It is a well known fact that the best time to seed your lawn is autumn, after the hottest weather. People must forget this fact though, because most grass seed is sold in the spring. If you do have to seed in the spring, you should do so as soon as the ground thaws. The roots need time to gain strength before the weather gets too hot. In the summer, grass has do deal with dry conditions, hot weather, and competition with weeds. It is tough for it to try to begin growing in these conditions. If you don’t seed in the fall, and miss the early spring window, you should make a temporary lawn out of rye grass until you can make your permanent lawn in the fall.
Grass seed is smaller than most other plant seeds, and it should be planted shallow. The larger grass seeds should be fully covered with moist soil, whereas smaller seeds like bent grass only need to be partially covered by moist soil. For every 1000 square feet of lawn you have, you should use 4 lbs. of seed. Adding extra seeds won’t compensate for poor growing conditions. In fact, it will hurt the growth because the seedling will have to compete with one another.
You can hand spread the seeds if necessary, but it is better to use a mechanical spreader if possible when sowing grass seed. Either way, you should sow the seeds by spreading part in one direction, then the rest crosswise. This will ensure that you didn’t miss any spots. You should then lightly rake the seeds. To firm the seeds in the soil, you should roll over it lightly with a roller. You can put a small amount (1/8 inch) of compost or screened soil over small lawns.
If you lawn is sloped, you need to take some extra precautions so new seedlings won’t wash down the slope with rain water. One option is to cover the area with straw. Another option is to cover the seedlings with an open mesh cloth that will just become part of the soil and dissolve with time. It will protect the seedlings from washing away and from sun exposure. If you use burlap to cover the seedlings, it should be removed when the grass grows to a height of around ¼ inch.
To water the seeds, natural rainfall is best if possible. You will have to water it yourself if the weather isn’t cooperating though. You should water in the early morning with a misty spray. You don’t want puddles to form. The grass will die if you don’t keep the moisture supply constant once it they sprout.
In areas that are level, you should use a sprinkler to water about 5 inches of soil each time you water. The soil should not become compacted or waterlogged though. If the grass is on a slope, you should water it with a canvas hose or a hose wrapped in porous canvas. The water should ooze out in big drops. Once the grass starts to grow, don’t be tempted to mow too soon. The grass shouldn’t be mowed until it is at least 2 inches high.
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