If you have just had your dream home completed and are looking at the whole picture, something is missing, the landscaping. Now you have a decision to make as to what to do with the barren soil that is staring you in the face and muddying up your sneakers. You can either hire a landscaper and pay thousands of dollars for them to set your lawn up or plan your lawn the way you want it. You will save yourself a bundle if you simply sow your own grass and plant your own flower beds.
Clearing the Dirt for Seeding
Before you begin seeding your soil, you should clean it up by examining the top of the soil for rocks, metal, glass and concrete. If you locate any of this remove it promptly. You will most likely be cleaning up the contractor’s mess of concrete drippings, broken bricks, rocks and glass that were simply used as lawn filler. Many contractors use these to fill in the lawn to make it level and then put fill dirt in on top of it. Next you will have to have the first six inches tilled up and remove any debris you find there as well.
Choosing the Grass Seed
Find out what type of grass grows easily in your area. This can be done by contacting your local farm bureau corporation or the local branch of the Department of Agriculture. They will be able to tell you which types of grass are grown easily and how to care for them once they begin to grow. Choose the grass seed you want and make sure you have enough to cover the entire square footage of your lawn. You can dig out the grass when it comes time to plant your flower gardens. You may want to test the soil to make sure your soil has the right mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and magnesium to grow your grass strong and lush.
Sowing the Seeds
Once you have cleared the soil, tilled it up, cleared it again and chosen your seed, it is time to begin sowing. Add the seed to a spreader and spread it over the lawn taking care not to over seed or under seed. Under seeding will leave bare patches and over seeding will cause your lawn to grow in thick, chunky patches. After you have spread the seed, water the soil well and cover it with straw. The straw keeps the birds and squirrels from consuming the seeds before they actually have a chance to root. Cover the straw with a wire mesh that keeps birds and squirrels from stealing your straw.
Watch your Grass Grow
Keep an eye on your lawn’s growth. As it grows and you notice bare spots, sprinkle a little seed in its place and allow it to take root. When your grass grows to approximately four inches in length, you can remove the wire mesh and mow your lawn. Mow with a sharp blade and a bagger so you can collect the trimmings.
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