Seeding The Lawn: The Right Time And Instructions In 6 Steps

If you want to create a new lawn or repair it, you can sow lawn seeds. Here you will find instructions with expert tips.

Sowing the lawn is still the most popular method of creating a lawn. And lawn seeds should also be used occasionally in areas that already exist. It is particularly important to select the right time and the right lawn seeds. Watering and further care after sowing are also crucial. And even years after the lawn has been sown, it may be necessary to reseed to let the lawn shine in its old splendor. That is why we provide you with all the important information and tips about sowing and overseeing lawns below.

Starting with the question of when the lawn sowing makes the most sense, you will find six steps below to successfully sow your lawn. In addition, we provide you with a few maintenance tips so that your lawn will be healthy and strong after sowing.

1. When should you sow the lawn?

Generally speaking, lawns can be sown from April to October. The ideal times are early autumn and spring, when the soil is warm enough. Most grasses need a minimum soil temperature of 8 ° C for germination, 14 to 25 ° C and sufficient moisture are optimal. These conditions are most likely to occur in late summer or early autumn, which is why this time of year is best suited for sowing the lawn. But it shouldn’t be too late in autumn either, as the seeds could otherwise emerge incompletely or unevenly due to the cold.

Tip : The small grasses sown in early autumn are just as frost-resistant as the older lawn. Only during the sensitive phase of germination and emergence should the soil temperatures not be below 8 ° C – soil frost is, therefore, a major risk factor.

In addition to autumn, spring is also suitable for sowing lawns. From the middle of April to the beginning of May, the soil temperatures are optimal, but care must be taken that there is sufficient moisture. Strong heat waves in early June can easily damage the young lawn.

At a glance: When should you sow the lawn?

• Lawn can be sown either in autumn (September) or in spring (mid-April to early May)
• The soil temperatures during germination should be at least 8 to 12 ° C
• The soil should be dry when sowing, but should be watered soon afterwards

2. What should be considered before sowing the lawn?

Before laying the lawn, all work in the garden that could put a strain on a young lawn should be completed. Once the fruit trees have been planted and beds, paths, or garden ponds have been created, you can start.

Dig up the soil before sowing the lawn

For each area on which the lawn is to grow later, soil preparation begins with digging deep into the spade using a spade or a digging fork. On large, contiguous areas, a motor tiller or a motor home makes work a lot easier. Many hardware stores, for example, provide suitable devices. Autumn is the best time for digging when the soil is well dried and crumbly and the following winter promises a good frost bake of the soil. During the digging, all foreign bodies, weeds, and large stones should be removed from the ground so that the necessary soil improvement can be carried out. Below in this article you will find out which soil improvement you need. It is ideal if there are a few months between digging and sowing so that the soil can settle and the lawn does not sink later.

When digging, foreign bodies, weeds and large stones are removed from the ground [Photo: Georgy Dzyura / Shutterstock.com]

Tip: If the later lawn area is covered with root weeds such as couch grass or ground grass, the areas that are overgrown with them should not be milled. Their rhizomes would be divided up by the milling machine and spread over the surface. It is better to dig up these areas by hand and meticulously remove every root.

Prepare the soil for sowing the lawn

The soil under the lawn will have to perform well for years, because a lawn needs a lot of nutrients, depletes the soil, and allows it to dry out easily. Therefore, regardless of fertilization and preparation, the soil must also be prepared during the actual sowing. We will now explain to you which soil should be treated and how.

Prepare normal soils for sowing the lawn

Normal soils are prepared by giving mainly organic fertilizer. A soil activator with beneficial mycorrhizal fungi is particularly suitable. The high content of organic matter ensures a loose soil structure and increases the humus content. Alternatively, compost or manure can be added as fertilizer: 10 to 15 liters per square meter are worked into the top 10 to 20 centimeters.

Prepare very heavy and loamy soil for sowing the lawn

Heavy soils are rich in clay and are characterized by the fact that they become hard as stone when it is dry and stick to the boots in greasy, heavy lumps when it is wet. Such soils provide lawns with a lot of nutrients, but not enough water and oxygen at the roots. Extremely heavy soils can be modified with up to 50 liters of sand per m² so that a lawn can be created. Alternatively, lava or expanded clay are also suitable. In addition, as in normal soils, mainly organic fertilizers or compost are incorporated.

Prepare compacted soils for sowing the lawn

Compacted soils were compressed so tightly by high pressure and unfavorable soil properties that they hardly absorb or let through water and air. You benefit greatly from green manure. In late summer, sow strongly rooted plants that die in the following winter, for example, lupine ( Lupinus ) or oil radish (Raphanus sativus var. Oleiformis). By next spring, the plant remains will weather and largely decompose to the point where the lawn is sown. Alternatively, heavily compacted soils can also be aerated, i.e. ventilated. Finally, in both cases, sand and primarily organic fertilizer or compost should be introduced.

