Top Lawn Seeding Tips From The Pros

You might have heard that it can be difficult to start a new lawn.  However, if you have the right variety of grass seed, well-prepared soil, and some preparation and a bit of patience, you can successfully get a new lawn started.  Here are some of the top lawn seeding tips from the professionals like trugreen florida to help ensure your success.

1.  Choose The Right Grass Seed

It is very important to choose the right type of grass that suits your location, budget and lifestyle.  Start by considering what kind of lawn you would like to have and what the growing conditions are like in your local area.  Will your lawn receive partial or full sun?  Will your pets be using your lawn, or will it be getting lots of foot traffic?  If you aren't sure what kind of grass to grow, get more information from local area lawn professionals or find more information online to ensure that you choose a type of grass that will grow well in your local area.

2. Plant Your Grass Seed At The Right Time

You need to make sure to plant new grass seed at the right time of the year.  If you will be planting a cool season grass such as tall fescue, perennial rye grass, or Kentucky bluegrass, then early fall or spring is the best planting time. If you will be planning a warm season grass such as Bermuda grass, centipede, or Zoysia, then the best planting time is early summer. Warm seen grass seeds need to have warm soil in order for it to germinate. And you must use natural fertilizers from the waste and for that you must know banana decomposition time to get the fertilizer ready.

3. Test Your Soil

Although this is option, if you would like to know precisely what is occurring in your soil, then you should have your soil analyzed.  The cooperative extensive service in your county may be able to do this for you.  There are also soil test kits that you can get to do a basic soil test on your own.

The results of the test will tell you which amendments and nutrients you need to add to your soil in order to improve it.  For a majority of grass types, the best soil pH is 6.0 to 7.0.  If the soil is too acidic (under 6.0 pH), limestone can be added to your soil.  If it is too alkaline (over 7.0 pH), then sulfur, composted manure, or compost can be added to your soil.  Visit here for expert advice.

4. Prepare Your Soil

Before seeding your lawn, you should prepare the area first.  Remove existing grass using a sharp shovel, or a sod cutter can be rented if you have a large area to accomplish the task more quickly.  Then inspect the area thoroughly.  Remove any debris and large rocks and fill in any low spots.  Till the soil if it is compacted.  You want the soil broken down into pea-sized particles, which will be welcoming for your grass seed. 

5. Even The Surface Out  

You don't want your new lawn to have peaks and valleys.  Use a garden rake and even out the surface as much as you can. As you are raking, take out any debris and rocks that you encounter.  You may also want to add topsoil or a turf builder that contains composted materials and nutrients.

6. Plant Your Grass Seed

After you have completed preparing your soil, you can add your grass seed. Disperse the grass seed over the soil evenly by using either a handheld spreader or walk-behind spreader.  The seed should be applied evenly over the entire area.

Use the underside of a garden rake to work the seeds gently into the soil. 

7.  Feed Your Lawn On The Same Day You Plant Your Grass Seed

You can also feed it using a lawn food that has been specially formulated for new grass.

For optimal coverage, different kinds of fertilizers and grass seed need different spread settings.  Check the fertilizer bag to ensure you are selecting the proper setting for your spread.  Apply the fertilizer to the perimeter area first, and then fill in the rest of your lawn.  

8. Cover Everything

After you have finished seeding and laying down the fertilizer, cover both of them up with soil.  Use a thin layer of about 1/4 inch to help prevent your new grass seed from washing away or drying out.  Spread the soil and then use the back of your rake to even it out. You can also mulch the lawn using straw to reduce the amount of watering you need to do. 

8. Water Your Lawn

To water a recently seeded lawn, the main key is to keep the top one inch of the soil moist on a consistent basis without being soggy.  The seeded area will most likely need to be misted once per day at least, or maybe more often if it is dry and hot. After your seeds have started to germinate, try to keep the top two inches of the soil moist.  Once the grass reaches about 3 inches high, you can reduce your water to around two times per week.  Soak the soil more deeply to around 6-8 inches every time in order to encourage the roots of the grass to grow deeply within the soil.     

9. Properly Maintain You Lawn

After your new lawn has reached a minimum 3-inch mowing height, it is time for you to cut it.  Be sure to remove only the top one third of the grass blades when mowing your lawn.  Adjust your mower so that it is one a high setting in order to keep your lawn thick.  When grass is cut too short, it will weaken it and allow more weeds to get in.  While your grass is still young and developing, try to minimize foot traffic on your lawn as much as you can.  You can begin a regular lawn fertilizer program after about 6-8 weeks so that your new grass stays lush and thick.

If you follow all of the top lawn seeding tips from Discoverziehler.com given above, you will have a beautiful, lush, thick lawn in no time!