Cultivating a beautiful lawn means planting grass seed in a manner that will allow the seeds to grow and produce a smooth and uniform carpet of grass. To get the best results, the actual process of planting grass seed involves more than simply spreading some seeds onto the ground. If you want to create the ideal lawn, here are some tips that will help.
Before you ever begin to plant grass seed, it is important to prepare the soil. When seeding a new lawn, the first step is to loosen the top layer of soil. If there are any types of debris such as small rocks, remove them as you turn the soil. The idea is to create a pattern where the seeds can be sown uniformly across the yard, allowing the seeds to take root.
When planting grass seed in an existing lawn, mow the existing grass as low as possible. This will make it easier to identify the bare spots across the expanse of the yard. Loosen the soil in the bare areas, taking care to remove any weeds or other types of debris.
Once the lawn is prepared, you can begin the actual process of planting grass seed. For small areas, this can be done by hand. In larger yards or when seeding a new lawn, it will be easier to use a mechanical seeder to evenly distribute the grass seed. Follow the instructions that come with the seeds to make sure you achieve the right amount of coverage. Spreading too few seeds in a given area will result very thin growth, while too many seeds will lead to thick patches that may be hard to deal with later.
The final step in planting grass seeds involves covering the green grass seed. A very light covering of the soil will be sufficient to keep the seeds in place while still allowing the seeds to be warmed by the sun and to retain moisture as you lightly water the lawn on a daily basis.
Over the course of a week, the growing grass seed will begin to produce the first green shoots of grass blades. Continue to water daily, but make it a point to never saturate the space. This will help maintain the right balance of moisture, nutrients, and sunlight that the seeds need to fully develop. Allow the grass to grow until it is at least tall enough to provide a soft carpet to bare feet.
Planting grass seed is not as difficult as planting many other types of plants. By preparing the soil, sowing the seeds evenly, and making sure to water the seeds just enough, you’ll soon have the beautiful lawn that you’ve always wanted.