Prepare very light soils for sowing the lawn

Very sandy, nutrient-poor areas are not optimally prepared for lawn growth. In such areas, nutrient storage and water retention capacity must be improved. Green manuring with nitrogen-collecting legumes is highly recommended. In addition to the green manure, primarily organic fertilizer with long-term effects should be incorporated. Alternatively, 20 to 30 liters of mature compost or three to five kilograms of mature manure per square meter can be incorporated a few days before sowing.

Tip: Soils that are light and sandy from the outset cannot be fundamentally turned inside out, even with the improvement mentioned above. Therefore, the use of an adapted lawn seed mixture for dry locations is the best choice later. That is why we developed our drought-tolerant Gardender dry grass.

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Measure the pH two months before sowing the lawn

Use a soil pH test to test the pH of your soil. Most grasses have a value of around 5.5 to 7. In our special articles, we explain everything about lawn lime and lawn fertilizers.

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Prepare the soil one to two weeks before sowing the lawn

Coarse unevenness must be smoothed out, they say: The rough level is created. Because this can be tedious with a shovel and rake and it may be necessary to use a machine, a specialist should be asked for help if necessary.

The last step before sowing is the even and careful leveling of the future lawn area. For this purpose, a wooden rake is used, with which connections to the edges of paved surfaces are made flush or with a maximum of 2 cm shelter and also carefully pressed on. This step is also called creating the fine subgrade.

Tip: Perhaps you were a little late with digging and the area has not yet settled properly? Then roll or press down with stepping boards in front of the fine subgrade. If the surface sags unevenly, this unevenness can still be leveled out.

At a glance: What should you watch out for before sowing the lawn?

• All work that would stress the young lawn must be completed
• Before sowing the lawn, the soil is dug or milled as deep as a spade; root weeds must be carefully removed
• Sand, lava or expanded clay are placed on heavy loam and clay soils
• Very light soils can be improved with a lot of compost or green manure
• Heavily compacted soils are prepared for sowing by means of green manure or aeration
• All soils benefit from the application of a primarily organic fertilizer
• Two months before sowing the lawn, the pH value of the soil is measured and adjusted if necessary
• The rough subgrade is carried out a maximum of four weeks before sowing
• If the soil has not been able to settle long enough after digging, it is rolled or pressed down
• Finally, the fine subgrade is created with a wooden rake before sowing

3. Select the right lawn seeds

Lawn seeds are sold in seed mixes. The lawn is not composed of a single type of grass, but rather a mixture of different types of grass, each of which contributes its part to the perfect, dense surface. With the choice of the lawn seed mixture, you have a decisive influence on the quality and shape of your future lawn. Because these vary depending on which use is intended. After all, a play and sports turf have to withstand completely different loads than an ornamental lawn that is rarely used. Fortunately, there are seed mixtures adapted for shade lawns or dry lawns for gardens in which normal lawns would otherwise not be able to grow. Our Gardender lawn family includes lawn seed mixtures for various areas of application and also provides you with all the important information about use and care.

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We recommend a so-called standard seed mixture (RSM). This seal has been tested and therefore promises quality in terms of germination and a good composition of grass species. Feel free to spend one euro more on high-quality seeds – the result will definitely speak for itself later. Our Gardender lawn seed mixtures are of course RSM certified.

At a glance: which lawn seed is the right one?

• Depending on whether you want to re-sow, create lawn in the shade of trees or play and use lawn, there are various seed mixtures to choose from
• It is worth investing in high-quality standard seed mixtures (RSM)

4. Apply lawn seeds correctly: by hand or with the spreader

The perfect weather for sowing the lawn is warm, not hot, and light rainfall should be registered – alternatively, the lawn sprinkler can do it. In addition, the soil should be well moist. If this is the case, the sowing can begin. If you fertilize your lawn primarily organically, you can distribute 100 grams per square meter of our Gardender organic lawn fertilizer directly beforehand. The correct seed density is then of great importance for the subsequent sowing. If the optimal amount of seed is not applied, this can lead to an uneven lawn appearance in the long term. The sowing is done either by hand or with a spreader.

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Spread lawn seeds by hand

If you have a rather small area to sow and would like to do it by hand, proceed as follows: Measure an area of one square meter and weigh the correct amount of seed (the seed mixture usually states the amount per square meter). Distribute the amount evenly over the surface. This will give you a sense of how close the seeds should be. Divide the remaining area into pieces or strips and measure the seeds to match the area. Sow your entire future lawn in longitudinal and transverse rows.

