What grass seed should i plant

Use existing topsoil; added soil may have weed seeds. Fertilize the bare spots after overseeding with a starter fertilizer like GreenView Fairway Formula Seeding Success Step 3 — Plant grass seed Spread the seed evenly by hand in small areas. Use a hand or lawn spreader or a mechanical seeder in large areas. Apply approximately 16 seeds per square inch. Too many seeds too close together causes seedlings to fight for room and nutrients. Grass may be weak or thin in these areas.

Step 5 — Water often Keep grass seed bed moist to enhance germination. They remain green all year, but can go brown and dormant in heat and drought. In many areas of the country, you can opt for a mix of seed specific to your region. If you're growing lawn grass in shade, choose a grass seed product such as Pennington Smart Seed Dense Shade , which is formulated especially for challenging low-light conditions.

Once amendments are complete and your soil surface is smooth and prepped, broadcast the seed evenly according to your seed product's recommended seeding rates. Remember to carefully review the seed package label instructions and follow the guidelines.

Misapplication of seed can lead to unsatisfactory results. Choosing the right type of spreader for your situation helps you get the results you need. A drop spreader drops seed straight down in a path the width of your spreader as you move across your lawn.

This type of spreader maneuvers well in tight spaces and is ideal for small lawns less than 5, sq. A broadcast or rotary spreader comes in walk-behind and hand-held types that spread seed by fanning it out in all directions, providing more uniform coverage. These spreaders are ideal for large lawns, but they lack the precision drop spreaders provide. Don't bury the seeds any deeper; grass seed needs adequate light to germinate quickly.

After raking, pass over the area with a roller, which helps ensure the good seed-to-soil contact your new seed needs. Overseeding is the process of planting grass seed into an existing lawn. This is done to improve your lawn's overall look and health, thicken your grass, minimize weeds, fill in bare or damaged areas, or convert to another type of lawn grass.

Also, southern lawns are often overseeded with a cool-season grass to provide green color during winter months. When overseeding, broadcast the seed over the lawn, and water it in well, following the same instructions as for new lawns. Keeping grass seeds and seedlings constantly moist but not soggy is critical to successful grass-seeding efforts. Water newly seeded areas two to three times a day with a light spray to keep the seeds moist.

Stop watering when puddles begin to appear on the soil surface. Once the seeds germinate and grass seedlings begin to grow, gradually transition to watering less frequently but more heavily. Taper off watering as the grass becomes taller and more mature. Depending on the type of grass you're growing, germination may take anywhere from five to 21 days. Expect your new grass to take another four to 10 weeks to root well and become established. It will take a full season for most grasses to mature to the point where they're ready for steady foot traffic.

Once your new seedlings reach about 1 inch in height, examine the newly seeded area for any bare spots or places you may have missed. Reseed the bare areas, and repeat the process as needed until new seedlings are thick and you're satisfied with the results.

Once your grass reaches 3 inches high, it's ready to withstand mowing. Always follow best practices for mowing lawns , including the recommended mowing heights for your type of grass. Now that you know why choosing the best seed is important and which varieties work best, let's dig into how you can choose the right grass seed. First and foremost, you need high-quality grass seed, and local nurseries and grass seed vendors are usually the best place to find quality. Each variety has its own needs for levels of water, fertilizer, pesticides and even mowing frequencies.

For example, Kentucky bluegrass is a kind of turfgrass seed that calls for more fertilizer and more frequent watering to thrive. No matter which grass seed type you choose, however, always make the investment in top-quality seed, rather than going for cheaper retail outlets that mix the seed with a whole variety of "fillers. Your soil's pH will largely determine whether your lawn thrives once it starts growing, or whether it looks patchy and tired.

In general, turf grasses require well-aerated soil that has a slightly acidic pH balance of between 6 and 7. As you can see, taking a soil sample is an easy process that requires you to divvy up your site, collect samples and data, and then send off the samples for further testing. To test your soil , grab a soil test kit and begin gathering small samples from several differentiated spots where you're planning to seed.

Mix the soil and place it into the bag. Because it takes about two weeks to receive the results back, make sure you're planning to perform the test well in advance. Just in case results don't come back as you expected, you'll need time to make adjustments to your soil before planting.

But there's more to finding varieties than knowing what's out there. You also need to know how some big-box seed companies work, and you need to know what to watch out for. For instance, sometimes reduced priced seeds are sold as "variety not stated. Read it thoroughly! And if there's no such label, avoid purchasing the seed bag.

Because there's usually a certain about of chaff, dust, weed seeds, and crop seeds included. You want to make sure that what you're paying for is actual seed. These are mostly fillers that won't do too much for your lawn so don't bother paying for a mixture that includes them.

But you'll only be able to catch these flaws if you read the label and know what to look for - and now you do! Once you know which varieties are good and bad, check up on which varieties perform well in your area. A great source for this is The University of Minnesota. They have a portal dedicated to data on variety performance known as the Cultivar Evaluation Results. This can help you to check on the historical performance of seed types. You can also visit the National Turfgrass Evaluation Program for data and rankings of most turf cultivars, as well as the performance of ongoing trials.

From fine fescues to bluegrass and bermudagrass, your choice depends on factors like:. Some grass types, for example, call for very particular amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Others can hold a green color all season long and take very little input from you to root and grow quickly. It's definitely not rocket science, but there is a blend of art and science here: The art of growing and cultivation, and the science of testing your soil and choosing the right seed.

Because this is a multi-step process, you'll need to patient as you choose the right grass seed for your lawn. Once that comes back, you'll know definitively if you're spending some time improving the pH of your soil, or if you're ready to seed. From there, you should also consider other growth factors like your region, how much shade there is on your lawn, and wear and tear.

It's only at this point that you should check local data, zone in on a specific variety, and buy your grass seed. Get instant access to all of our premium pasture seed products by entering your zip code into our exclusive Seed Selector! The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled.

Factor 1: Levels of Shade This generally affects the amount of sun exposure and shade the grass is naturally built to take. Factor 2: Wear and Tear "Traffic" is all about how much footfall or wear and tear your lawn will be expected to take. Factor 3: Grass Seed or Ready-Roll? The caveat is that it may not root as well or as firmly as natural grass seed. Factor 4: Site Size The size of a lot has a great effect on seed type and how much seed you need to get a healthy lawn.

The final price will tell you whether it's a good run for your money — or not! Factor 5: Seeding Sloping Sites A quick note about using grass seed on sloping sites.

Several products are available to stop this from occurring: Straw: You can opt to sprinkle straw over freshly-seeded soil -- gentle slopes are best Erosion-control netting: Netting can be made from coconut fibers and is specifically designed to help keep soil packed in. Be sure to choose varieties that are suited to your climate. For a smaller area, break up the soil using a warren hoe or a shovel. Larger areas may require a rototiller. After loosening the soil, rake it out smoothly and break up any clumps.

Wetting the area before planting is an important step in the process. How to plant grass seed For small areas, use your hand to distribute the seed, flinging it out over the area. In smaller areas, grass seed can be spread by hand.

For large areas, use a mechanical spreader. What to put on top of newly planted grass seed After the seeds are sown, cover them immediately to protect them from birds, keep them moist, and prevent them from washing away in a heavy rain. After spreading the seed, cover the area with a mulch of straw, fine compost, or mushroom soil. Comments What do you suggest for slugs. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Disclosure Policy Privacy Policy.

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