If you want to learn more about how to plant grass seed in a new lawn you have to take a close look over the instructions in the article. This article covers all the steps needed for you to plat grass seeds on a newly prepared yard. I planted the grass seeds in my own front yard and decided to take pictures during the process, so I share my experience. I will also update the article with new pics, as the lawn grows and I have to maintain it.
I did not use fertilizers for the front yard, because it is close to a water well, so I want to keep it clean. My soil is pretty good, but I have to add more from another source. In addition, I decided to do everything in the family, because this looked like a really fun project. It’s also more rewarding to have a story behind the garden, instead for calling the professionals. Looking back, I think that preparing the soil and using the roller are the most important parts of the process
Tools
- lawn roller
- garden hoe
- garden rack
- wheelbarrow
- tiller
Materials
- grass seeds
Planting thuja occidentalis
Preparing-the-soil-for-grass-with-a-tiller
The first step of the project is to level the soil and remove all the residues. You don’t want twigs, stones or trash on your future lawn. So you need to inspect the area with attention and select everything that doesn’t belong there.
Next, we used a tiller to loosen up the top soil. If the soil is really hard, the grass will not develop properly. You need the soil to be loose, so that the roots can set into the ground properly and have access to the water and nutrients. We had this rototiller for other garden jobs, so we used it to prepare the soil for grass seeding.
Loose-soil-for-grass
A few hours later the soil is much better. The secret is to go in several directions and to cover everything at least twice, so you get 8″ deep into the round.
Cleaning-the-leaves-of-the-soil
If you plant the grass seeds during the fall, you need to clean out all the leaves. A garden rack will be really useful. We used our small dump truck to take the leaves off the yard. You will be surprised but we had to make a few journeys to take them all.
Cleaning-the-soil-for-grass-seeding
Taking-away-the-residues-from-the-yard
We also used a bucket to move the construction resides that were laying around the fence (it’s a long story, we built this concrete fence and it was very messy).
Crumbling-the-soil
You can use a garden hoe to loosen up the soil that is compacted. This will take a lot longer than using a mototiller, but you will basically get the same result. However, I still recommend you to use the tiller, because it will get deeper into the soil.
Leveling-the-soil-with-a-rake
Use a rake to even out the surface.
Moving-top-soil-for-the-lawn
We also brought in quality soil as a thin 1″ top layer. We used a wheelbarrow to unload the soil all over the yard. This made the process a lot easier.
Spreading-the-soil-evenly
As you can see, this top soil is really making a difference.
Yard-soil-leveling
Use the back of the rake to break the boulders into small pieces.
Grass-seeds
We bought a big bag of grass seeds, because it is more cost efficient. The 3 kg will be enough for 1000 sq ft (100 m2).
Lawn-seeds
Make sure you invest in certified and high quality grass seeds, otherwise you will have a lot of problems with the lawn. I recommend you to read the label on the lawn seeds, because each type needs requires different type of maintenance and planting season. The grass I used for my lawn is called “Rustic Grass” and I chose it because it is easy to maintain and it ideal for any soil and areas that don’t get full exposure to the sun.
Grass-seeded
We spread the grass seed by hand, because it’s a small surface. Make sure there are no bare spots and you cover everything with seeds.
Grass-seeds-on-the-soil
As you can see in the image, you need to cover the soil with grass seeds evenly.
Lawn-roller
Afterwards, you need to go with the lawn roller a few time in at least three directions. This roller is really cheap to buy because you fill it with water and then you go with it over the seeds to set them into the oil. In this manner, the grass will have proper roots and when the rain comes, the water won’t wash the seeds away and leave bare spots behind.
Setting-the-grass-seeds-into-the-soil-with-a-lawn-roller
Water-sprinkles-for-grass-seeds
We have water sprinkles installed underground so we let them to work for 10 minutes. The grass seeds need a lot of water to germinate, so make sure you give them plenty.
New-grass-seeds-germinating
After 4 days the grass seeds started to germinate. All the hard work paid off when the green carpet unveils in front of your eyes. Remember that the seeds need at least 10 degree Celsius or 50 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate. If you plant the grass seeds in the fall season, you should know the grass will take more to germinate. If you plant the seeds during spring season when the outside temperature is warm, you will see green in just a few days.
Growing-new-lawn-grass
I really loved plating the grass seeding to my front yard, although I have to be honest and admit it required a lot of work. We used the tiller but also a garden how to make the soil loose. In addition we brought in soil to level out the yard and make sure the ground is rich in nutrients. I will add more projects as the grass grows and share my experience with maintaining it.
This diy project was about how to plant grass seed in a new lawn. If you have enjoyed the free project, I recommend you to share it with your friends, by using the social media widgets. You can always save the plans as PDF or Print them using the floating widget on the left side of the screen (working only on PC or laptop).