Planting grass from seed is an inexpensive alternative to laying sod. Even a person with little to no landscape knowledge can plant grass seed, and end with beautiful results. Unlike laying sod, growing grass from seed does not have instinct results. However, you will have an equally beautiful lawn, save a bundle, and have the overwhelming feeling of accomplishment when you see the final results.
What Type of Grass
Before you do any preparation work, you need to decide what type of grass you want to plant. Are you looking for an annual seed or a perennial seed? What color of grass do you want? Do you want thick lush grass, long shaggy grass, or running grass? These are all difficult questions, but they are important. Keep in mind the area you live in when making this decision. Some grass needs full sun, while others grow best in partial shade. Weather is also an important factor. You don’t want to plant grass that can’t take the heat, if you live in Florida.
Buy the Seed
Once you know what type of grass you want to plant, you will need to buy the seed. The reason you should do this now, is because some grasses are harder to find, and you might have to resort to having your seed shipped to you. Check with you local hardware, garden, and feed stores. You should be able to find a grass seed to suit your needs at one of these places.
Water the Sand
Your yard now looks like a sand trap. Water the sand until the water is absorbed, a simple garden hose, and sprinkler makes this job simple. To check to see if it is absorbed scraped down 4 inches with a shovel. If you have sand, then you need to water more, if you have wet dirt then you can stop watering.
Rake the Surface
As soon as your water is absorbed into the dirt you want to rake the top of the surface. This will allow you to make sure your ground is even, and it also gets the sand ready for the seed. If you come across dry sand, or if your sand dry’s out on you, just add some more water. Once you have the ground level, you can plant your seeds. Be sure to leave the indention marks made by the rake, you want your ground level not smooth. If the ground is smooth your seeds will all end up in one pile.
Planting the Seeds
Planting the seeds is the easy part. You can buy a seed spreader for around $30.00 or you can do it by hand. To do it by hand you want to walk up and down your lawn casting a handful of seeds in each direction every four or five steps. With a crank spreader, you just walk up and down the lawn steadily cranking. And with a walk-behind spreader you simply push it up and down your lawn.
Water the Seeds
Once the seeds have been spread you will want to water them in. Using a sprinkler water the lawn for at least an hour. This helps the seeds get covered in dirt, plus it helps them germinate.
Water. Water. Water.
You need to keep the lawn watered. Early morning is the best time to water. You want to water the entire area where the seeds have been planted every day for at least 30 minutes to an hour for the next 2 weeks. After 2 weeks you will see noticeable grass growing you can cut back to every other day for half an hour for the next two weeks. After that, you can water your lawn twice a week for an hour.
Extra Seed
After week 2 if you notice any bald spots now would be a good time to toss a little extra seed on those areas. Remember your new grass will be tender for several months. You should avoid things such as parking your car on it.
Enjoy It
Now your lawn is a beautiful as your neighbors, and all you have left to do is enjoy it. With the money you saved you can even buy yourself a new grill, and invite your sod laying neighbors over for a cookout. Laying grass seed is simple, anyone can do it. The hard part is finding the energy to keep the grass mowed.
