DIY Slit Seeding Directions

When to Use a Slit Seeder

• When seeding a lawn, it's very important that you plant grass seeds directly in the soil. Most plots of ground have a "thatch" sitting on top of the soil--dead leaves, plants and other organic matter. If the grass seed is sown in the thatch rather than the soil, it will germinate but be weak. Thatch can, however, provide a good source of fertilizer and compost for newly planted grass seeds.

  During planting, get through the thatch to plant the grass seeds directly into the soil underneath. Slit seeders have discs that actually slice into the ground, and have additional equipment to then drop grass seeds into the resulting furrows. They eliminate some of the work and ensure better grass-growing success.

How to Use a Slit Seeder

• Prepare your soil for grass seeding by removing any weeds, trash or rocks in the way. Your new grass seeds will grow best if there's no competition, so mow any competing grass as short as possible before starting. Measure the amount of land you're seeding and calculate how much grass seed you need (the grass seed label has directions on the back in regard to amount). Fill your slit seeder with your first load of grass seed, and walk the seeder in a straight line from one end of the lawn to the other. The seeder will sew grass seeds in rows with 2 to 6 inches of distance between them. Once you've done the whole lawn, reseed, walking crossways, until there's a row of grass seed in each square inch. Water the lawn well when you've finished.