Spring Lawn Maintenance: Seeding

When it comes to your lawn, a little spring maintenance can yield beautiful results. In this episode of our five-part Spring Lawn Maintenance series, you’ll learn how to properly seed or overseed your lawn for a healthy and lush outcome.

Preparation

Most lawns need extra nutrients, such as fertilizers and soil conditioners, to keep them healthy. For thicker lawns, you also will want to apply more lawn seed and fertilizer throughout the lawn.

01 Selecting grass seed begins with considering how you use your lawn and what your lawn needs.

Overseeding is spreading seed over an existing lawn to make it fuller. Spot seeding is mending a bare spot or two.
Front lawns typically are ornamental.
Back yard lawns are hardier and often must stand up to more foot traffic without making bare paths.
Play areas, especially under swings and other play equipment, need the toughest turf and require more repair than other lawns.

02 Also consider whether the lawn area is in full sun, partial shade or full shade. Trees in the lawn area also can impact the selection of lawn seed.

03 In preparation for seeding your lawn, refer to the how-to videos and printable instructions on lawn prep and fertilizing available at Lowes.com/Videos. Then you can select the appropriate lawn seed from among the many types of grasses that match your climate, lawn use and maintenance plans. As guidance:

Warm climate grasses include bahia grass, bermudagrass, buffalograss, carpet grass, centipede, dichondra, zoysia and native grasses.
Cool climate grasses include bluegrass, fescue, ryegrass, and native grasses.

Many grass seed products are blends or mixes that combine a variety of grasses matched to local climate, growing conditions, and lawn use. Ask a Lowe’s associate for help in selecting grass seed products that meet your requirements.

TIP: Read the grass seed package carefully for low weed content and inert matter. The lower the weed content, the better the product. Also refer to the seed’s coverage chart to determine how much seed you will need for your lawn installation or repair.

Applying Lawn Seed

01 Check the seed packaging to determine if the seeds need to be mixed with any other product, like sand, for optimum distribution.

TIP: Make sure that the seed package includes the drop rate for your spreader model and type (drop or broadcast).

02 Adjust the spreader for the drop rate suggested by the seed producer.

03 Use the spreader to begin seeding. Start along the perimeter of the lawn area, then work toward the center, using a criss-cross pattern to assure that you don’t miss any spots.

Be careful not to spread seed onto your flower beds or your neighbor’s lawn.

04 Once finished spreading the lawn seed, use a bow rake to rake it lightly into the soil.

TIP: If you’re seeding over bare ground, there’s no need to cover the seed. In fact, straw can contain weeds that may sprout in your yard. Just make sure you rake the seed into the soil. If you’re concerned about birds, you can purchase a seed starter mat for extra protection.

05 Apply additional seed to any bare spots as recommended by the seed producer.

06 Choose a starter fertilizer for newly seeded areas. A starter fertilizer contains the essential nutrients for young seedlings to grow.

07 Make sure your lawn stays moist through the top inch of soil. You may need to water two or three times a day. Keep using this routine until your seedlings are well established. Then change to a routine of watering thoroughly once or twice a week.

The next step in spring lawn maintenance is watering. To learn more, watch the next video and view the printable instructions, available at Lowes.com/Videos.

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