Lawn care – sowing new lawn seed
Your lawn sets the scene for your whole garden. It is the focus around which your flower beds, trees and plants sit. Like everything in your garden, it needs to be looked after all year round.
If you want a new lawn or have bare, thin and dry patches then sowing grass seed is an alternative and cost-effective solution to buying turf. Seed is also good for getting into awkward areas such as corners.
In this article, we look at top tips on sowing grass seed whether you are over-seeding an existing lawn, or sowing a new one.
1. When to sow
The best time to sow is from late summer to mid-autumn. At this time, the soil is both warm and should be damp, giving seeds the best chance to germinate.
You should get rid of any weeds before you sow as they can hinder growth. If using weedkiller, you will usually need to wait up to four weeks after application, before sowing.
You should feed your lawn if it has not been done recently with a good fertiliser and then sow seeds three to four days after this.
2. Choosing the right lawn seed
You need to pick a lawn seed that suits your soil to get the best result for your lawn. Bear in mind how much shade or sun your lawn gets when selecting your seeds and how much use it gets. Some grass seeds need different growing conditions than others.
Firstly identify which soil type you have and then select a seed that states it is best suited on the packet.
There are six main types of soil including; chalky; clay; sandy and loamy. To find out which type you have you can run water through it, if it drains quickly it is sandy or gravelly but if not it is clay. Sandy feels sticky to the touch whereas clay feels dry. Chalky soil tends to be stonier than other soil and loamy soil is a mixture of silt, sand and clay.
The majority of gardens will suit a hard-wearing family lawn mixture such as Johnson’s Tuffgrass Lawn Seed.
3. Prepare the soil
As with anything in the garden, preparation is key. So before sowing your new lawn seed or over-seeding an existing lawn, follow these tips to prepare your soil:
- Remove moss, stones and weeds as you go with a springtime rake
- Till your soil, add in any topsoil at this stage
- Water your soil with a good amount
- Get your rake and level everything off on the soil
- Firm down by foot or use a roller
4. Sow your seeds
Using a seed spreader or your hands, sow your grass seed at a rate of one and a half ounces per square metre (but do refer to the manufacturer’s packet).
Then rake your ground after sowing to slightly cover the seed, and follow up with a good watering. Newly sown seeds need to be watered every few days for the next four to six weeks, depending on the weather. A nice spray though, don’t saturate.
5. Aftercare
Try to keep traffic on a new lawn or newly seeded area, at a minimum for the first 7 to 21 days by creating a cordoned-off area with string and cane.
Carry out your first mow once the grass is two to three inches long.
If you follow these tips you will have a luscious green lawn to be enjoyed all year!
Lisa Lawrenson
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