Weed, level,
and rake the
soil before
sowing
1
Prepare the area to be sown
and then divide it into 3 ft (1 m)
squares using canes or string.
Measure out the amount of seed
required per square foot as per the
supplier’s instructions.
SOWING
GRASS SEED
By far the cheapest method of creating a lawn is sowing
it from seed. The best time to sow is in spring or early
fall. Seed can be sown in the summer but will need
watering regularly; in winter, temperatures are usually
too cold for the seed to germinate.
YOU WILL NEED
• grass seed
• canes and/or string
• garden fork
• garden rake
• seed spreader (optional)
• plastic sheet
• watering can or hose with fine
spray nozzle
SEE ALSO
• LAYING SOD >> 60/61
• LAWN EDGING >> 64/65
• LAWN CARE >> 70/73
JARGON BUSTER
Germination is the process by which
a seed starts to develop into a new
young plant. For germination to
happen, certain conditions need to be
right, which vary according to the
type of seed.
In simple terms, a seed needs the right
temperature and some moisture to
sprout and grow.
US_062-063_Sowing_grass_seed.indd 62 07/09/2018 16:32
LAWNS // SOWING GRASS SEED 62–63
3
Rake the seed in gently. It should
ideally be covered by
1
⁄16 in (1–2 mm)
of soil, although it can start to grow on
the surface. Water using a can or hose
with a fine spray nozzle. Grass will start
to emerge in one to two weeks.
2
Sow the measured seed by hand. Half of the
seed should be spread in one direction and
the other half at 90 degrees to this. Ensure that
the seed is distributed as evenly as possible for
the best results.
An alternative to hand sowing is to
use a seed spreader, which is ideal if
you have a large area of ground to cover.
It will need to be calibrated to your
walking speed so it distributes seed at
the correct rate.
Lay a sheet to
get neat edges
US_062-063_Sowing_grass_seed.indd 63 07/09/2018 16:32
..................Content has been hidden....................
You can't read the all page of ebook, please click here login for view all page.