Growing A Great Lawn

Prepare the soil, plant the right seeds and water, water, water

By the experts at The Family Handyman

From The Family Handyman

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Q  I’ve had lousy success trying to grow a decent lawn from grass seed. What’s the trick?

A  Water, water, water. Turf specialists make it clear that watering is a key step to a successful lawn. The seeds need to stay moist not only for germination but also for seedling root development. The germinating seeds and the new seedlings are very vulnerable to even short dry periods.

Seed an area that you can realistically keep moist. It may require watering several times a day. An in-ground irrigation system is ideal, but hoses and sprinklers will work. Water long enough to wet the soil to a depth of 3 to 4 in.

Monitor the soil’s moistness with the same attention you’d give to a sick child. Be aware of weather conditions; hot sun, high temperatures and wind will dry out the soil quickly. As the soil surface dries, its color will lighten—a sure sign to water again. You won’t harm the seeds with too much water unless you’re creating runoff and washing the seeds and soil away.

After the seeds have germinated (5 to 20 days), water less often but for longer periods. This deeper watering encourages the seedlings’ roots to go deep. After the first mowing, you can begin to cut back on the daily watering.

Step 1. Loosen the ground to a depth of 4 to 6 in. A power tiller ($50 rental) will make this job easier. Rake the loosened soil to remove plant material and stones. Break up clumps and finish with a smooth surface.

Step 2. Apply starter fertilizer and then the grass seed. Sow the seeds in two directions with a drop spreader. Lightly rake the seeds into the soil with a leaf rake. You don’t need to bury all the seed, just most of it.

Step 3. Water to keep the top few inches of soil moist until germination. After germination, apply more water but less often to promote deep roots.

Plant When Temperatures Are Moderate
Avoid planting in the summer when you’ll be fighting the hot sun and high temperatures. Also don’t plant when the soil is too cold, which prevents germination. A good rule of thumb is to check nearby mature grass. If it’s growing (not dormant), then the soil’s temperature is OK for seeding. An ideal time to plant is at the end of summer when the soil is quite warm, but cooler days are ahead.

Choose The Right Seed For Your Yard And Region
Talk to a turf specialist (from a garden center, university extension service or landscaping service) about the right seed for your climate and your specific soil and sun/ shade conditions. This is one advantage to growing a lawn from seed. It allows you to fine-tune the type of grass for your yard. Sod, on the other hand, is best suited for those conditions found at the sod farm.

Feed The Sprouts
Let’s face it: Lawns eat like teenagers, so feeding is a fact of life. Just before seeding, apply a starter fertilizer. Read the product’s directions to determine the amount to spread. After the grass has been cut a few times and is established, move to a maintenance feeding schedule consistent with the climate in your region.