How to Start a New Lawn
If you need to start a new lawn, you have a couple of choices to make. You can sow seeds or roll out sod. Either way you will have a beautiful lawn in the end; it just depends on how much time and money you have. You can learn how to start a new lawn in a few short steps.
Prepare the Land
- Figure out how many square feet of lawn you are going to have.
- Decide what type of grass you want to plant for your new lawn. This will depend upon where you live. Talk with a nursery in your area and find out what type of grass is best for you to plant in your new lawn.
- Decide if you want to plant sod or seeds for your new lawn. It will also depend on what type of grass you are planting. For example, Kentucky bluegrass can be started either way, as well as bent and fescue. Warmer climate grasses, such as Saint Augustine and Bermuda, are normally started with sod.
- Weed the area where you are starting the lawn and make sure all weeds are completely removed. Use a tiller to mix in compost or compost and topsoil of about 6 inches. Use a rake to remove any rocks found and smooth out the soil. Fill a roller halfway with water and use it on the soil to get it ready for root growth and germination.
Plant with Seeds
- Decide how much seed you will need to purchase for the area you will need to cover. You can ask someone at the nursery where you purchase the seed, or read the instructions on the back of the seed packets.
- Put the seeds on your lawn in the spring, fall, or early winter. Make sure the ground will get enough sun for the seeds to grow. The seeds will need 6 hours of sun per day at a minimum to grow properly.
Plant with Sod
- Purchase the sod from a sod farm in your area, or from a garden center. They can help you decide how much you need to purchase for the size of your new lawn.
- Tell them to deliver the sod to you in the morning on the day you want to lay it down. This is important because you do not want the sod to dry out.
- Lay sod in spring or summer or in the fall and winter if the climate is warm enough. Lay the sod as soon as it is delivered to you. If you do not, water the roots to keep the moist until you can lay it out.