Starting from Scratch How to Prepare the Ground and Plant your Perfect Lawn

Articles on Lawns | Topics: lawns, lawn, lawncare

by George Quinn

Starting a lawn from scratch can be a daunting task. However, if done properly, you can give yourself a lawn that will be much less trouble to care for than one that is not given the time and effort. If you are creating a lawn where a newly built house has been placed, there is a good chance the topsoil has been scraped off so you will likely need to make some adjustments to the soil.

First thing you will have to do on the road to your new lawn is to test the soil. At your local do-it-yourself store you will be able to find a self testing soil kit. However, the local Agricultural Extension Service will be able to do it much more accurately than a do-it-yourself kit can and they generally will test your soil for fewer than ten dollars. The test will let you know the pH of the soil and whether or not it needs phosphorus or potassium.

If it turns out your soil is too acidic, you can correct the problem by adding lime. On the other hand, you can use sulfur if the soil is found to be too alkaline. If you decide to use your Agricultural Extension Service for the testing, they will also be able to tell you what to add, how much to add, and how often to add it in order to grow your lawn. No matter what you need to add or till into the soil, once you have done it you should rake it flat and remove any large stones from the area. You are ready to get going on your new lawn.

You will need to make a decision on what type of seed you are going to use for your new yard. You can ask the Agricultural Extension Service for advice about what grows best in your area, you can ask someone you see with a nice lawn, or talk to someone at a local lawn and garden store. Once you have decided what you are growing, buy some seed, but keep in mind that you generally will not get the best results with cheaper seeds.

Bit of History

I’d take off all my clothes
& cross the damp cold lawn & down the bluff
into the terrible water & walk forever
under it out toward the island.

—John Berryman (1914–1972)

Your climate will play a large role in when you plant and what you plant. If you live in a warm southern climate you will likely be planting a warm-season grass seed. These will need to be spread in the spring. If you live in the north or Midwest, you will likely be planting a cool-season grass like fine fescue or Kentucky bluegrass. These should be planted in the fall for best results.

To seed your lawn you can use your hand, a broadcast spreader, or a drop spreader. The broadcast spreader will likely be your best bet if you have a small to medium sized yard. The drop spreader is made more for larger areas. Once you have planted the seeds, you should water the area at least a couple of times a day. By keeping the seed bed moist, you will be making sure that the grass successfully germinates.

If you don't want to mess with seeding a lawn, there are a couple of other options. You can plant grass plugs. Plugs are small little groups of grass that spread by runners if you plant them in a prepared bed of soil. The other option is to look at is laying sod. Sod is like lawn carpet. It can also be installed any time of year except for the winter. Sod will give you quick results, but still must be put into prepared soil to take correctly.

New houses are popping up all over the country, and people are gobbling them up quickly. When a new home is built, however, the area around it is often torn up during the construction process. Not only is the grass torn up and destroyed, but the top soil may also be missing, and it is an important component in a good lawn. In order to get your lawn going, you should have the soil tested, get the pH where it needs to be, and select the proper grass for your lawn. Once you have prepped the soil and have your seed spread out, you just need to water and care for the area and before you know it you have a gorgeous, thick, and inviting yard with your new house.

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Please note: All personal opinions expressed in the "Starting from Scratch How to Prepare the Ground and Plant your Perfect Lawn" article belong to the contributing author and are not necessarily shared by FlowersPlantsGardening.com.

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