I've planted my grass seed. Now what?

I dug out an area no more than 3 sq.m. in my lawn where a willow used to be, prepared the soil, watered it well in advance, and firmed it down as much as possible. Put a very thin layer of top soil/compost mix for the seeds to sit on/in, sowed seeds earlier today, and covered the area with fleece to keep birds off. I watered gently for a short while. I want to get this right, so need advice on whether to now cover the seeds or not. I didn't cover earlier because I was reading conflicting advice online, and while I had someone to help put up the fleece cover I did that. I have multi-purpose compost, John Innes no.3 added compost, and top soil available. No seed compost though I can buy some tomorrow if need be. Left to my own devices I'd probably sieve the John Innes compost to make it as fine as possible, mix with a little top soil - I have no lawn sand - and put down just enough of the mixture to cover the seeds, then firm it down, before watering next. We expect no rain for days.

I've read - variously - not to put top soil on at all / put a thin layer of compost/top soil mix / not to put anything on, just firm seeds into the soil and leave them.

It's only a patch-up exercise after all, so all I'm really concerned about is that they germinate OK.

Advice would be gratefully received.

Thank you.

 

All you need to do now is make sure they stay moist (not swimming so they all wash to the lowest points) and keep the birds from eating them before they germinate. Other than that it's down to nature, you can't control the temperature. It might be a bit too warm this coming week but maybe they'll just wait until it's cooled down a bit.

 

I put a thin layer of topsoil on top of grass seed and then walk on it to ensure that the seed is in contact with the topsoil below. I keep it watered daily until the seed germinates, usually in eight to ten days.

 

Thanks for such prompt replies. I'm certainly going to walk on it, or as I'll have to dip gingerly under the fleece I may use a brick or similar to embed the seeds, possibly after putting a thin layer of compost which I'll maybe sieve or just crumple up, mixed with a little top soil, just enough to cover the seeds. I'm a little more anxious now about the watering as I bought 30 gsm fleece but there seems to be more water running down the sides of the fleece than is penetrating it although it's hard to tell. We'll see.

 

If the seed does not get enough moisture it will sit there until weather conditions and temperatures change. It is usually better to wait until Sept. for autumn sown lawn seed. Fine netting would have been preferable to fleece as it lets the light in better and allows watering or rain to reach the area.

 

4 days in, and rain at last. I lightly covered seeds with sieved compost mixed with just a little fine topsoil, pressed it firmly in, watered it in. I don't have any fine netting, or would probably have used that, but had just dug out, and started assembling, an old rounded cold frame system, which would have provided a great frame I thought to lay the fleece over, when my better half came out while I was elsewhere, stuck 5 canes in the seeded area with little plantpots on top, and said I was over-thinking it - guilty I guess...

As I said, most of the water from the sprinkler was going straight down the sides of the fleece, so I've been ducking under the fleece and watering directly. Yesterday I did what I should have done earlier and stuck with the canes, but got lots more, made them all same height (and lower), and as the fleece was wide enough put most of the extra canes about a foot outside the seeded area, so when I secured the fleece I was left with a level covered area much bigger than the seeded area, now only 16-18" above ground level, so there is no little or no run-off wastage. I think the rain has permeated OK, only because I can see the grass surrounds under fleece are soaked; the area itself feels moist which I guess is ideal? I was a bit concerned that more seeds were visible than before but I'm told that's to be expected? and rather than put down a bit more compost mix, I should leave it alone?, leave watering to the rain which is forecasted here, only watering if I have to. Fingers crossed.

 

Day 5 - 1st sign of tiny shoots.
Day 6 - yesterday - grass appearing more visibly. Rained most of day.
Day 7 - today - grass up to about 1-1.5", some profuse coverage, most patchy, but I know I carefully put the right quantities of seed down, and there are plenty of seeds showing & embedded on the surface, so rather than put more down I'm hoping/expecting that patience is the best move, and most will germinate eventually.

 

Good progress @DaveMK . You’ll soon see more even coverage, no need to add more seed unless it still looks a bit bare in a couple of weeks. Just make sure the seedlings are kept moist but not waterlogged.