Sowing a new lawn

If you have the time, creating a lawn from seed has several advantages over laying turf.
Sowing seed is light, easy work and extremely cost-effective, especially for large areas.

The only drawback is that it will usually take three to four months before the lawn can be properly used.

To ensure the grass establishes and grows strong, keep it well watered and follow the instructions on the grass seed packet.

Find out more about our seeding pack, containing all the tools and grass seed you’ll need to get you lawn looking back to its best.

Step-by-Step guide

Tools needed:
Lawn rake
Grass seed

Take a look at our Seeding Kit for a great value tool set

1 Thorough ground preparation is vital for a successful lawn. Prepare the site by digging and clearing of any stones or weeds.  This is hard work, but will save a lot of problems in the future and is a good long-term idea.

2 Fallow the site. By allowing any dormant weed seeds to germinate and killing them off after a couple of weeks will ensure the site is as prepared as possible. Rake level again.

3 Wait until the soil is moist and then sow the seed in accordance with the instructions on the packet, ideally marking out square meters to ensure the coverage is correct. Lightly rake over to cover the furrows. If possible, roll the lawn lightly.

4 Keep the area well watered until the grass is established and growing strongly. Water every few days if the weather is dry. Germination will typically take 2-3 weeks, depending on temperature and species of grass. Once established, lightly trim the grass and then follow through with mowing every couple of weeks, reducing the cutting height as appropriate to the seed mix. Find out more in our lawn maintenance schedule.

TOP TIPS

Save time and trouble in the future by choosing the correct quality of grass seed. Use an appropriate mix for the lawn and its desired use.

Try not to use the lawn until the grass is well established

Deal with perennial weeds as they appear to ensure they don’t deter grass growth