How to create a great lawn from seed at minimum expense
How to create a great lawn from seed at minimum expense
I believe that the best time of year to do this is in early Spring, for then your new lawn will have a full season and the best of the weather to help it along; you can probably do it any time of year but Winter, but Autumn sown seedlings may not survive a harsh Winter, by sowing in Spring it will have plenty of time to grow and harden itself to the ever-changing weather in time for the colder months.
Don't go out and buy the top brand grass seed, I believe it is not worth the expense, instead nip along to your local Wilkinson' store and but their own brand (excellent quality and much more cost effective, remember; we're trying to keep the price down here). You don't have to go to Wilkinson's' of course, you could go to B & Q' or Homebase' or these days even Tesco' or Asda' or any other similar store, then of course there is also the local hardware shop or garden centre; shop around and get the best deal; but I think you'll find Wilkinson's' very hard to beat. Wherever you get it from go for the variety with ryegrass in as it's often cheaper, and not as bad as it may seem. Before you make any purchase make sure that the seed is dry, with no mould and that you can purchase enough to do the job. There should be something on display in the store guiding you on how much weight of seed you will need per square metre of garden, if not then ask an assistant.
Make sure the area is dug over or rotavated thoroughly. Then rake it out and level it the best you can, even if you have to move soil from one end of the plot to the other. Remove large stones or pebbles they will only come through the grass. Get rid of as many weeds as possible, all if you can (make sure you wear protective gloves if handling nettles, thistles or other thorny stuff); we want a lawn of only grass if possible, rather than grass with the odd nettle or thistle included (these can be very painful to a small child, they're painful enough to adults). You can never over-prepare a plot for a lawn, the finer the granules of soil, and the more level the ground the better. Some recommend going over the area with a roller, or patting the soil down by walking and jumping on a wooden board laid over the area, but I have never done this and never had any problems as a result, so I believe it's not necessary at all.
Scatter your seed according to the instructions included with it, evenly over the whole area. Lightly rake the area again this helps the seed to take hold and helps to distribute it more evenly very lightly, big ruts are not required.
Once your seed has been sown you will need to cover the whole area with something to stop the birds from pinching your seed; you can buy nets that are specially designed for the job (shop around) but the expense is rarely justified. The most cost-effective way is to insert small sticks into the ground on the plot and then tie lots of cotton or string across them, the more the better, to create a net-like barrier. This does not harm the birds but the instability puts them off. Whatever method you choose to protect your seed, you will inevitably lose a little to the birds and a small percentage will not germinate, don't worry; if you've followed the instructions correctly all will be fine as manufacturers and growers always allow for a little loss.
Don't bother with a scarecrow, they are a total waste of time and don't help at all.
Once done water your seed lightly using a very fine spray. Make sure you keep the area damp at least until your seed has germinated (started to grow) and then you may need to use more water as your new lawn becomes established. If the weather is really warm you may need to water every day, do this in the evening rather than the morning as the sun will only evaporate most of the water before it has chance to do any good. When your plot appears to be turning green rather than staying brown you can remove the protective net, cotton or string as by then it will have served its purpose and will no longer be required. If any part of the plot appears patchy scatter a little seed in the patchy area to repair (don't forget to cover it to stop the birds though).
Do not mow your new grass until it is about two inches long and then sparingly until established.
Following these basic instructions should get you well on your way to a nice lawn within one season.
Good luck!
In my next article I'll be telling you how to create a great lawn from turf.
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