How to Grow a Front Lawn

Remove any large debris such as rocks from the seed bed area.

Take a sample of soil from your seeding area in several places and send the samples to your local university extension service. They will determine your soil fertilizer needs before you plant the seed.

Spread the fertilizer as recommended by your local university extension service over the seed bed. Till the fertilizer to a depth of 4 to 6 inches to integrate it into the soil.

Rake the soil to break up any further clumps and to smooth it for seeding.

Measure the length and the width of the seeding area. Multiply the length by the width to get the square area of the lawn.

Inspect the label of your grass seed for the recommended seeding rate. For example, Kentucky bluegrass is spread at a rate of 1 to 1 1/2 pounds per 100 square feet. Measure the amount of seed needed for the square footage of your yard.

Set your seed spreader to the correct application rate and fill it with half the grass seed. Walk half the grass seed in one direction across the lawn, slightly overlapping each pass. Fill the seed spreader with the other half of the seed and walk it in the other direction. This gives you the best coverage possible.

Lightly rake the area to cover the seed to a depth of a 1/4 inch.

Spread one bale of straw over a 1,000 square foot area.

Water the lawn with 1 inch of water per week, dividing the water evenly per day. After the seeds begin to germinate, water a 1/2 an inch twice a week.