How to Plant a Lawn
A healthy, green lawn adds beauty and color to your home and outdoor living area. Although planting a lawn can seem overwhelming to new gardeners, the lawn planting process can be completed in only one weekend with a little hard work.
Items needed:
- Fertilizer
- Topsoil
- Compost
- Tiller
- Tape measure
- Seed or sod
Instructions:
Selection
- Decide what type of grass to plant. Popular lawn grasses include Zoysia, Bermuda, Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass and Saint Augustine.
- Consider the climate in your city, as well as the amount of shade your yard receives. Most grasses require a minimum of six hours of sun daily. Certain grasses will only grow in warm, humid climates, while others require cooler weather.
- Start the lawn during the right time. Grass grows best when planted in the spring or early autumn.
Preparation
- Clean trash, debris and other items from the space.
- Pull any weeds. Weeds can quickly take over a space, so remove them from the yard prior to planting.
- Spread fertilizer, topsoil and a rich, ground compost over the area. Till the yard with a rotary tiller to incorporate these elements into the soil.
Planting
- Measure the yard using a tape measure to determine the amount of seed or sod needed.
- Purchase seed or sod. Your choice will largely be determined by the type of grass. Some grasses, such as Bermuda, are almost always started from sod. Other grasses, like fescue, are usually started from seed.
- Spread the seed or lay the sod pieces over the yard.
- Water the yard daily for the next two months while the grass is established.