How to Grow Grass in Florida Without Laying Sod

Select a type of lawn grass that is suitable for both the amount of time you want to spend maintaining your lawn and for Florida’s climate and soil conditions. St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum) is the most common type of grass grown in Central Florida because it is adapted to high temperatures, grows well in most soils and is visually appealing. Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) is the second-most common grass because it grows well in areas with sandy soil. Zoysiagrasses (Zoysia spp.) are another type of grass suitable for Florida’s climate, but these grasses require more maintenance than other types.

Use a measuring tape to measure the dimensions of your lawn. Multiply the width of the lawn by the length to determine the square footage. This will help you know how much grass seed you need to purchase. Prepare the lawn six days before planting by watering the dirt to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Once the soil has dried, kill any existing grass using a non-selective herbicide containing glycosphate. Wait 10 days to ensure all the grass has died and remove any remaining grass debris using a rake.

Divide the lawn into sections of 1,000 square feet. Lawn spreaders apply seed at a rate of a certain number of pounds per 1,000 square feet. Use landscaping paint and your measuring tape to divide up sections of the lawn. Measure the dimensions of any remaining sections.

Check how many pounds of grass seed is needed per 1,000 square foot of lawn. Different types of grass require different amounts per 1,000 square foot. Measure out the required pounds of fertilizer in a plastic cup and divide the amount in two. Since you will be doing two passes with the spreader, apply only half the amount of seed needed per 1,000 square foot on each pass.

Set your spreader at its lowest setting and start at one edge of the marked-out 1,000 square foot sections. Walk in a straight line, pushing the spreader in front of you. Walk in rows, shutting off the hopper at the end of each row, while you turn around. Continue this process until the seed has been used up and the 1,000-square-foot section has been seeded. Complete a second pass on all sections, perpendicular to the first pass.

Seed any remaining sections of lawn that didn’t fit into 1,000-square-foot sections. To determine how much seed is needed for this area, measure the area in square feet and divide by 1,000. Multiply this by the number of pounds of seed required for a 1,000-square-foot area. Divide this amount in two and apply in two passes, as you did with the other sections.

Rake the newly planted seeds into the dirt until they are buried in approximately ¼ inch of soil. Use a lawn roller to compact the seeds into the dirt. This increases the seeds' contact with the soil and helps speed up the germination process.

Apply mulch such as wheat straw over the surface of the newly sown seed to help lock in the moisture. Use wheat straw that is over one month old as it doesn't contain seeds that could sprout in the newly planted lawn. Water the seed two to four times per day. Since Florida is hot and dry, keep an eye on the newly sown grass so it is always moist. The new grass must be wet enough so the top 1 to 2 inches of soil are moist. As the grass begins to grow, decrease the amount of water and adhere to the normal watering recommendations for the type of grass you selected.