How to Plant Grass Over Clay Ground

Use the tiller to break up the soil down to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Walk behind the tiller in back-and-forth rows, then turn and till at a perpendicular angle. The soil should be dry for this process. Don't till when it's wet.

Spread 2 to 4 inches of compost and organic material over the lawn area. Organic material is anything from leaves and pine needles to mulch. Mix in the material with the tiller. The added amendments will help improve drainage.

Smooth out the soil with the garden rake.

Fill the garden spreader with half of the recommended grass seed. The package should give you the pounds needed for your size lawn. If you are unsure of your lawn size, multiply the length by the width to get the square footage.

Walk in rows across the lawn while pushing the garden spreader, as you did when you tilled. When done, fill the spreader with the other half of the seed and repeat with rows perpendicular to the first.

Rake the soil lightly to cover with dirt, but don't work the soil too much. You don't want to bury the seeds any more than a quarter inch.

Sprinkle straw over the soil to keep the seeds from washing away. Lightly sprinkle the straw by letting it fall between loose fingers as you shake. Do not completely cover the soil.

Water the soil to a depth of 3 inches. Continue to water daily for about 15 minutes until you see grass popping up. Once growth starts, cut back on watering to twice a week for a total accumulation of an inch of water per week.