How to Fertilize & Plant Grass Seeds

Choose an area to plant the grass that is sunny for most of the day. The University of Illinois explains that grasses do best in sunny conditions and even relatively shade-resistant grass varieties need two to four hours of sunlight each day.

Choose a type of grass seed that will grow well in the garden space. The National Gardening Association recommends northern grass varieties for cool climates, Kentucky bluegrass seed mixes for Northern areas with lots of sun, fine fescues for somewhat shady areas, tall fescues for areas with very hot summers, bluegrass and wheatgrass for high plains areas and perennial ryegrass for gardeners that need grass to grow in quickly. Mixtures that have some ryegrass in them will establish roots more quickly than mixtures without ryegrass, so a partial ryegrass mixture is a good choice for sloped areas. A local gardening store should have a variety that grows well in the local climate.

Prepare the soil to plant the grass seeds by weeding it. Grass seeds grow in easier and lawns look better when there are no weeds in the area. Use a gardening spade to remove all weeds, making sure to remove all of the roots to prevent grow-back.

Fertilize the soil before planting the seeds, especially if the soil is clay or another poor-quality soil. The National Gardening Association recommends covering the planting area with a several-inch-thick layer of organic compost and then tilling the area to mix in the compost. Till to a depth of at least 6 inches.

Make sure the soil is damp before planting the grass seeds. Grass grows best with some moisture but do not overly saturate the soil either.

Rake the soil to flatten any large bumps or dents. Press the rake into the soil to create small grooves that will help the seeds work their way into the soil.

Plant the grass seeds by spreading them on top of the soil. The seeds should come with instructions that explain exactly how thickly the seeds need to be scattered, since the best amount varies depending on the variety of grass. The University of Illinois also recommends using a broom or the back of a rake to mix the seeds in a tiny bit with the soil.

Water the seeds regularly after planting; keep the soil constantly damp but do not oversaturate it.

Sprinkle a thin layer of compost throughout the grass yearly to fertilize the grass and keep soil quality high.