For homeowners looking for a lush green yard, it is important to keep seeding a lawn year after year. Seeding a lawn is one of the easiest home improvement projects that a homeowner can undertake. It is not very expensive and many of the necessary tools can be rented or maybe borrowed from friends, neighbors, or family members.
When should I seed a lawn?
Concerning seeding a lawn, according to home care experts, early fall is the ideal time to seed a lawn in a cold-weather climate. The cooler weather in the early fall will keep the seeds from being scorched like they could on a hot summer day. If early fall is not an option, early spring is another good time, but it seeding the lawn should be done after the last hard freeze.
In warm weather climates, homeowners should seed their lawn in the late spring or early summer. These times are idea because of the rainy summer days that will help the seeds germinate and cover the ground. Lawns should be seeded when temperatures are around 80 degrees.
Steps before seeding
Before seeding a lawn, there are steps that a homeowner should take. Following these steps will help make their lawn greener, thicker, and lusher. One of the first steps is to test the pH level with a soil testing kit. After that, homeowners should rake out the lawn, removing old roots, rocks, or other debris.
How to seed
Once the yard is raked and cleared, the yard should be tilled and turned. They should add compost and sand, and then re-till the soil, to get the added ingredients well mixed. The yard should be raked again, to even out and smooth the yard.
Once the yard is ready, the homeowner should spread the seed either by hand or with a seed-spreading tool. The grass seed should be raked and then water frequently.
Tools you will need
Seeding the lawn requires a few tools and supplies. Two of the necessary supplies are sand and compost. Yards require about three cubic yards for every 1,000 square feet. You will also need starter fertilizer to rake into the soil. If you want evenly spread seeds, it is recommended to either buy, rent, or borrow a seed spreader. Homeowners will also need a sprinkler, rake, and tiller. Sprinklers and rakes are quite affordable, but tillers can cost over $100. Many hardware stores will rent tools like lawn tillers.
How much water do I need?
Newly seeded yards require good watering. In order to not over or under water a newly seeded yard, homeowners can easily measure the water they’ve used with a small tin can, like a tuna fish or cat food can. You should place the can near the sprinkler and when the can is full of water, then, turn off the sprinkler.
Should I cover the new seed?
To help keep moisture on a newly seeded lawn, you may want to cover the lawn with straw or peat moss.
Seeding a lawn is an easy home improvement project that any homeowner can undertake. Seeding a lawn keeps the lawn lush and green.