How to Apply Grass Seed

Examine the dirt where you intend to plant your grass seed. If the topsoil is less than two inches deep, you should add additional topsoil. If you need additional topsoil, mix it into the existing dirt with a tiller and let the ground settle for a week.

Pick the correct grass seed for your environment and lifestyle. Some types of grass grow well in warm climates, others in cool. Some grasses are more hearty than others and still others require more tender loving care and active maintenance.

Lightly roll the dirt with a lawn roller, taking care not to compress the soil too much. Rolling the ground evens out dips and high points in the dirt.

Lay down a dose of starter fertilizer over the area to be seeded. Grass seed needs more phosphorus than nitrogen at the germination stage to build a healthy root structure, so starter fertilizer contains a high phosphorus-to-nitrogen ratio. As grass matures it needs more nitrogen to thrive.

Adjust your drop spreader so that it drops the appropriate amount of seed. Fill your drop spreader with grass seed and start walking. If your property is irregularly shaped, do a couple of laps around the edges. Then begin walking back and forth across the property. Take care to walk in a straight line at a steady pace. Close the hopper before stopping and turning. Overlap only the wheel tracks, not the spreader's hopper track. This will ensure a uniform planting.

Mix the seed into the soil by lightly raking the ground with the back of a flexible leaf rake. The seeds should be covered by no more than one-fourth inch of dirt.

Lightly spread straw or another fast biodegrading material over the lawn to keep in moisture, prevent soil erosion and to keep the seeds from blowing away.

Water the lawn with just enough water to moisten the dirt. Take care not to overwater, which will wash away soil, seed or fertilizer. Keep the lawn moist until the seeds germinate and begin to form a root system.