Tag: grass

New Grass

I had a tree removed from my front yard about 3 weeks ago so after they removed the stump, I had an area that was just wood chips and mud. So I’m busily working to get grass growing there. Have you ever needed to seed lawn from scratch? Unfortunately, there’s no sod to be found around here right now so I seeded.

This is what AI told me to do:

Here are some steps you can take to seed a new lawn: 

  1. Prepare the soil. Remove weeds by hand or weed killer, and loosen the soil by raking. If the soil is compacted, you can aerate it. You can also add compost or topsoil if the soil is poor quality. Let the area cultivate for 10–14 days to encourage dormant weeds to appear, then remove them by hand. 
  2. Choose the right seed. Select a type of grass seed that’s suited to your climate and area. 
  3. Spread the seed. You can use a seed spreader or your hands to spread the seed evenly across the area. For larger areas, use a spreader and spread half the seeds in one direction and half in the other to create a crisscross pattern. The manufacturer’s instructions should indicate how much seed to use. 
  4. Rake the seed. Gently rake the seed into the soil to distribute it and cover it with a thin layer of soil. You can also firm down the seed with your foot or a roller to improve contact between the seed and soil. 
  5. Water the seeds. Water the seeds to soften the ends and start the germination process. Keep the soil moist for the first 10 days, and then water every two days for a month after the seeds germinate. You can reduce watering as the grass matures. 
  6. Apply fertilizer. You can apply a small amount of starter fertilizer near the seeds when you plant them to help the seedlings and sod roots establish.

I followed this pretty much to the letter but I haven’t fertilized yet. I did add a few bags of top soil to help level out the area but with all the watering, the soil has settled so it isn’t as level as it was when I started but that’s OK. I’ve been watering morning and evening every day since I put the seed down – I think this is the key to getting good results (especially when you plant in August!).

The grass is about 3″ tall and filling in nicely but I’ll be overseeding it in a couple of weeks to try to encourage more coverage and sod roots before winter.

So there you have it! This works for bare spots and worn areas too – give it a try in your yard!