New Lawn – from Seed

First of all you need to decide what type of lawn it is going to be. Is it going to take a lot of traffic i.e. kids, dogs, barbecues? Or is it going to be mainly ornamental, the showpiece of the garden?

Different seeds are available on the market for all different situations. Some can tolerate close mowing whilst others can deal with the stresses and strains of continual use. Take a look at the seeds section in our shop to give you an idea of what is on the market.

Always buy quality, certified seeds. Kept properly they will last two or three years. Make sure you get enough to allow for over-sowing.

Sowing a new lawn from seed is best done in the early Autumn or Spring time.

• Ground preparation is the key to any success.
• Clear the area of weeds and grasses. Use a non-residual herbicide if necessary, but leave ground for 4 to 6 weeks before continuing with the following tasks.
• Dig or fork the soil to a depth of about 15cm (approx.6") removing any stones or weeds.
• Rake the area, trying to get it as level as possible.
• Allow it to settle for 3 to 4 days, then rake the area again, trying to get a nice crumb-type consistency. Firm the area using your heel, then rake level again.
• Sow the seed, about 30/35 gms per square metre. This equates to about a handful. Sow as evenly as possible.
• Lightly rake the area. Do not worry about seed lying on the surface. Providing it is touching the soil it should germinate.
• String lines with foil/paper attached will deter birds from feeding on the seed but, providing you have sown at the recommended rate, their impact will be minimal.
• Keep the area moist, do not let it dry out. Use a fine rose sprinkler if there is insufficient rain.
• The grass will start shooting in about 10 days or so. Let it get to a height of about 25mm (1 inch), then lightly roll using the back roller of your mower. Hand pick any weeds that might have blown in.
• Cut when it has reached a height of about 65mm (2½ inches), but only remove 15mm (½ inch). Gradually reduce the height on your subsequent cuts. The general rule of thumb is not to remove any more than a third of the height of the grass at any one cut.
• Maintain at a height of 25mm (1 inch) unless you have an ornamental/specialist seed that can tolerate lower mowing.