Sowing a new lawn - Need some advice!

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Chris Holmes, Apr 21, 2017.

  1. Chris Holmes

    Chris Holmes Apprentice Gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2015
    Messages:
    13
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Engineer
    Location:
    SE London
    Ratings:
    +4
    Good afternoon all.

    I'm planning on sowing seeds for a lawn (about 5x5m) in the coming couple of weeks and wanted advice on the best way to do it.

    The existing soil was pretty weedy/stony and rubbish all round. I've dug the whole thing over and got rid of all the weeds and most of the stones and now raked it over and flattened it out.

    I've bought a load of top soil (for about 3-4cm depth) and plenty of seeds and was wondering what the best way is for me to go about sowing the lawn?

    I was thinking to mix the seeds into the top soil and then spread evenly, but would seeds at the bottom of that 3cm struggle to grow?

    Perhaps I'd be better off putting down say 2/3rds of the topsoil and then doing as above with the rest of it? I thought doing this might be easier than spreading the seeds and then raking in and achieve more or less the same?

    Thanks in advance!

    Chris
     
  2. ricky101

    ricky101 Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2016
    Messages:
    3,691
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Sheffield
    Ratings:
    +4,596
    Hi,

    Not a new lawn expert, but generally you firm the soil by either lightly rolling or 'healing in', then give it a light raking to give a shallow tilth for the seed, which some say you again slightly roller down.

    If you just rake and level out your 40mm of new top soil I think that wil be way too light and when you come to walk on the new grass it will just subside too much where you tread.

    If you walk normally across you patch now how deep are you footprints; I would say if much over 15 mm you need to use a roller to firm it up.

    Never heard about burying grass seed, always on top or just very lightly raked in.
    Think the easiest way to protect the sown seed on your 5x 5 mtrs is to get a couple of boxes of cheap plastic protection netting from the cheapy stores.
     
  3. rustyroots

    rustyroots Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2011
    Messages:
    2,264
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Solihull, West Midlands
    Ratings:
    +2,946
    Hi Chris.

    When I did my old garden the grass area was about 20x5m. I gave it a couple of treatments of round up, then after a couple of weeks I rotavated it and raked all the junk and stones out. I then rolled it and sowed the grass seed. I then gave it a light raking and that was it. I did give it another light seeding a few weeks later. Important to water well also. I never had any issues with mine.

    Rusty
     
Loading...

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice