How to Seed a Southern Lawn

Start your seeding in the spring once the winter frosts have passed in your area. Depending on where in the southern United States you live, this may be any time between early and mid-spring. If you wait until late in the spring, buy scarified seed, which germinates more quickly than non-scarified grass seed.

Pick up any pieces of debris on the lawn's surface, like rocks and wood, and till the lawn to a depth of approximately 6 inches. Spread an inch of compost or fertilizer over the lawn and mix it through the soil with the tiller.

Pull a rake across the tilled lawn to level the soil as much as possible. Spread the grass seed of your choice over the leveled surface at a rate of roughly 5 lbs. per each 1000 square foot of land.

Rake gently across the tilled and seeded ground again to push the grass seed just below the soil's surface. Leave any grass seed left on top of the soil after raking to naturally work its way into the soil.

Push and pull a lawn roller over every part of the seeded lawn. You need to go over each section only once.

Keep the lawn moist as it germinates by watering each night just before nightfall for roughly 30 minutes. When green appears above the ground, cut watering back to every other day.