What Should I Do to My Lawn Before I Spread Grass Seed?

Till up Brown or Dead Areas

• Hard and dry soil is compacted and it will be difficult for new seedlings to take root. Dead or brown areas in your lawn should be tilled up to a depth of around 3 inches. This will loosen the soil and bring the more fertile soil up to the top. Extend the tilling area to existing grass to ensure the spot blends with the rest of the yard.

Kill Any Existing Weeds

• Weeds not only use groundwater that newly planted grass needs, they can also choke out new grass growth. Herbicide should be applied well before any new grass is planted. This can be done either in the late fall or in the early spring. Treat the entire lawn with a grass-safe herbicide and let it sit for at least one week. Any weeds that survive should be pulled by hand.

Test the Soil

• The ideal soil pH for grass is around 6.0 to 7.0. If the pH is less than this, it means the soil is acidic and must be treated with a special fertilizer to balance this pH. If the lawn tests higher than 7.0, it means the soil is alkaline, which makes it hard to grow grass. In this case, an appropriate fertilizer intended for alkaline soils should be used to help bring the pH into line with what the grass will need. Allow the fertilizer to sit for one week before planting any new grass.

Choose the Right Seed and the Right Planting Time

• Choosing the right type of grass is essential for your lawn to thrive. Sunny areas should be planted with a mix that can tolerate full sun, while shady areas will need a different mix of grass. Also choose grasses that are either native to your area or intended for your growing zone. Ideally, grass seed should be planted in the fall when it has time to root down before the frost. However, it can be planted in early spring and still thrive.