Successfully Growing a Lawn from Scratch

There are two established methods for growing a lawn from scratch. One is to use sod rolls that have already been grown. The second is to do it yourself with seed, fertilizer and water. Pre-grown sod is quick and easy, but becomes rather costly if you are sodding a sizeable area and requires professional installation. Growing your own from scratch is more time consuming and requires some understanding of soil chemistry, the type of grass seed to use for your climate area and the patience that will result in pride of personal accomplishment.

In some new developments, the property doesn't come with a lawn already planted. This means that you have a lovely new home on a bare piece of ground. Moreover, many developers have 'scraped off' all or most of the top soil during preparation of the lot for home building, so you may need to buy and add a new layer of topsoil in order to plant a new lawn successfully. To determine this, you need to purchase an inexpensive, do-it-yourself soil testing kit that is readily available from garden supply stores and nurseries. You can also get the job done by purchasing an inexpensive test that some agricultural extension services can perform for a nominal fee. However you do it, this soil test will tell you if your soil is basically acidic or alkaline by measuring its pH. It will also tell you if the soil is lacking potassium or phosphorous, both of which are necessary for a healthy lawn.

If the soil turns out to be too acidic, you can modify it's pH by adding lime. If, on the other hand, it's too alkaline, you can correct it by adding sulfur. If the agricultural extension folks do the test, they will tell you exactly how much fertilizer is necessary and how often to add it. Once this has been done, you will most likely have to 'rototill in' some compost (or rotted manure), rake it flat and remove any pebbles or other chunks of material that may be present from the construction process.

Selecting the right seed can be a mystery too, since there are so many different candidates available. Most nurseries or agriculture extension groups can tell you or you can ask a neighbor with a great lawn what they used. Be certain to buy the best quality seed since the 'cheaper' varieties produce poorer results. Keep in mind that the climate you live in and the time of year affects your choice of seed since you'll want to plant a lawn for warm or cool seasons. Cool season grass seed includes Perennial Rye grass, Kentucky Blue grass, Tall Fescue and Fine Fescue, which are best when temperatures outdoors average between 60 and 75 degrees F. They will look nice and green for most of the year and then go semi-dormant and become tan during the really hot months of summer. Warm season grasses like Bermuda grass and Zoysia grass are best during the summer months and are dormant in fall, turn tan and remain so until the following spring.

The warm season grasses are best started in the spring while the cool season seed does best if started in the fall months. You can spread the seed by hand (the slow method) or use a seed spreader that can be rented inexpensively at most garden stores and nurseries. Once the seed is spread, you will need to apply water twice each day to keep in the moisture necessary for proper seed germination.

Don't forget that if you have decided to use sod and eliminate all the time and effort required for growing a lawn from scratch with seed, don't apply the sod in winter. The soil still must be prepared as described earlier even with sod to ensure proper growth. Some people even plant small tufts of grass that will propagate by runners in a properly prepared soil. Again, the soil must be prepared as described prior to planting to get a good result.

Whichever technique you select to develop your new lawn from scratch, take your time and pay attention to details, especially when it comes to applying fertilizers or other required soil additives.

Whether you decide to plan new grass seeds or lay down some sod you may want to consider talking to a professional at your local garden center or ask a professional online. They'll be able to give you tips and advice that will help you to make the best decisions for your lawn and they will give you these tips for free. They can also steer you in the direction of the proper items for your lawn in terms of chemicals, seeds and other tools.

Stephanie Larkin is a freelance writer who writes about topics pertaining to home maintenance including http://www.trugreen.com