How to Plant Grass

The information on this page will teach you how to plant grass. There are four ways to plant grass. You can do it using seeds, sod, sprigs or plugs. The most popular and also cheapest method is to use seed. http://www.gardenplace.com/content/calculator/seeds.html Seed is also best to use if you are trying to cover a large are with grass. Sod, sprigs and plugs are square patches of mature grass that can form roots to grow. The only difference is the sizes they come in. They are better to use for smaller areas and will form an instant lawn. You don't have to wait for grass to start growing.

There are many different kinds of grass, some names include bahia, bent, Bermuda, blue grama, buffalo, centipede, fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass and zoysias. Make sure to check with your local garden center or nursery to see which kind will work best in your area. And if you are just repairing a patch, make sure the color of the grass seed you choose matches your current color.

People use grass seed for many reasons. It can be used for repairing bare patches in the lawn or to make an entirely new lawn. You can also use it as a filler for spots where you pulled out a tree. The key to growing grass is the contact between the soil and the seed. Good soil contact that means that the soil is directly in contact with the surface of the seeds. It's ideal when the seeds are completely surrounded by soil. http://www.grassing.com/methods/index.html

When:
The best time to grow grass is when the weather is warm in late spring or early summer. A temperature between 55 degrees F and not over 80 degrees F is ideal. http://www.grassing.com/methods/index.html Any kind of frost will keep the seedlings from sprouting.

Where: How to Prepare Your Soil
The following points should be covered when preparing your soil

1. Make sure the pH of your soil ranges from 6.0 to 7.5. A pH of 6.5 is ideal. http://www.thegardenhelper.com/lawncare.html If you don't know how to test soil pH, check with your local garden center or nursery. They sell soil pH test kits that come with complete instructions. The test will also tell you if you need to add fertilizer to your lawn.
2. Loosen the soil using a till for large areas or a garden hoe for smaller areas.
3. Remove any debris or weed.
4. Add top soil to the existing soil.
5. Add fertilizer if the soil test results said that you needed to.
   
   

How:
Now that the soil has been prepared you can start planting your grass seed. For small areas you can just use your hands to spread out the seeds. For large areas it's recommended to get a seed spreader from your local gardening store.

1. Sow a quart of your seed to the entire lawn. Repeat this three times in different directions. http://www.thegardenhelper.com/lawncare.html
2. Use a rake to move the seeds lightly into the surface of the soil.
3. To create a good contact between soil and seeds, use a lawn roller.
4. After 10-14 days you should start seeing some growth. This is also the time to plant more seeds in any bare spots you may have skipped.

After you have planted your grass, you must face the challenge of caring for the lawn, and making sure it stays healthy and green. The following materials are needed to maintain your grass:

1. Spreader
2. Tiller
3. Lawn roller
4. Grass Seed
5. Fertilizer
6. Top soil
7. Rake
8. Garden hoe
9. Water

After your seeds have been planted, make sure to water the lawn frequently, and lightly, to keep it moist. Once the seeds germinate, you can water more heavily, but less frequently. An inch of water per week will result in a healthy lawn. Once the grass grows to 3 inches, you can safely mow the lawn. If you want to fertilize the grass after mowing, make sure you use only half of the recommended amount of fertilizer and water right afterwards, to prevent burning the grass.http://www.thegardenhelper.com/lawncare.html