How to Plant a Lawn from Seed
1. Prepare the area that you plan to plant by raking and grooming the soil to the desired grade. Remove large rocks or other obstacles, but don’t worry about small rocks – the grass will grow right over the top. This step is essential because after the seed germinates and grows, you won’t be able to go back and fix problems as easily. Rake and groom the soil exactly the way you want it, or it might be too late later.
2. After step one is a perfect time to fertilize. If your germinating grass seed does not have enough nutrients, it will stop growing and won’t get established as quickly as it should. We recommend 16-16-16 or Ferti-lome New Lawn Starter to give your grass the head start that it needs. Natural Guard Humate also works great on new lawns – ask us about it!
3. Roll the area at this point with a lawn roller. This will help compact the soil and prepare the seed bed for planting. The roller will also help you discover any low or high spots that you may have missed with the rake that need to be fixed before planting.
4. After rolling, go back over the entire area with a rake making sure to repair any problem areas. Rake lightly so that 1/4 inch deep grooves appear in the soil.
5. Apply seed. Depending on the conditions of the soil, what you want to use the area for, and how much sun or shade the turf will receive select the best type of grass seed for your situation. We recommend Magic Carpet as our very best grass mixture.
6. After applying seed, roll the entire area again. This will press the seed slightly into the soil, helping with erosion problems and improving germination. This is an essential step. Don’t neglect to roll the seed.
7. Start watering. Keep the soil moist at all times, but don’t overwater. Start with 3- 4 applications a day, 10 minutes each. If puddles appear after each application, it’s getting too much water. If it’s drying out in between waterings, it needs more moisture. Consistent moisture is the key to good germination.
Varieties and Blends
Anderson’s Select Mix: Our personal mix of the 5 best performing hybrid bluegrasses for our area. This premium mix has all of the most desirable qualities of any grass: disease resistance, insect resistance, early greening in spring, drought and heat tolerance, uniform dark-green color, and it grows well in sun or shade. When you dream of the softest, greenest, most uniform lawn imaginable, you’re thinking of Anderson’s Select.
Magic Carpet: One of our very best blends of 4 hybrid bluegrasses. This premium mix has all of the most desirable qualities of any grass: disease resistance, insect resistance, early greening in spring, drought and heat tolerance, uniform dark-green color, and it grows well in sun or shade. This blend comes close to the quality of our select mix, for a less expensive alternative.
Colorado Premium: A mix of four exceptional bluegrasses and two turf-type ryegrasses. This blend of grasses tolerates sun and shade, handles extra traffic, and makes a sensational looking lawn. It will perform well under a wide variety of conditions.
Kentucky Bluegrass: The standard turfgrass for cool areas. Rich color and a fine texture make this grass an all-time favorite.
Athletic Field Mix: Selected not only for its durability but also for consistent dark green color. Germinates and establishes itself quickly. Its deep roots and dense growing habit helps it crowd out weeds and resist many diseases. Makes a great play area for kids or a more “low-maintenance” area of the lawn.
Premium Perennial Rye: Fine leaves, high density, dark green color and superior turf quality makes this an excellent choice for stressful lawn situations. Ryegrasses handle summer heat, high traffic, and less water situations well.
Turf-type Fescue: A broader leaf than Kentucky bluegrass, but much more resistant to drought and high traffic. Its natural dark, green color requires less fertilization. Does exceptionally well in dense shade and under trees.
Mark’s Mix: (Perennial Rye Mix and Turf-Type Fescue Mix Blend) Combines the best qualities and characteristics of both these types of grasses; dark green color, drought and traffic resistance, handles heat and temperature changes well, and requires less fertilization. Also does well in shady locations.
