# How to Plant Grass Seed in Compacted Soils
Compacted soils can be a problem when it comes to planting and maintaining a lawn. Grass roots do not loosen the soil; instead, they grow into the plant itself to form a thick barrier that will not allow moisture to penetrate. To prevent this from happening, you will need to loosen the compacted soil before you plant your grass.
Things You'll Need
- Soil aerator
- Compost
- Earthworms
- Rototiller
- Grass seed
- Rake
- Garden hose
Instructions
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1
Mix organic compost into the top 4 inches of soil using a rototiller. The compost-to-topsoil ratio should be 1-to-1.
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2
Add earthworms to your soil to help amend it. Earthworms can be purchased from your local agricultural Extension office.
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3
Wait a week for the compost to settle and the worms to naturally aerate the soil before determining if you need to manually aerate it.
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4
Loosen the soil with a manual aerator if the worms have been insufficient.
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5
Sow grass seed into the aerated soil. Rake the soil to cover the seed and water with a garden hose.
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6
Water frequently for the first two weeks while the grass seed takes root. Thereafter, water deeply only when the grass is threatened by drought.
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