Five Steps To A Lush Lawn
With the arrival of spring, it's time to get your grass looking good, and now is the perfect time to get your lawn off to a good start with new grass seed. Here are some tips to get you the best-looking lawn on the block.
Rake First
Winter can be hard on a lawn, and when the snow melts, a lot of times, a drab thatch is left behind. Use a metal-toothed thatching rake to remove the "hay" while simultaneously aerating the soil with the rake's sharp teeth. If you don't remove the thatch and any other dead organic matter, the grass seed won't germinate. It needs to be in contact with the soil in order to sprout successfully.
Fertilize The Soil
The soil should be fertilized with a seed-starter food. Check with your local gardening store for the best brand. Ideally, you should use a spreader to ensure you get even coverage, but if that's not possible, use a shaker and carefully sprinkle it, being careful not to overdo it; this will kill the grass instead of preparing a fertile bed for new grass to take root.
Plant The Grass Seed
A spreader works best for larger areas, but for smaller areas, you can hand-toss the seed. You want to choose a grass seed that is native to your area and that will work with the grass you currently have. Your landscaping center can help you with this. Spread the lawn seed as the package recommends, but, in general, you want it thick enough so that each seed finds its own little spot among the existing blades. Use more seed around maple trees, as they have roots near the soil surface that will compete for nutrients.
Roll The Seed
You can rent a roller if you don't want to buy one. This is used to lightly compress the seed into the soil. You can also re-walk over the areas you seeded, which will compact the seed and soil together slightly.
Water The Seed
If there is too much water, the seed will drown. If the soil becomes too dry, the sprout will die. The ideal amount of water is just enough to keep the seeds moist at all times. Use a sprinkler to water early in the morning, and then again in the afternoon at the hottest part of the day. Do this for the first two weeks, and then switch to just the afternoon watering until the grass is established, or about one month in most climates.
Check out the site here for additional information on grass seed.
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