Do you dream of having a luscious green lawn? A healthy lawn starts with grass seeds, and it’s crucial to plant the seeds properly to achieve the lawn of your dreams.
How Much Grass Seed Do I Need?
Wondering how much grass seed you need for your lawn? You aren’t alone. Many homeowners worry about applying too much or too little grass seed, especially when starting a new lawn from scratch.
Lawn care professionals recommended using four to seven pounds of grass seed per 1,000 square feet of lawn space. This amount will provide healthy lawn coverage and allow your lawn to properly establish itself.
With a few calculations and considerations, you can determine the right amount of seed to use on your lawn.
First, measure the length and width of your lawn in feet. If your lawn is an odd shape that is difficult to measure, break it up into smaller sections. After you take the measurements for each section, you can add them together to get one final number or do the following calculation for each individual section.
Next, multiply the length of your lawn by the width to determine the total square footage. Once you have the square footage, divide the number by 1,000 and then multiply it by your chosen seed rate. Remember that your rate should be between four and seven pounds.
For example, if the width of your lawn is 20 feet and the length is 30 feet, the total square footage of your lawn would be 600 feet. From there, 600 square feet divided by 1000 is 0.6. If you choose to use five pounds of seed per 1000 square feet, you would multiply 0.6 by five, which equals three.
Using these calculations, you can determine that you should use three pounds of grass seed on your lawn. Remember that not all grass seed species are the same and have varying needs. Be sure to pay attention to the kind of grass species you are using and adjust based on what it needs.
The Benefits of Working With a Lawn Care Professional
The best way to ensure you use the right amount of grass seed on your lawn is to work with a lawn care professional. They can take your lawn’s measurements and determine the correct seed rate based on your lawn’s needs.
An expert will also advise you on the right grass seed species for your lawn and do the planting for you using professional tools. Working with a professional can save you time, labor and energy while ensuring you get professional results.
A lawn care specialist can also set up a custom lawn care and maintenance plan for you that includes seeding, fertilization, weed control and other ongoing maintenance. If you want your lawn to look lush and healthy all year long, working with a professional is the way to go.
Can You Just Sprinkle Grass Seed On the Lawn?
Many homeowners want to know if you can just sprinkle grass seed on the lawn and call it a day. Unfortunately, this method does not produce a healthy lawn. When grass seed is simply sprinkled onto a lawn it is unable to properly germinate.
Germination is a vital part of the growth process as it is when the seed becomes a plant. If you desire a full-looking lawn, merely sprinkling grass seed is not enough. Instead, you need to ensure that the grass seeds make proper contact with the soil in order to grow.
Direct seed-to-soil contact is a required part of the growth process. Without it, your grass seeds will not be able to develop strong roots.
The other reason the sprinkling method doesn’t work well is because the scattered grass seeds will compete with existing grass for sunlight, water and nutrients. Your entire lawn will suffer when you do not plant your new grass seeds the right way.
Finally, scattered seeds make a great food source for birds, and they can easily be washed away by rain, wind and other types of weather. To get the most out of your seeds, follow the proper seeding steps below.
The Correct Way to Seed Your Lawn
First, prepare the soil you want to seed by loosening the top layer, clearing away debris and creating a level surface. Some lawns may also require dethatching and aerating.
Once your soil is prepped, use a broadcast seeder to evenly spread the grass seed into the earth. This ensures proper distribution instead of haphazard sprinkling, and it promotes direct seed-to-soil contact.
Next, incorporate the seed into the soil using a lawn roller. Lastly, thoroughly water the soil immediately after planting. Proper moisture is vital for successful germination, so it’s important to do this step as soon as the seeds are planted. Additionally, you need to keep the soil moist until the grass seeds are firmly established.
To promote healthy grass growth, you can also consider applying a starter fertilizer. It will add beneficial nutrients to the soil that will promote the germination and growth process.
For the best results for your grass, work with a lawn care specialist. An expert can identify your lawn’s particular and create a tailored lawn care plan. They will also have the best seeding equipment which will save you from having to invest in the tools yourself.
Lastly, a specialist can identify potential problems you may face with your lawn, such as thatch buildup, soil compaction or pest infestations like grass grubs. They can save you time by dealing with those problems before seeding, which gives your lawn the best chance to grow healthy and lush grass.
When Can You Start Mowing After Overseeding?
Newly seeded yards require proper treatment and delicate care to give the grass seeds the best chance of taking root and developing into healthy grass. One question many homeowners ask is when they can start mowing again after overseeding.
Mowing too soon after overseeding puts too much stress on your new grass seedlings, which can make them too fragile to germinate.
Lawn care professionals recommend waiting two to three weeks after overseeding to mow your lawn for the first time. Waiting this long allows the seeds to firmly root into the soil and develop enough strength to handle the mowing.
When it’s time to mow your lawn after overseeding, follow these best practices. First, set your mower height to a higher setting so that you do not cut your new grass too short. You want to leave the grass blades at least three inches long because the blades provide protective shade for the new seedlings.
Next, make sure you use a sharp blade for a clean cut. Dull blades can tear and damage the grass blades.
After the first few times you mow a newly seeded yard, it’s a good idea to bag up the cut grass blades instead of leaving them on the lawn. Loose grass blades can smother the young grass seedlings and cut off their access to air circulation. Finally, do not mow your grass when it’s wet, as it can lead to clumping and an uneven cut.
How to Water and Fertilize Overseeded Grass
To promote healthy grass growth, it’s important to properly water and fertilize your new seedlings. It’s crucial that the soil remains moist after seeding in order for the new seeds to germinate.
The best time to water is in the morning so that the earth has enough time to dry in the sun, which reduces the risk of disease. Make sure you do not waterlog the new grass during this period. Frequent light watering is the key to keeping the soil moist while avoiding washing away the seeds.
When it comes to fertilizing, use a starter fertilizer on your seedlings. It will have higher phosphorus content, which promotes strong root development. Wait six weeks before you apply the first round of fertilizer after overseeding. Continue applying fertilizer every six to eight weeks or according to the instructions for your grass species.
Work With an Expert to Achieve the Lawn of Your Dreams
Grass seedlings are delicate and need to be treated correctly in order to thrive. The best way to ensure great results is to work with a lawn care specialist. They know when to mow new grass, and can identify any problems and maintain your lawn for you. Save valuable time and energy and achieve the lawn of your dreams by working with a professional.
ABC Can Keep Your Lawn Healthy and Green
Taking care of your grass can take a lot of work. If you would rather spend your weekend enjoying your yard, contact ABC Home & Commercial Services. Our lawn care team can give you that healthy green grass you’ve been looking for. We even have a team who can refresh your landscaping!