Spread lawn seeds with the spreader

The use of a spreader simplifies the precise distribution of the lawn seeds over large areas. Here’s what to do if you have a spreader at your disposal.

Expert tip: This is how you set the spreading strength of the spreader perfectly: Prepare a sheet of several square meters or a cloth that you can test drive over with the spreader. Fill the spreader and drive so far that the piece of film you drive on corresponds to one square meter. Now pour the seeds from the foil into a container and weigh them. Depending on how far your result is from the recommendation of the amount per square meter of your seed mixture, adjust the seed strength of the spreader.

After sowing, the lawn seeds are either covered thinly with our Gardender turf soil, which creates the ideal starting conditions for the young lawn. Alternatively, the seeds are worked shallowly – 0.5 to 1 cm deep – into the soil with a rake to protect them from drying out and being eaten by birds. The soil connection is then established: the seed must be in contact with the soil to be able to absorb water for germination. This is achieved with a light roller or running boards.

At a glance: How are lawn seeds properly applied?

• The soil should be moist, but the surface should be dry and crumbly.
• Primarily organic lawn fertilizer is distributed directly before sowing.
• Depending on the seed mixture used, a specific seed density indicated on the package is recommended. For our Gardender sports and play lawn, for example, 20 grams of seeds are required per square meter.
• It can be sown by hand or with a spreader. The spreader ensures more even results in large areas.
• After sowing, the seeds are covered with special turf or incorporated and then pressed on.

5. Water the lawn after sowing

After sowing, a continuous supply of moisture ensures that the germination process begins and continues. You should water every day for about a month, unless it is raining. However, the soil must not be submerged either, because otherwise the oxygen supply to the seeds is endangered. In dry weather, it is advisable to water two to three times a day for about 10 to 15 minutes with the finest watering setting.

At a glance: How is the lawn properly watered after sowing?

• A continuous supply of moisture without submerging the lawn is ideal for the lawn
• The freshly sown lawn is still sensitive, which is why caution is advised with hoses and the like

6. Maintain lawn properly after sowing

With the conscientious preparation and sowing of the right lawn-seed mixture, you can lay an important foundation stone for a beautiful, dense lawn. Proper lawn care is essential to maintain this beauty.

Regular mowing is also part of lawn care. Mulching or mowing ensures that the lawn is planted from below over and over again. The vast majority of weeds do not tolerate constant decapitation and are suppressed. But stubborn guests like couch grass, dandelion or ribwort should stand out.

The first cut is carried out at a height of 6 to 10 cm and a cutting height of 4 cm. Pay attention to sharp mower blades, because the young grass plants pull blunt ones out of the ground. After the second or third cut, organic fertilization should be carried out – however, note the time of year: After October, organic fertilization will no longer be used.

Tip: It is better to mow regularly so that the grass does not get too long. Otherwise, the fast-growing species take away the light from the so-called undersea grass, so that they perish. A lawn that has become thin in this way should be revived with reseeding, otherwise, weeds can easily take the place of the undergrass.

As a heavy consumer, your lawn needs a high supply of nutrients to be healthy and competitive with weeds. For this reason, fertilization is usually done two to three times a year. Primarily organic fertilizers, however, have a natural long-term effect, so that in an emergency you can even fertilize the lawn with a single large dose a year.

Tip for lazy lawn owners: In principle, regular, sufficient fertilization with primarily organic lawn fertilizer is the perfect prophylaxis against moss and lawn thatch or weeds. This even saves you the regular scarifying or sanding – both represent an avoidable effort. Our Gardender organic lawn fertilizer ensures an active soil life all year round, which loosens the soil, provides nutrients, and eats lawn thatch. The counterpart for autumn is our Gardender organic autumn lawn fertilizer, whose increased potassium content ensures frost-hardy grasses.

At a glance: How is the sown lawn properly cared for?

• The first cut is made when the plant is 6 to 10 cm high
• Regular lawn cutting should take place between spring and autumn
• In all the years to come, your lawn will need fertilization 2 to 3 times a year in order to grow healthy and dense
• Organic lawn fertilization is prophylaxis and often saves you from scarifying in the future

Tip: Your lawn has one or more large gaps because a heavy object has been stored on it or the mole has been up to mischief? In this case, we recommend sowing a fast-germinating mixture that will quickly close the hole. Our Gardender lawn repair consists primarily of rapidly germinating ryegrass and competitive red fescue. Both do not give any weeds a chance.