There are many different ways that you can go about planting grass seed for your lawn. The methods that you use will vary depending on many different factors. No matter how or why you decide to go about planting grass seed, there are several different planting concerns that you should keep in mind.
No matter whether you are using a particular kind of grass such as zoysia grass seed or a name brand like Scotts grass seed, there are ideal circumstances that will help insure the success of your seed so that it grows into a beautiful green lawn. Ultimately what you want to aim for is to plant grass seed such that it has excellent seed-soil contact. Ideally the seed itself should have no weed seed present. Getting good soil contact means that the grass seed itself is in contact with the soil and not with any other plants, grasses, weeds or other surfaces. This occurs when the seed is completely touching soil and is not in contact with anything else.
In order to get good seed-soil contact when sowing grass seed, you need to take the following three factors into consideration.First, grass seed should be planted at the optimum depth. Ideally grass seed is planted at a depth of 1/4 to 1/8 inches. If you plant too deep, the seeds will be smothered. Surface sowing, on the other hand, will not provide enough soil for proper germination to occur. The depth of planting is one of the most crucial factors and is the most common reason why people experience failure in grass seed germination.
Secondly, to get the right amount of soil contact for grass seed, the seed needs to me in close contact with the soil itself. Using a light roller after sowing the seed can insure that the seed is in good contact with the soil after planting. In addition, the soil needs to be kept at the appropriate moisture levels to maintain good seed-soil contact. Too wet and your seeds and soil will be washed away. If the soil is too dry on the other hand, the grass seed will not obtain the appropriate moisture in order to be able to germinate.
Lastly, when planting grass seed you need to plan for the time of year when temperatures are appropriate to your type of seed. Bermuda grass seed germinates at temperature ranges different than zoysia grass seed for example. Knowing when to plant your particular type of grass seed is the final step in insuring the success of your lawn.
photo credit: lindaaslund
