The Ultimate Guide to Sowing Grass Seed

It seems so simple: sprinkle a handful of grass seed, a touch of patience, and there’s your lawn! But what is really involved in sowing grass? We will be sharing everything about grass sowing here. From the essential steps to the perfect timing, these tips will get you the lawn of your dreams!

Why should I sow grass seed?

Sowing grass is not only done when you want to lay a new lawn, but also when the lawn has thinned out or bald spots have appeared in your lawn. These bare spots are caused, for example, by weeds or stones in the garden, but also by pests such as leatherjackets and grubs.

When is the best moment to sow?

Sowing grass is practically possible all year round, but the ideal period is from February to October, as long as the soil temperature is at least 10°C. In autumn, you benefit from the still-warm soil from the summer. Spring is also a suitable sowing time, but keep in mind that with spring sowing, the energy goes mainly to leaf development instead of root growth.

To stimulate the root system, it is advisable to add extra phosphorus. A good starter fertiliser, such as Lawn Starter with extra phosphorus, is essential for the initial growth phase. Stronger roots make the plant healthier and more resistant to summer drought.

Which grass seed suits my soil?

You reap what you sow, and this applies to your lawn as well. The quality of grass seed is often judged by its germination rate, but this is not a reliable measure. This is due to the fact that fast-germinating grasses have a short life cycle of six months to one year. And this obviously defeats the purpose!

By choosing high-quality grass seed, you may invest a little more, but this pays off in a healthier and more resilient lawn.

If you are looking for grass seed, there are basically three different mixtures available: Sports & Fun Lawn, Sun & Shade Lawn and Premium Lawn. We’ll take a closer look at these three varieties here.

Sport & Fun

If your lawn is an active playground, choose Sport & Play lawn grass seed. The mixture consists of a mix of coarse and finer grasses, making it able to withstand intensive use, such as children playing or pets. It grows quickly and settles easily, while also being low-maintenance.

Sun & Shade

Do the trees in your garden shroud your lawn in shade? Maybe your garden just doesn’t get that much direct sunlight? Sun & Shade lawn seed is specially selected for maximum germination and healthy growth in shaded parts of your garden. With a fine-leafed structure, Sun & Shade grows slowly and tolerates shorter mowing.

Premium

For a perfectly maintained lawn that looks great but is not used intensively, there is the ornamental lawn grass seed. This mixture contains mainly fine-leaved grasses, creating a lawn with high ornamental value that can withstand short mowing.

What are the most suitable conditions for growing new grass seed?

We might now know when is the best time of the year for sowing grass seeds, but there are still a few things to bear in mind.

Soil temperature

Grass seed won’t grow in soil at less than 10°C – it just won’t germinate. That’s nature for you!
Use a soil thermometer to gauge the soil temperature. Make sure that you sink the thermometer at least 3cm into the soil to get a reliable reading.

The moisture content of the soil

For best grass seed uptake, the soil should be sufficiently moist. If the soil is dry, give an extensive watering the evening before sowing.

Contact between grass seed and soil

Besides moisture, the grass seed must also make good contact with the soil. Therefore, rake the seed lightly when sowing and then use a garden roller to press it down. This step is crucial, as lack of soil contact leads to no germination!

Rake up compacted soil first

Since grass does not grow on hard, compact soil, it is necessary to rake or aerate it first. Loosening compact soil is essential for healthy germination and growth.

New vs existing lawns

Sowing grass seed for a new lawn

When sowing, you start on bare soil, which requires some preparation. Start by identifying your garden’s soil type for appropriate tillage and fertiliser. Weed removal is essential; for existing grass, use a sod cutter. Plough and level the soil after preparation before you start.

Sowing grass seed for an existing lawn

Supplementary seeding, also known as overseeding, is done on an existing lawn. Fill bare spots after the first sowing by overseeding. Weeds, pests, and weather conditions can thin out the lawn. Overseeding requires the same steps as sowing, but without the preparation of bare soil.

Read more about grass overseeding here.

What do you need to sow grass?

With the following checklist, you won’t miss a thing!

• Grass seed
• Spreader
• Spade
• Rake
• Lawn roller
• Garden hose
• Lawnmower
• Sod cutter
• Fertiliser

How do I sow grass seeds? 7 Simple steps

It’s time to get to work! Follow our step-by-step guide for optimal results.

Step #1: Calculate the amount of grass seed needed

The amount of grass seed you need depends on whether you are laying a new lawn or re-seeding an existing one. For a new lawn, we recommend 34 grams per square metre.

Are you overseeding? Then half will suffice: 17 grams per square metre. Not sure about the size of your lawn? Easily measure it yourself; a large step is about 1 metre.

Step #2: Work in small sections

If you have a large or asymmetrical lawn, divide the larger areas into smaller parts and calculate how much grass seed you need for each part.

Step #3: Choose your moment

If you’re overseeding, you should sow new grass seeds immediately after mowing. Make sure that the grass is dry (but the soil is moist).

Step 4: Distribute the seed evenly

Spread the grass seed evenly. A spreader is a useful tool for this, but you can also do it by hand. Spread the first part lengthways and the second part widthways for even coverage.

Step #5: Lightly rake the grass seed

Raking ensures optimum contact with the soil. Without soil contact, the seed will not germinate.

Step #6: Roll with a weighted lawn roller

After you’ve raked the seed into the soil, rolling with a weighted roller helps maximise the soil contact. The grass seed gets pushed into the ground a little so that it remains firmly in place and is less likely to get wash away from watering or rain.

Step #7: Spray away!

Water the soil well and keep it moist until the seed plants emerge. Note: It’s better to lightly water four times a day than to heavily water once a day; otherwise, there’s a chance that the grass seed will wash away.

 

3 Golden tips after sowing grass seeds

You have done all the steps. Excellent! Here are 3 valuable tips on how to proceed.

Tip #1: Make sure to have extra grass seed

Buy 10% more grass seed than is initially needed. After germination, bare spots may appear, and with extra grass seed, you can easily re-seed these spots with the same type of grass seed.

Tip #2: Limit treading

After germinating the grass seed, your lawn is not yet immediately firm. Therefore, be careful with treading on the lawn in the first season after sowing, or even better: avoid it as much as possible.

Tip #3: Regular maintenance

Now that you have sown grass, it is crucial to maintain your lawn properly. Wait 21 days after germination before you start mowing. Then cut no more than 1/3 of the grass length. If you want to cut the grass shorter, wait a few days and cut 1/3 again.

Don’t forget to feed your turf with the right amount of fertiliser and lime. By scarifying and re-seeding once or twice a year, you maintain a healthy turf and prevent unwanted growth of weeds and moss.

It is also important that your lawn gets enough water. Give nature a helping hand by watering regularly in dry periods, for example with a garden hose or using a sprinkler system.

You have now laid the foundation for a beautiful lawn. We wish you lots of delight and satisfaction in watching your beautiful turf grow up!

Louis Hooft

Founder & Lawn expert

Introducing Louis Hooft, the founder of MOOWY and your reliable expert. With a profound love for stunning lawns and extensive experience in garden maintenance, Louis is here to assist garden enthusiasts in achieving a greener and livelier outdoors than ever before. Count on Louis for invaluable tips, clever tricks, and top-notch products to make your garden flourish!