Tips for Seeding New Lawns

If you are seeding new lawn, you should know that the best time for sowing is during the late summer and early fall. During these times, the soil is still warm. This allows the fragile germination process to take place and the roots a chance to firmly establish themselves. Seeding a new lawn in the late summer and early fall will keep your new seed from being exposed to high temperatures. It will also cut down on pesky weed problems.

While you can sow seed in spring, it is usually only recommended for warm season grasses. But, keep in mind that while germination can take place in the spring, the new sprouts may not be firmly established before the heat of summer sets in.

To get the best results when seeding a new lawn you should use a hand cranked seed spreader. Many people sow seed by hand and this leads to uneven grass. When you use a seed spreader, you should make sure the spreader is set to the proper seed rate. You should put down two or three applications of seed. Each application should be in a different direction than the previous application.

You should then apply a dressing to your lawn. This will ensure that your seeds are not disturbed. Dressings can include peat moss or straw. After you have sown your seed and applied a dressing, you should use either a lawn roller or a rake to ensure the seed comes in contact with its growing soil. You should then proceed to water the lawn. The lawn must remain moist until the grass seed germinates.

During the first few weeks, you should apply about one inch of water to your new lawn weekly. You should take into account of any rainfall you may have had prior to watering. This will ensure that you do not over water your new lawn.

You should not mow your new lawn until it is at least 2½ inches tall. After the first mowing, it is recommended that you apply a fertilizer to your new lawn. After you apply the turf fertilizer, you should water your lawn. This will help to prevent burn.

You should protect your new lawn from trauma. Keep lawn traffic to a bare minimum during the first month. Do not allow anyone to drive onto your new lawn, ride bikes or do other activities that would damage your new lawn – such as playing a game of volleyball, setting up an elaborate outdoor party, etc.

Special Tip on Seeding a New Lawn

Before you go out and purchase grass seed, you should make sure you are buying one that will grow in your area. You should also know if the grass you are buying is a cool season grass or a warm season grass. Warm season grasses do best in the southern states, while cool season grasses grow better in the northern states. As previously stated, warm season grasses can be planted in spring and cool season grasses should be planted in the late summer or early fall. It is important that you know which grass you have and which growing season it will thrive in to make seeding new lawns a rewarding project.