If you are starting a new lawn you will have to decide on lawn seed or using turf. Using grass seed is very much more economical than turf and has the advantage that you have a greater selection of different sorts of grass seed to pick from. The optimum time to sow your lawn is in the Spring or early fall as you need damp and fairly warm conditions. The summer is not an ideal time to sow a lawn as you will have to water constantly and too hot conditions are not perfect for the young seedlings to develop.
Different types of grass seeds mature at diverse rates so the time it will take for your new grass to be mature enough to walk on will depend on the type and the blend of lawn seed that you use. You will also want to think about the kind of lawn seed you should use. There are specialized shade grass seed for areas that don’t get much sun, sunny grass seed for areas that do! An exceptionally well-liked brand is Scotts grass seed.
Preparing Your Area
Prior to seeding the lawn you need to prepare the site correctly. The area you have chosen must be dug thoroughly and the stones taken out and big clods broken down. Rake over the section and compact gently with your feet. The surface should then be scraped lightly to make channels for the seeds.
Methods of Seeding the Lawn
There are two systems used to seed a lawn, by hand and by the use of a seeding machine. To seed with a machine, weigh out the amount of seed mixture required for the area then place half into the machine and seed by moving up and down the section in strips. When you reach end of every strip, to avoid over-seeding, you could place plastic sheeting on the ground or shut the delivery holes in the machine. You could use canes set into the ground or cables to direct you. At this point put the remainder of the seeds into the seeding machine and, walking perpendicular to the first lines, finish off sowing the lawn.
If you’re seeding the lawn by hand it’s a good idea to split the area into segments of a yard square with twine and canes. Gauge the amount of grass seed you need for each segment, weight this out and place in a small pot. Notice approximately how much this is so that you won’t need to weigh out each time. Uniformly seed the first segment, setting the seeds in both directions in order that they’re distributed evenly. Now restock the container to around the same height as previously and seed the next segment. Carry on until all of the area is finished.
When the whole area has been sown rake over lightly and irrigate thoroughly.Throughout the following week to fourteen days make certain that you water frequently if there isn’t any rain. The seedlings will start to emerge in this time.
How to Mow Your New Lawn
When the grass seedlings are roughly 6 cm high you may mow the grass for the first time using a rotary mower. Take care to collect grass trimmings or use a rake and be cautious not to disturb the young seedlings.
Read more about looking after your lawn at All for One Lawn Care Advice
