To sow grass seed on wet or clay soil, how you prepare your soil will be key. Soil should be aerated, amended, and levelled. Your choice of grass seed for your wet soil is also fundamental to the success of your lawn.
Soil Preparation
• Clear debris - remove any grass or other debris from the area.
• Aerate - break up the soil to a depth of 3–6 inches using a rototiller or shovel.
• Amend - add organic compost, gypsum, or bark mulch to improve drainage.
• Level - smooth and level the soil with a rake.
Choosing Grass Seed
Grass seed for wet soil should ideally contain a mix of grasses that will tolerate wet conditions, flooding, and dry periods. Common varieties used in wet soil mixes include:
• Fescue – tall fescue is a good choice for waterlogged soil thanks to its deep root system which will tolerate wet conditions and even occasional flooding, accessing oxygen and nutrients even in waterlogged soil. Strong creeping red fescue is also highly tolerant of wet conditions.
• Perennial ryegrass – can tolerate wet conditions and dry periods, making it ideal for heavy clay soil that is often saturated in winter but bone dry in the summer.
• Rough-stalked meadow grass & Timothy – both good varieties for tolerating wet conditions.
How to Sow Grass Seed in Wet Soil
• Mix the seed with dry sand, topsoil, or sawdust.
• Sow the seed evenly.
• Lightly rake the seedbed and then roll it.
• Choose ground that is not highly fertile and does not have a problem with perennial weeds.
• Control weeds before sowing.
• Sow on a relatively windless day.
Best Grass Seed for Waterlogged and Wet Soil
• At Boston Seeds, we supply a wide range of Grass Seed for every situation. Our BS Waterlogged and Wet Soils Grass Seed is particularly recommended for areas with poor drainage and/or seasonal waterlogging. Ideal for soil that is wet in winter but dries out in summer, heavy clay soils, and land that experiences occasional flooding, this durable and hardy grass seed mix contains 5% rough-stalked meadow grass, 10% timothy, 30% strong creeping red fescue, 30% amenity perennial ryegrass, 5% hard fescue, 20% tall fescue.
• For wet, shady lawns, our BS Childs Play Lawn Seed is ideal. The blend of 50% amenity perennial ryegrass, 32% strong creeping red fescue, 10% chewings fescue, 6% slender creeping red fescue and 2% highland bent is suited to damp shaded areas found around buildings, and alongside fences and tree shadows.
Buying the Right Amount of Lawn Seed
All our Lawn Seed Mixes are available in a choice of sizes including 2kg, 5kg, 10kg and 20kg. We understand how challenging it can be to buy the correct amount so we have put together a useful Grass Seed Calculator to help you.
Boston Seeds – Helping Customers for Over 20 Years
For over 20 years, we have served our customers with a passion and dedication for all that we do. Our mission statement has always been 'Providing quality products, fit for purpose and at competitive prices. Customer service second to none.' Ready to help with any support or advice, our experienced and friendly staff can be contacted via email or over the phone on 01205 280069.
