How to Drag-Seed a Lawn

In many situations, the best way to start a new lawn is to seed it yourself, rather than bringing in sod. Sod is expensive and difficult to install, and it is more prone to drying out than a seeded lawn. Of course, a seeded lawn takes more time to establish than sod, but with a little care, a seeded lawn will look better and be healthier than sod. Seeding a lawn doesn't require any particularly complex tools, and one of the best ways to ensure even coverage of grass seed is by dragging the seed, in combination with hand-spreading.

Grass seed
Piece of heavy lumber
Garden twine
Scissors

Instructions

- 1
  Cut two pieces of garden twine about 4 feet long, using scissors.
- 2
  Tie the end of a piece of twine to each end of your piece of lumber (a 4-by-4-inch piece of lumber a few feet long should have the proper weight for dragging the seed).
- 3
  Drag the piece of lumber back and forth over the area you have seeded; hold onto each piece of twine and drag the lumber behind you as you walk forward. Drag the lumber in one direction until you reach the edge of your seeded area, then pick it up and move it one length over, then drag in the opposite direction. This is the same sort of pattern you would make if you were mowing a lawn. Dragging like this will help mix the seed into the top layer of soil, resulting in better and faster germination.

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