Tips For Preparing A Patch Of Your Lawn For Grass Seed
If you have a spot on your lawn that is either sparse or completely bare, you may decide that it's time to grow some new grass. If so, use the following tips to properly prepare your soil before sowing the seed.
Rake Away Any Debris
Before you start getting the soil for the grass seed, you first need to get rid of anything on top of the ground that is blocking it. Any rocks, branches, or grass clippings need to be raked away.
Clearing out the area is important for two reasons, First, it gives you full access to the bare soil. Second, it gives the grass seed more air and water if there is nothing laying on top of it.
Use a lawn rake to clear the area. If there are any stubborn stones or bare roots embedded in the grass, you will need to remove these by hand.
Loosen the Top Layer of Soil
Once you have raked up the area where you will be sowing the grass seed, the next thing you should do is loosen the top layer of soil. Not only does this give the seeds a better chance of sinking into the dirt, but it aerates the soil beforehand to ensure that extra oxygen reaches them.
If your spot of dirt is completely bare, use a garden rake to break up about a quarter to a half of an inch of dirt along the top. However, if you still have patches of healthy grass, use a hoe or hand trowel to break up the soil.
Once you have loosened the top layer of dirt, smooth it out so that the ground is even. However, do not tamp the dirt down, as this will only reharden the dirt.
Water the Dirt before Sowing Grass Seed
After smoothing out the soil, the last thing you need to do before sowing the grass seed is to water the soil. Watering the dirt serves two purposes.
First, the water naturally tamps down the soil to remove any large air pockets. This helps keep the area even and prevents dips in the ground during the next rain.
Second, sowing the dirt while it is wet gives the seeds something on which to grab. This helps keep them from rolling off or blowing away before they have a chance to sink into the soil.
Once you have used the above tips to prepare your soil, you can start sowing your grass seeds by scattering them on the ground. For more information about sowing grass seed, contact a lawn care business.
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