How to Plant Grass Seeds

Perfect timing depends on several factors, mainly the area you live in and the type of grass you plan to grow.

Generally, the best time to plant seeds is early spring or late summer/early fall.

These are the times of the year when your fresh lawn will profit the most from moist weather and frequent rainfalls.

• Planting in the early autumn, before October, will give grass plenty of time to grow stronger and take roots before the cold winter months. 
• Early spring is also suitable, but be aware that most of the weed treatment products are applied in this season and they may harm your new lawn.

To grow properly, different kinds of grass need to be planted in different seasons.

The types that are most suitable for northern regions, such as Tall Fescue or Kentucky Bluegrass are best planted in colder weather. 

These cool-season plants grow and establish best during the fall and winter. Planting them during the early fall will have them strong and ready for first frosts.

On the other hand, if you live in the South, warm-season grasses are your best bet to have a lush and healthy lawn.

Centipede Grass or Bermuda grass are the ones you might go for. The best time to plant them is during the warm days of spring or early summer.

They will enjoy soil warmth and spring showers, and they love the sun.

Make sure that the dangers of spring frosts are behind you and that the temperature has stabilized at around 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

For More Info on this, see my blog post: The Best Types of Grass for Your Lawn

Step 2: Choose and Buy the Seeds

Besides making sure that they suit the climate and growing conditions, choosing the right kind of seeds is also important for aesthetical reasons.

After all, you want your lawn to look nice.

Some sorts grow closer to the ground, some are tall, and some grow in clumps.

You'll be surprised how many shades of green your lawn can have depending on the seeds you pick.

Furthermore, some grass varieties require less of your attention than others, so keep that in mind if you don't plan to spend a lot of time carrying for your lawn.

For example, Tall Fescue is famously low-maintenance, durable, and heat-resistant. Another option is choosing several different varieties and using a seed mixture.

• As with anything else, a higher price means higher quality. More expensive seeds are purer and will provide thicker and healthier lawn. 
• Investing a little more will bring numerous benefits in the long run.when it comes to the quality of the grass.

If you're still unsure which way to go, read our blog post The Best Types of Grass for Your Lawn.  

If you're STILL stuck, check with your garden center, they should be able to help you determine which type and quantity of seeds are the right ones for your conditions and what you're trying to accomplish.

There's nothing worse than realizing, with a half a job already done, that you don't have everything you need to complete it.

The best way to be fully prepared is to create a checklist of stuff needed and not start until you have everything crossed off.

Besides grass seeds (obviously), you'll need soil amendments, fertilizers, and mulch.

You can use weed-free manure or fine-screened compost.

The next thing on the list is the equipment necessary to perform the task ahead of you.

• Make sure you have a shovel and wide landscaping rake which you will use for soil leveling. 
• A Leaf rake will come handy for mixing the seeds into the topsoil level.
• To properly prepare the ground you'll also need a lawn roller. If you don't have one borrow it form a more equipped neighbor, rent it, or get your own.
• The same goes for the seed spreader. A hose with a hose-end nozzle and quality sprinkler will be used for initial watering. A good idea is to get some tape, stakes, and string to mark and restrict the seeded area.

Since you'll probably be working under the sun, make sure you dress appropriately, wear a hat, and apply sunscreen.

For hydration, prepare a lot of water, lemonade or ice tea (and a beer or two to reward yourself when you finish).

Step 4: Prepare the Soil

Before you get to preparing the soil, make sure that the area where you plan to plant your lawn is clear of any rocks, various debris, and remains of the previous vegetation.

• If you can't do it by hand, use a shovel to dig out particularly stubborn rocks and plant roots. Then loosen up the soil by rake or a lawn aerator if you can get your hands on one.
• After you've finished, you'll probably notice that the ground is full of dirt mounds, holes, and depressions. All of these need to be smoothed over.
• Gather the excessive topsoil to fill up the holes and use a rotary tiller or roller to even out the ground as much as possible. 
• Pay attention not to create too much of a slope but still try to keep it at 1 or 2 percent away from the building to ensure proper drainage. Use the landscaping rake for finishing touches.
• Test the pH of your soil. For most types of grass, it should be between 6.0 and 7.0. If the pH of your soil is outside of this range, use soil amendments like lime, peat moss, or sulfur to balance it. Pick up a PH Tester at your Local Garden Center, or online.
• Once finished, apply the starter fertilizer to the entire plot. You can use a rake to spread it out evenly. The kind of fertilizer you'll use will also depend on the soil test.

Step 5: Planting Time!