When to Plant Grass Seed


Grass seeds require proper soil contact, in order to germinate. The seeds must be properly surrounded by soil. Proper germination of the seeds require a correct soil depth. The soil should be placed 1/8 to inch above the seed. For proper nutrition to the seeds, soil should contain good moisture that can enter the seeds. Watering the soil depends upon the soil type, which can be numerous times in a day. Water is highly essential to keep the soil moist, in order to grow the seeds. You can try a light roller to keep the soil surrounding the seeds, tight and this helps in the better germination of seeds.

When Should Grass Seeds be Planted

Seeds are usually sown, before or after the summer. This is because during summer, seeds cannot be kept moist all the time; so watering is constantly needed. One more reason that contributes to this factor is that heating of the soil helps the weed seeds to grow faster. Weed control is necessary for maintaining the greens. Planting seeds in summer requires peat moss mixture, that is added to the soil to prevent drying out of the seeds. So, early fall is the best time for sowing the seeds. During this time, weather is mild to moderate and the soil remains warm during daytime. The new grass should be fresh and able to withstand the winter. Fertilize the seeds with a starter fertilizer, followed by more fertilizer for the growth of seeds. Watering frequently fades away the first application of fertilizer from the top layer of the soil and hence, a second treatment is required to nourish the young roots.

Planting Instructions

Purchasing the right seed is very important. This is because any seed that has the ability to tolerate drought and remain free from any diseases is good for sowing. Follow these steps for planting the seeds.
  • Tease apart two to three inches of soil. Clean the soil by removing stones and other soil particles and break the larger soil chunk. Very small soil clumps can be kept, as it will not cause harm to the seeds. Keep the planting area leveled, so that sufficient amount of water gets accumulated. Feed the seeds with a good fertilizer.
  • Disperse the seeds uniformly with the help of a lawn spreader for larger areas and you can use your hand for spreading them in small-scale areas. You can spread up to sixteen seeds per square area. This is because, spreading apart the seeds creates more space for growth and ensures availability of the nutrients to the other seeds.
  • Wrap up the seed bed with fertilizers. This helps more seed growth in lesser time. Fertilized soil retains the moisture contents for better growth of the seeds. Then, water the seeds, at least once in a day, until it reaches the minimum two inches. After the grasses have come out, regularly watering them to keep the soil damp.
The time and method of planting the seeds may depend upon the type of grass you are using. Cool season grass grows better in early spring and early fall, whereas warm season grass grows well in late spring and early summer. Check the suitability of the seeds, with temperature and climate conditions too.

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