Can You Plant Grass in the Summer?

Preparing the Soil

• Weeds pose a major problem to lawns in the summer. Bare soil or thinning lawns that haven't been seeded yet generally have a high population of weeds. Weeds compete with grass seedlings for the soil's nutrients, air and sunlight. Gardeners must remove all the weeds in the lawn before seeding. Once the weeds have been removed, gardeners should immediately prepare their lawns for planting and seed the lawn before any new weeds pop up. Open soil areas being prepared for seeding open the lawn up for weed growth.

Seeding

• Seeds easily dry up on parched soil. Dried grass seeds will not germinate. Gardeners must keep the soil moist before, during and after seeding. Mulching the grass seeds with a thin layer of peat moss will also help prevent the grass seeds from drying out. Spread a 1/8- to 1/4-inch layer over the seeds. Landscaper Roger Cook of "This Old House" recommends peat moss because it retains moisture better than other mulch such as compost. Apply the mulch and water the lawn.

Keeping the Soil Moist

• Water grass seeds with a slow release of water. Give the seeds enough water that it reaches 6 to 8 inches deep; water the lawn and dig down 6 to 8 inches to check. Give your lawn water several times a day until seedlings have emerged, which takes about a week. Walk out into the lawn and feel the soil. Apply water every time the top of the soil is dry.

Watering

• Reduce the amount of water applied as seedlings emerge. If you water too much, you can cause the seedlings to rot. Because the summer heat causes grass stress, reduce any other factors, such as foot traffic, that can cause the grass even more stress. Stay off the lawn for at least two weeks, so that the grass can grow strong root systems. Wait for the grass to grow 3 inches tall before mowing.