Learning how to sow grass seed will not only save you a fortune compared to laying turf, but it will also help you grow a high-quality new lawn that is better suited to your outdoor space. Grass seed is not at all difficult to grow. In fact, when you follow our grass seed step-by-step guide, getting newly planted grass to flourish is very simple.
So, follow our guide below to turn lawn seed into grass seedlings and, ultimately, a lush and strong established lawn. For all the seeds and tools you need, you can explore our grass seed offers at Gardeners Dream, too.
Sowing grass seed: Why, when and how
Sowing grass seed, whether it's for a new lawn or an existing lawn, is a great idea that's suitable for all gardeners - even beginners! We recommend grass seed over turf because:
- It's the cheapest way to get a lovely new grass lawn.
- You don't need to drag turf home from the local garden store.
- Grass seeds can be stored until optimum weather conditions.
- It's surprisingly easy to sow the seed evenly (and just as easy to patch up bare soil).
Before you start sowing seed, you should know that it takes up to 6 weeks to establish and for a really successful lawn, it's best to avoid excessive activity on it for six months!
Grass can be sown at any time during the growing season, from spring to autumn. However, you'll want to avoid extreme conditions, so the hot weather during summer is not ideal. Instead, choose either spring or autumn. For the grass to germinate quickly, soil temperature should be a minimum of 10 °C, and there should be no heavy rain forecast.
Our horticulturalists recommend an autumn planting so you can take advantage of the still-warm soil after the summer heat. As a bonus, there are fewer weeds at this time of year, too! Planting in early autumn up to mid-October encourages the seeds to root in for a stronger lawn the following year.
How to sow grass seed by hand (new lawn)
Discover how to sow grass seed by hand with these step-by-step instructions. We will take you through everything you need to know, but to get a head start, here are the tools you'll need for this garden task:
- Grass seed
- Rake
- Spade
- Trowel
- Fertiliser
- Garden roller (optional)
1. Choosing the best grass seed
First, choose the grass seed that you need. Look for high-quality mixes that are suitable for the use of your lawn and conditions in your garden. Avoid cheap options that may contain weed seeds and agricultural grass seed - this will leave you with coarse grasses that are too rough for a lawn.
- General purpose grass seed should be a good mix of red fescue and lolium perennial ryegrass. This is suitable for full sun or part-shade lawns and will handle kids, animals, and general use.
- Shady lawn grass seed is ideal for areas shaded by a fence or trees for most (or all) of the day. You can grow a luxury-looking lawn with this grass seed, even if the entire area is too dark for most other plants.
- Hard-wearing grass seed is a popular option if your new lawn will receive a lot of footfall. This best grass seed mix has a higher percentage of Lolium perennial ryegrass for enhanced durability.
To calculate how much grass seed you need, check the recommendation on the product. Most will need 75g to 50g of seed per square metre or less. Remember to buy 10% more than you need to patch up any bare spots that don't germinate.
2. Prepping the seed bed
Before you sow your new lawn, prepare the seed bed. First, dig the soil and check it over to ensure it is weed-free. You should also remove stones by hand at this stage.
With the bare soil exposed, assess the quality. If it is light or sandy with fast drainage, lightly rake some compost into the area. If the soil is very compact, dig, rotate and aerate the soil to a spade's depth. You can also add fertiliser at this stage. We recommend a slow-release fertiliser, ideally with extra phosphorous, to stimulate root growth.
Once the soil is fertilised, leave it alone for up to two weeks. This is enough time for any dormant weeds to emerge so you can remove them. It also allows any chemical weed killer to wear off.
Finally, rake the soil for an even surface without hard soil clumps. Water the area deeply the night before you plan to start sowing.
3. Sowing the grass seed
Now, onto the last step. Sow your grass seed!
If you are sowing a large lawn, divide the space into smaller areas to ensure no spot is missed. Next, weigh out your grass seed to ensure you have portioned out enough for each area - divide this seed into two halves.
To scatter the seeds, you can either use a seed spreader or your hands. Start by walking from right to left over the area, scattering the first half of the seed as you go. Then, scatter the remaining over the area by walking from top to bottom. Sowing the same area in two directions will ensure even distribution.
Once all the seed is spread, you need to ensure it has good contact with the ground. Rake gently over the seeded area to settle the seed into the soil and lightly aerate it. Then, you need to firm down the soil - either use your feet by taking small shuffling steps or use a very lightly weighted lawn roller. This combination of raking and rolling ensures the soil isn't too compact that it hinders drainage, yet the seed still has the soil contact it needs to germinate.
Extra tip: if your lawn grass seed will be attacked by birds, try laying down horticultural fleece to protect the soil until germination. Alternatively, you can also increase the amount of seed you sow per metre to negate the seed lost to hungry wildlife.
Now, lightly water your grass seed and follow our lawn care tips below.
How to sow grass seed on existing lawn areas
If you have an existing lawn that's looking a little worse for wear, you can give it a spruce up with some new grass seed. The overseeding method is almost identical to how to sow grass seed on a new lawn, but the main difference is the amount of seed you use.
For patching an existing lawn, use roughly 35g of seed per square metre. Once you've ordered your seed, follow these steps:
- Remove weeds and dead grass using your spade and trowel.
- Rake the bare spots between healthy grass and apply compost or weed killer if needed.
- Wait two weeks for the weed killer to pass or for dormant weeds to break the top soil - remove these.
- Follow the steps above for site preparation the night before.
- Sow your seed with an even distribution (two directions), followed by raking and a light roller.
- Water the new grass areas regularly as the lawn is established.
You can also follow these instructions for patching a new lawn that doesn't entirely germinate or fixing areas of fine-leaved grasses that die back.
Lawn care tips for a lush garden
Now you know how to plant grass from seed, here's what our horticulturalists recommend for ongoing evergreen lawn care.
First, grass seedlings germinate in one week. For the first six weeks, water daily unless it has already rained. If possible, water the soil twice a day lightly rather than once a day heavily - this will reduce the risk of washing away the grass seed. Use a spray nozzle on the highest setting for a very fine spray. You don't want to create puddles in the sown area.
If you have sown in the autumn, there is no need to mow until the following spring. Once spring arrives, you can mow once a week. However, if you have sown in the spring, you need to wait for a minimum of 5cm of growth. Lightly roll the grass once it reaches this length to settle the soil, then start mowing it a few days later. From here, you can mow weekly.
As well as maintaining a good watering schedule for the first months, you may need to fertilise your lawn. This can be done in the spring - explore our lawn fertilisers to find one suitable for your lawn type.
While fertiliser and watering to ensure constant moisture are a must, weedkiller must be avoided. For the first six months, avoid applying any weedkiller (or letting it wash off flower beds) onto the lawn. If you can wait a whole year before applying weedkiller, we recommend you do so. Weeding rough grasses and unwanted plants by hand is a lot of work, but it does ensure your lawn isn't damaged by harsh chemicals.
And finally, avoid walking on the lawn for the first season. If you must walk on the grass, tread lightly. After the first season has passed and your grass is mowed regularly, it will be able to handle gentle use. To be extra safe, try to avoid any rough or heavy use for the first year.
Sowing grass seeds with Gardeners Dream
That's really all there is to it! Now you know how to sow grass seed for new and established lawns, you can get to work making your dream garden a reality. All the products and tools mentioned in this article are available to purchase online in our shop. As every order has complimentary free delivery on orders over £50 to any UK address, you can order as much of our best grass seed as you require without worry.
