How to Plant a Lawn

The best time to plant, or seed, a new lawn is early fall or spring. Dig the area, adding a margin of 6 inches, and improve the drainage of heavy clay and wet soils by working grit into the topsoil. For free-draining soils, dig in a 3 to 4 inch layer of bulky organic matter to conserve moisture and fertility. Depending on the size of your yard, it should take you about a day to plant your lawn.

Materials Needed:

• spade or fork
• rake and hoe
• all-purpose granular fertilizer
• topsoil mixed with horticultural sand

• wooden plank
• broom
• garden hose
• sharp spade

Preparing the Ground

Dig over the lawn area, removing big stones and perennial weeds, and break up the surface into a fine crumb consistency. Rake level then, keeping your weight on your heels, walk over the length of your plot, and then across the width (image 1).

Rake the ground level to remove any imprints left after walking (image 2). Leave for five weeks to allow weed seeds to germinate, then hoe lightly to remove them. Rake level and apply a sprinkling of all-purpose granular fertilizer.

Laying the Sod

Arrange sod delivery a few days after applying fertilizer. Carefully unroll the sod, laying whole pieces and working out from an edge. Stand on a plank to distribute your weight. Tamp down sod with a rake (image 1).

To ensure that the grass knits together, make sure the edges of the sod adjoin each other tightly by lifting them so that they are almost overlapping when pushed down (image 2). This helps to combat any shrinkage. Firm again with a rake.

Finishing and Shaping

Continue to lay the next row of sod, ensuring that the adjacent edges are staggered like wall bricks (image 1). This produces a much stronger structure. Use an old knife for cutting, and avoid using small pieces at the edges.

To help adjacent pieces of sod to grow together and root firmly, brush in a blend of topsoil and horticultural sand. Use a stiff broom to work it in and raise the flattened grass (image 2).

Water thoroughly during dry spells to prevent shrinkage. Shape lawn edges when the sod has rooted (try gently lifting an edge). Lay out curves with a garden hose and cut using a sharp spade (image 3).

During lawn establishment, perennial weeds often take root, especially dandelions and thistles, which can smother the sod. Use an old kitchen knife, narrow hand fork with V-shaped prongs ("daisy grubber") or long-handled, lawn-weeding tool to extract them. Try to remove weeds at the taproot. Do not use lawn weed killers for at least six months.