Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Plant the seeds
• Method 2 of 4: choose a grass variety
• Method 3 of 4: Prepare the soil for planting
• Method 4 of 4: Take care of the grass
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Is your lawn littered with bare patches of mud? Growing grass covers the soil and protects it from erosion. It gives you an accent of natural beauty at home. Choose the best grass seed for your spot, plant it correctly and watch it grow into a lush lawn.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Plant the seeds

1. Spread the seed. For large areas, buy or rent a lawn spreader or a mechanical sower, which distribute the grass seeds evenly across the field. In smaller areas, spread the grass seed by hand.
   • Use the amount of seed recommended by your garden center lawn care expert. It is important to use the right amount of grass seed to ensure that your lawn grows evenly.
   • Don't put too much seed on your lawn. Do not use up the extra seed by spreading it over the lawn. Over-seeded areas will grow thin, unhealthy grass, as seedlings will compete for a limited amount of nutrients.
2. Protect seeds with top soil. Spread a thin layer of top soil over the entire sown area, either by hand or with a cage roller. Newly sown soil should be protected from the elements until they take root.
3. Water the seed. Turn your garden hose attachment onto the haze setting and water the seeds lightly until completely moist.
   • Do not use a strong water jet or you will wash away the grass seeds.
   • Newly planted seeds should be watered every day until the grass is a few inches high.
4. Keep people and animals away from the new lawn. Protect the newly planted seeds from trampling for the first few weeks. Consider putting up a sign or using a ribbon to cordon off the area. If pets and other animals are loose, consider installing a temporary fence to protect the lawn from damage.

Method 2 of 4: choose a grass variety

1. Research the type of grass that grows best in your circumstances. Most grasses are either cool conditions grasses or warm conditions grasses. It is important to find out which type of grass grows best for you to ensure a healthy turf all year round.
   • Grass varieties for cool conditions are sown in summer or early fall. Their strong growing season is in the middle and late fall. These grasses grow best with cold winters and mild summers. Grass types for cool conditions are:
     • Field broom grass, a fine, dark green grass that grows well in the shade.
     • Reed fescue, a grass that requires little maintenance and is coarse.
     • Perennial ryegrass grows well in full sun. It has an average structure.
   • Grasses for warm conditions are sown in the spring. Growth takes place in the summer. These grasses grow best in places with late, mild winters and hot summers. Grass types for warm conditions are:
     • Hand grass, which likes full sun, not shade. It has a fine structure.
     • Zoysia is a grass with an average structure. It is more resistant to winter than most grasses from warm regions.
     • St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is coarse grass and does not survive cold winters.
2. Decide what type of grass grows best in your garden conditions. The conditions in your garden will affect the health of your grass as much as the weather in your area. Hundreds of seed varieties have been developed to grow in specific environments. When it comes to choosing a type of grass, consider the following variables:
   • Does your garden have good drainage? Or does it dry out too quickly? Some seeds are designed to survive muddy soil. Others are drought resistant.
   • Does your garden have partial shade or full sun?
   • Is your grass intended for decoration, or do you want to walk on it barefoot? Some grasses are beautiful but coarse. Others are soft, perfect for laying out.
   • How often do you want to mow your lawn? Some grasses grow quickly and need to be mowed every week while others can be left longer.
3. You can buy grass seed at garden centers or online. Buy from a source in good standing.
   • Calculate how much grass seed you will need. Each type of seed offers a different degree of coverage. After you have calculated the square footage of the area where you will be planting grass, consult with the seller at the garden center. Ask how much grass seed you will have to buy.
   • Some suppliers offer online grass seed calculators.

Method 3 of 4: Prepare the soil for planting

1. Work the top layer of the soil. Breaking the top layer makes it easier for grass seeds to root. If you need to work a large area, buy or hire a tiller to break up the soil. If you need to do a small area, use a garden rake or hoe.
   • As you hoe, break large clumps of soil so that the soil is fine and even.
   • Remove rocks, sticks and other debris from the field.
   • If you're adding seeds to a lawn with bare patches, use a garden rake or hoe to loosen the soil. Mow the rest of the field as short as possible.
2. Level the ground. If there are areas in your yard where pools of water form when it rains, they should be leveled. Seed planted there will not survive long. Level the ground by adding top soil to low areas. Go over the area with the tiller to level it and blend it with the surrounding soil.
3. Fertilize the soil. Grass grows visibly better in fertilized soil. Buy a fertilizer specifically designed to help the grass grow.

Method 4 of 4: Take care of the grass

1. Keep watering. If the grass is a few inches high, it doesn't need to be watered every day. Water it well a few times a week. Make sure the soil is completely soaked.
   • If the grass starts to turn brown or looks dry, water it quickly to revive it.
   • Don't water your lawn after heavy rain or it will get muddy.
2. Mow the grass. By mowing the grass you stimulate it to grow thick and healthy. If it grows too long, it will become reed-like and tough. Mow when the grass is 10 cm high.
   • The grass clippings on the lawn act as a natural mulch to make the grass stronger.
   • Consider a hand mower instead of an automatic mower. Walk behind mowers are better for grass health because they cut it cleanly, rather than power mowers that pull and shred it, making it more susceptible to disease. Plus, walk behind mowers don't cause air pollution.
3. Fertilize the lawn. After six weeks, when the grass is healthy and long, you give another treatment with fertilizers, especially for grass. This ensures healthy growth for the rest of the season. Fertilize your lawn at the beginning of each growing season.

Tips

• Determine why there are bare spots on your lawn. Is there erosion? Poor Earth? Drought? Flood?

Birds love to see people scatter grass seed because it's a chance for a free feast.

Warnings

• Minimize foot traffic over the newly sown grass. An adult weighing 60 kilos can push the seed so deep into the ground that it cannot rise to the top.

Necessities

• Grass seed
• Fertilizers
• Cultivation soil
• Soil worker or lawn spreader (optional)
• Mower
• Garden hose