A New Lawn from Seed

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Growing grass from seed costs a lot less than using turf but you can only really sow a lawn during April-May or September-early October. It takes 4-6 months before you have a usable lawn so it is usually best to sow during the Autumn.

Although you have to wait longer for a lawn from seed, it's a lot less work than laying turf.

Equipment Required

• A digging spade

• A garden fork

• A garden rake

• Special pre-seeding lawn fertilizer

• Grass seed

The Process

• Dig over or fork the ground the soil removing stones and roots as you go

• Rake the soil gently until level

• Sprinkle on fertilizer at the recommended rate and rake it in

• Tread over the whole area, sinking your weight well down into your heels to consolidate the soft patches

• Rake again to cover the footprints

• Divide the total amount of grass seed in half. Sprinkle one lot in one direction, then repeat, spreading in the opposite direction. The aim is to make sure the seed is spread very thinly and evenly all over the surface of the soil, with no bare patches

• Rake over the area again very lightly expect to see about half of it still showing when you've finished

• Most grass seed is treated with bird repellent but if you have a problem with birds, lay twiggy pea-sticks over the ground

• After a couple of weeks you should start to see a green stubble appear. Stay off the lawn while it’s establishing and keep well watered. As the lawn starts to thicken up cut the grass very gently with a mower set high enough to take only the tips off the grass blades which helps it to root quicker. Give your lawn it’s first proper cut on a dry day; adjust the mower so that the blades are at their highest setting, and leave the grass box on to catch the clippings.

• Keep off the grass until it has been cut several times and starts to look like a proper lawn. Keep the blades set high for the first few cuts, then lower them gradually, but don't cut any shorter than 3cm to start with.