How Much Grass Seed to Buy When Planting Grass?

Measuring Your Lot

• Grass seed packages offer directions on how much grass seed to apply based on the square footage of the yard. To determine the square footage of your yard, measure the width and length of the yard. Add a few extra feet to account for curved or uneven areas. Multiply the width by the length to get the square footage. For reseeding bare patches, buy a 1 lb. bag of grass seed. Mix 1 part grass seed with 3 parts soil and broadcast the mixture by hand over the bare spot. Rake the soil to ensure good contact with the ground and water with a gentle sprinkler.

Choosing Grass Seed

• Select grass types based on your climate, growing conditions and yard traffic, as well as the time you wish to spend on maintenance tasks. Kentucky bluegrass produces a dense, lush lawn, but grows slowly and requires more maintenance than other grass types. Fine fescue grows well in the shade, but doesn't tolerate foot traffic. Tall fescue tolerates drought, shade and foot traffic, but has a coarser blade than other grass types. If you have active kids, consider a turf grass made for soccer fields. Use a mix of grass seeds to combine the best attributes of each type.

Seeding Rates

• Seed rates vary depending on the type of grass, but generally the larger the seed, the higher the seed rate and the more grass seed you need to buy. Seed Kentucky bluegrass mixes at 3 to 4 lbs. per 1,000 square feet. Seed fine fescue blends at 4 to 5 lbs. per 1,000 square feet. Seed 100 percent tall fescue at 7 to 10 lbs. per 1,000 square feet.

Seeding Method

• Calibrate a drop or rotary seeder to spread 1/2 the recommended grass seed amount. Place the seed in the spreader and walk across the lawn slowly. Walk across the lawn again, spreading the seed at a right angle to your previous path to ensure good seed distribution.