Lawn from seed advice

rinroo

We are about to start re-doing our back garden, which is currently block paved for most part and a miss mash of weed and neglect at the top end where the old trampoline once was.

Once we've lifted the paving and cleared the weeds and marked out where the flower boarders will be we need to think about sowing a lawn.

We have very limited funds, we know we need a lot of top soil but probably can't stretch to turf, so any advice they can be offered regarding growing a lawn from seed will be greatly appreciated. I've read it's best to wait until September to sow grass seeds but I can't wait till then I want to start soon.

TonyMMM

March/April should be fine to sow grass seed, as long as you can avoid walking on it until it is well established and keep it well watered through the summer.

The secret to a good lawn is in the preparation - dig the area over over and then rake and level the area really well removing any stones from the surface as you rake. A lawn doesn't need a great depth of topsoil - an inch or two will be OK - just make sure the area has decent drainage.

wellused

I have grown a lawn from seed some years ago and I was very pleased with the results one thing that I would say is that you must protect the area from birds until the seed has set or they will eat the seed.

Babbawah

The perfect lawn has always been an unfulfilled ambition of mine.

One day, perhaps after I retire, there will be a small part of my garden that is perfection itself. Perfectly flat and perfectly green, just like a billiard table.

The unpaid volunteer who keeps our village cricket pitch has a similar obsession. The team is !!!! but the pitch is excellent.

He's even been complemented by a well known international who said it was probably the best wicket and pitch he's ever batted off !

A secret tip he told me over several pints once was "pre germinate your seed".

If you Google this term then you'll find very little info, but it's something I've been experimenting with for the past 15yrs.

Pre germinating the seed is a very well kept secret amongst the pro groundsmen who practice this dark art !

Mojisola

TonyMMM wrote: »

March/April should be fine to sow grass seed, as long as you can avoid walking on it until it is well established and keep it well watered through the summer.

The secret to a good lawn is in the preparation - dig the area over over and then rake and level the area really well removing any stones from the surface as you rake. A lawn doesn't need a great depth of topsoil - an inch or two will be OK - just make sure the area has decent drainage.

Make sure you firm the soil well before sowing - learn the 'lawn shuffle' - weight on boot heels, shuffle your way across the soil pressing down as you go. Cover every bit and go over it in at least two directions. Then start raking to get your final level.

anotheruser

Don't forget to keep seeding it too!

When the first lot has established, lay more to thicken it up. I buy some of mine from Wilkos in the big bins. They do a luxury version, and a cheaper hard wearing version - so i get one of each a mix them together.

Also see if there are any cheap / free manure places around where you live. Raking a bit of this in will give the grass a good boost at the start.

AND REMEMBER TO TAKE PHOTOS.
Try and get them from the same angle so you can look back and see how it used to be before grass.

rinroo

Thank you for the replies.

What's the best way of stopping the birds? I saw a brief YouTube video where they put hay over the seed..? It's cats that are a problem here!

Pre-germinating the seed is a new one on me I'll consult google

another user, I've seen those big bins of grass seeds in Wilkos, will I get different coloured grass mixing the seeds? Sorry if that's a complete blonde question but this is new territory.

wellused

I kept the birds off with netting it worked very well.

anotheruser

rinroo wrote: »

another user, I've seen those big bins of grass seeds in Wilkos, will I get different coloured grass mixing the seeds? Sorry if that's a complete blonde question but this is new territory.

Not really.
If you mix the seed then you won't get a large patch of darker green vs lighter green and it won't look patchwork either. As you're seeding from new, it's much easier.

Took mine ages to go from one colour to another as the seed I bought wasn't the right shade compared to what I already had.

Don't worry if it doesn't look right this year. Give it a couple of years before judging - or at least until next summer's end!

Mojisola

There are different types of grass seeds for different situations - shady, hard-wearing, bowling green perfect, etc - so buy what is best suited for your lawn-to-be.

claireyrosey

Just a note about buying grass seed, check the packet is should give you a breakdown, (normally as percentage) of what variety of seeds you are buying.
You'll will want to check that if you buy multiple bags that they contain the same mix.
One year in b&q I found that family lawn mix contained identical mix of seed to the value mix at half the price.