How to Lay Grass Seed

Compared to laying sod, laying grass seed is a relatively inexpensive way of landscaping your yard.The best time of year to plant is in the spring or fall, when it is neither too hot nor too cold. While planting grass seed requires a great deal of patience while the seed develops into a beautiful green lawn, it will be worth it when you realize that you did it all on your own and with little cost.

Top soil

Grass seed

Tiller

Rake

Spreader

Wheelbarrow

Lawn roller

Water Sprinkler

Level the ground in the area you are planting, by tilling to a depth of up to 6 inches. Remove any rocks, sticks, roots or debris from the ground, and pack down the soil with the lawn roller.

Loosen the top of the soil with a rake and spread evenly until you have a smooth, level surface. Roll the surface lightly and loosen the soil one last time with the rake before planting.

Pour the grass seed in the spreader and set the dispersion rate to half the target rate of application. Walk the spreader in a zigzag pattern, from the right side of the area to the left side, and then take the spreader and walk from the top of the area to the bottom. Fill in, by hand, any areas where seeds are missing.

Pour topsoil into the wheelbarrow and roll it to where you are working. Cover the seeds with about a half-inch of soil, trying to make it as even as possible.

Pack the ground with your lawn roller. Pull the roller from behind, going from the top to the bottom of the area, and then roll it again from right to left.

Water the entire area with your sprinkler set to low.

Make sure the seeds are covered by just enough topsoil to prevent birds from eating the seeds.

Do not over-water the ground, or your soil will erode.