How to Plant a Seeded Lawn

A beautiful green lawn is inviting, cool and makes any landscape look complete. Well-tended lawns increase property value and indicate a healthy garden. Yet, lawns are also famous for guzzling up water, expensive fertilizers and herbicides. Careful planning and a few simple tips can help your lawn stay healthy and maintenance-free (except for mowing).

Plan Lawn Placement

First, plan how it will fit into the yard, without being the yard. This will help to conserve water. Use a garden hose to encircle an area, then step back and see how you like it. To make it easy on yourself, plant low growing groundcover or shrubs on slopes and shady areas. Plan patios and walkways, flower or vegetable beds and hedges to cut down on lawn areas. Many native species are beautiful and require very little care or water.

Prepare the Soil for Planting

Add a 3-4 inch layer of One Earth compost or OSH Garden Compost to help enrich soil for new plantings. Cultivate it into existing soil. Level the area out with a rake, then preferably use a roller to make it level.

Choosing and Planting the Seed

Carefully choose your grass seeds. Your local nursery can help you find one that works for your yard. Seeds are bred for just about any situation; shade, drought tolerance, disease resistance, heavy traffic, etc. Sprinkle grass seed evenly over the area or use a spreader. Cover seed with a 1/4" layer of OSH Peat Moss, NutraPeat or OSH Redwood Soil Conditioner, use a roller to evenly but lightly pat it down. Water with a fine spray, so as not to disturb seeds.

Caring for Your New Lawn

Keep evenly moist until grass sprouts. Wait about a month before mowing it for the first time. Plan to plant your lawn in fall or early spring, not in the summer.