If you plan to haul it in the trunk of your car, the handle will stick out the back, so take a blanket and a tie-down to protect your car. Go over the grass seed planting area with the lawn roller. One pass in any direction is adequate. The roller only needs to be filled about one-fourth to one-third full. This is enough weight to press the seed into the soil Tip: An easy way to know the amount of water in the roller. Instead of filling with the plug on top, add water when the plug hole is on the side at a position that corresponds to about 4 o’clock on a dial. (3 o’clock would be half full.) Just hold the hose up to the hole. Do this away from the lawn area to prevent a mess. If you choose not to use a roller, the seed may have poor contact with the soil, which makes it more difficult to absorb and hold moisture. It is then essential that you rake the seed into the soil, cover with a mulch, and water more frequently.
A seed cover will help keep the seeds moist during germination, protect them from birds and limit seed movement or erosion. A fine screened compost is the best choice, but most expensive. Steer manure is commonly used. It is cheap, but smells for 2 or 3 days. Be sure any manure product is labeled weed-free. One cubic foot of either will cover about 50 square feet at ¼” thick. Spread the mulch loosely over the entire area. Try a shaking motion with a shovelful to distribute it. Or toss it by hand from a bucket. A commercial spreader is available to rent. It looks like a lawn roller made out of wire mesh. Straw is more economical for very large areas. The size of bale varies and may cover 500 - 1,000 sq. ft. Shake this loosely over the area. The benefit comes mostly from shading rather than holding moisture, so the straw does not have to completely cover all the soil. The grass will grow up through it, so break up any clumps of straw. Only use bedding straw, not hay, which may have seeds in it. The straw may look like it will be a permanent mess, but it will soon break down or get chopped up when you mow.
The first watering after planting the grass seed will require more water than it takes later to keep everything moist. You want to get adequate moisture in the soil for the seed to start soaking it up. Once this happens, lighter sprinkling will maintain the moisture. Use caution with the first watering to avoid puddles or run-off. It may be necessary to use several short watering periods rather than one long cycle. If watering by hand, use a soft spray wand. Be careful about dragging a hose across the seedbed. Avoid moving the seed and mulch out of place. When watering with a hose-end sprinkler, invest in a quality unit. The cheap ones frequently leak at the connection and will spray in patterns that do not evenly distribute the water. Don’t take a chance on poor seed germination after all the work you’ve put into planting grass seed. Follow these complete guidelines for watering new grass seed.
It may feel a bit like planting a victory flag after conquering a mountain! Pound some stakes in the ground. Stretch some bright marking tape that is found at hardware stores, or use string and strips of cloth. You’re done! Putting up a barrier around the area after planting grass seed is optional. If people don’t have access to it, don’t bother. Yet, it is good to have a reminder that you want to limit walking on the planted area. If you must cross the seedbed, don’t wear lug style soles that can capture the mulch and soil and walk off with your seed. Don’t walk on it if the soil is so moist that you will make depressions. (They’re depressing!)
Planting grass seed may be a small or large project for you. Either way, it isn’t something most people want to repeat, if avoidable. Ensure your chances for success with these tips.
Congratulations! You are now an expert. Practice makes perfect, so get out there and make it happen!
Go to Planting Grass info page.
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