Rye Grass Ground Preparation

Soil Test

• The first step in planting any grass seed involves testing the soil. By testing the soil you can discover precisely what your lawn needs to grow. This impacts the type of grass seed you use, the fertilizer you choose and the amount of watering that is necessary. If the soil lacks nutrients, add them. You have the option of buying chemical fertilizer that can be added to the soil before planting, or you can use organic fertilizer in the form of ground proteins or manure. These products add key nutrients that your ryegrass needs to grow into a healthy lawn. Ryegrass requires about 2 to 3 lb. nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. You also want to test the pH of the soil. This will tell you whether you need to add lime or another material to the soil to alter its pH level. The optimum pH for ryegrass is 5.8 to 7.2.

Tilling

• With most grass seeds, a new lawn planting requires tilling of the soil. This removes any existing ground cover to ensure that no other plants compete for nutrients with the new grass seedlings. Ryegrass, though, does not require tilling to grow. According to the website Ryegrasses.com, this is considered a "throw and grow" seed. It can be sown without destroying the already existing ground cover via tilling or another removal technique. It requires minimal soil contact for germination. Tilling, though, is an option. It does not hurt the growth of new ryegrass lawns from seed. To prepare for either new seeding or reseeding, rake the soil lightly to provide loose dirt. This improves soil contact, which helps with the germination of the seed.

Mowing

• While you do not need to remove the ground cover, you do want to mow it to a short length before applying ryegrass seed to the lawn. You should cut the existing lawn grass as short as possible. You also have the option of killing it with a weed killer. If you opt to use a weed killer, be sure to wait the necessary time before planting your seed. The packaging that comes with your weed killer will tell you when it is safe to plant again.

Watering

• The success of a ryegrass seed application hinges largely on soil moisture. Before you plant, you need to water the soil. Add enough moisture to the soil to ensure that it is damp when the seed is applied. Add more water to areas where preexisting ground cover is thicker. This improves the soil contact of your new ryegrass. You should water your lawn thoroughly one to two days before planting ryegrass seed.