If you’re wanting to sow some new lawn seed, then you must prepare the ground before. In this blog, we share how to prepare the ground ready to sow your new lawn seed.
Preparing the Ground Ready for Grass Seed
Remove everything from the lawn
If you are replacing an existing lawn or area with plants and you have the time, it is best to remove everything in the area first. By removing these from the area, you reduce the risk of weeds and weed grasses establishing in your new lawn.
After a week or two, you can use a spade to strip off any remaining turf and dig over the entire area. It will be hard to work, especially if the previous lawn's root system is still in place, but if you do not do so, then the lawn will end up bumpy, due to air pockets in the soil. You will also want to remove any stones, bricks and thick roots as you go.
If you have sloping areas then make sure that the curves are very gentle, so you do not scalp them with the lawnmower and make sure the soil is properly compacted, so the slope does not collapse after rainfall.
Add a high, quality fine top soil (depending on the type of lawn your growing)
If you are planning an ornamental lawn, then you may want to add a high-quality, fine top soil to a depth of 15cm, otherwise, using a rotovator or double-digging to a depth of 15 to 20 centimetres should suffice.
You can then add a pre-seeding fertiliser such as BS Pre-seeding Lawn Fertiliser to the entire area.
Tread the surface of the soil
The next step is to 'tread' the surface of the soil. It is time-consuming but pays dividends later if you manage to squeeze out all of the air pockets that will make sections of the lawn sink later on.
Putting most of your weight on your heels, shuffle over the area, moving your foot about half its length each time. Do this over every square inch of the area.
Remove any bumps and fill in holes
Once trodden down, use a garden rake to remove bumps and fill in depressions. Repeat this process at least twice for an ordinary lawn.
If you are planning an ornamental lawn, you will need to use boards and string and repeat the process several more times to get it perfectly flat.
Water the area
Finally, a few days before seeding, give the area a good watering if the soil is dry. It is important to remember that you want enough water to give the plants a head start, but the soil must be dry enough to rake without clumping together or sticking to your shoes when you sow the grass seeds or lawn seeds.
Make sure to calculate how much grass seed you need
To work out how much grass seed you need, you will have to measure the area of the proposed lawn. The sowing rate differs for different purposes so check our 'how much seed do I need?' guide for advice.
You should add 10% extra for mismeasuring, 10% for seeds that will be eaten by birds and keep an additional 10% back for filling in any thin spots a month after sowing. If you add a third more seed to the final figure for your area you should have plenty and any excess can be used for future lawn repairs.
How to Sow a New Lawn
Once you have prepared the ground, you can now sow your lawn seed. A new lawn needs five things if it is going to grow properly:
- Warmth
- An even distribution of seeds
- Good contact between seeds and soil
- Constant moisture
- Light
Even seed distribution
You can sow your grass seed by hand, but even seed distribution is easier if you use a spreader. We have a range of seed spreaders for every size of lawn and you can also use your seed spreader for putting down fertiliser, so do not worry about spending money on something you will only use once.
We recommend splitting your seed into at least two lots, spread in at least two directions. Keep a bit back for a final hand-spread at the edges, so your precious seed does not end up on your driveway, path or flower beds instead of in the lawn. If you did not add granular lawn fertiliser such as our BS pre-seeding lawn fertiliser when you prepared your lawn, this is a good time to add it.
Good contact between seeds and soil
First, rake over the surface of the soil to open it up and prepare it for seeding. Then sow the seed and rake over the surface to mix the seed and the soil. Finally, use a light roller to roll the lawn in two directions.
Constant moisture
A dry lawn will not develop a good root structure. To keep the lawn from drying out, lightly water it with a fine spray twice a day for the first fortnight. If your droplets are too large, or you water it too heavily, the seeds can move and spoil your even distribution.
For the next two weeks water every day or two, depending on rainfall. If there is no rain then increase the frequency. In the second month you can water more heavily, but reduce the frequency to twice a week. Finally, keep watering once a week for the remainder of the first six months.
Lawn Seed from Boston Seeds
At Boston Seeds, our grass seed is sold certified, which means it has exceptionally high standards of purity and germination for the best results. We have a number of different varieties of grass seed for a number of different conditions and uses.
It is important to choose the right lawn seed for your lawn, for example, if you have a shaded garden, then it is crucial to choose a lawn seed that thrives in the shade or if you have children or dog, then choosing a hard wearing lawn seed is important. If your current lawn just needs a bit of care, then our lawn repair grass seed can get your lawn back to looking its best.
Read our guide on how to care for your lawn to keep it looking its best once it's established. Or, take a look at our monthly lawn care tips to see how to care for your lawn in each month of the year.
How we can help!
If you're growing a lawn from scratch but unsure how much grass seed you need, our handy Grass Seed Calculator can help you figure it out in just a few clicks!
With Next Day Delivery on hundreds of items too, choosing from our extensive range of lawn seed couldn't be easier. Ordering regularly or looking for large volumes? Click here to apply for a trade account today - we review all applications within one working day.
Have a question about best practice when it comes to growing your lawn from grass seed? Or unsure which grass seed is best for your needs? Get in touch with our friendly experts who'll be happy to help.
Get in touch with our friendly experts who'll be happy to help.
