How to Plant Grass Seed for Best Results

Perform a soil test early on in the planning process to determine the pH of the soil you're working with. Use a commercial soil test kit or consult your local cooperative extension service regarding soil testing. Most grass seed thrives in soil with a pH range between 6.5 and 6.8.

Remove weeds, rocks and debris, and then till a layer of compost, fertilizer and soil amendments into the soil at a depth of at least 4 inches. Use the soil test results to determine which fertilizer and amendments to use. Then spread these in a layer over the soil, till them in and run a rake over the soil surface to level it and to get rid of any mounts and dips.

Water the soil, and then go over it with a lawn roller to smooth it and to slightly compress it. Walk with the roller over the soil, working in rows in a similar way you would do if you were mowing the lawn.

Calibrate a drop spreader to the package-recommended seed-release rate. Fill half of the recommended amount of grass seed in a drop spreader, and then walk back and forth with it over the entire soil surface. Then fill the drop spreader with the other half of the grass seed and walk up and down the soil, perpendicular to your initial direction. You want to distribute the seed evenly, in a grid-like pattern at a rate of 15 to 20 seeds per square inch. Avoid using your hands to distribute the seed, because this might result in uneven coverage.

Rake the soil surface to incorporate the seeds no more than a 1/2-inch deep into the soil, and then run a lawn roller over the seeded surface to ensure proper seed-soil contact.

Water the soil to a depth of 6 inches with a fine water spray to prevent washing away the seeds. Keep the soil uniformly moist throughout the germination and growing period. Water several times a day if you must, and spread a 1/2-inch layer of seed-free straw over the soil to slow soil-moisture evaporation.