How to Sow a Lawn

Buying turf can be expensive and sometimes you may only require a new lawn for a small area within your garden. Creating your lawn from seed is a cheaper alternative and can be more fun watching your grass grow. Grass seeds not only have the advantage of being cheaper they are also more practical for difficult areas such as slopes and corners within your garden. Lawns are an essential part of your garden and for many they are the focal point so ensuring you know how to sow your lawn correctly is key. This guide will take you through the steps of when and how to sow your lawn along with fantastic aftercare tips to ensure your lawn stays healthy.

The ideal time to sow your law:

The time of year in which you sow your lawn in important, grass seeds are best sown from late summer right through to early autumn. This is because the soil is generally warmer and you will find less weeds within your garden. This creates a perfect environment for your seeds to germinate. If you miss this timeframe do not worry as you could try sowing your lawn in early Spring, however the lawn will require more attention as it will need plenty of water. We would not recommend attempting to sow your lawn in Summer, it is unlikely you will be able to supply the seeds with enough water without them shrivelling up and eventually dying.

Choosing the correct seed:

Choosing the correct seed is essential, ideally you will require a seed that will create a lush lawn and will blend into your current garden design. At Gravelmaster we stock 2 types of grass seeds both of which can be used in your home garden. 



Ornamental Grass Seed Lawn: This type of seed can be used in family gardens and will create a stunning looking lawn. The lawn has a moderate wear tolerance and really would create a delicate, beautiful looking lawn. The lawn can also be used on tennis courts and golf tees. It has a medium, fine texture and is ideal if you already have a path within your garden and therefore will not be walking on the lawn frequently. This type of seed is perfect if you are wanting to create a beautiful focal point within your garden.

Hardwearing Lawn Grass Seed: This type of seed is perfect for use in any garden. The seed contains both dwarf ryegrass and fescue creating an extremely hardwearing lawn. This is ideal if your lawn is going to receive a lot of footfall as it will still remain healthy. The seed will create an attractive, lush lawn that will complement any current garden design. Perfect if you like to spend a lot of your time in your garden.

Preparing the Soil:

Soil preparation is another important factor when it comes to sowing your lawn, if you get this wrong this could affect the success of your lawn. You should start by removing any old grass as well as any weeds and large stones. You should then level the area, this is essential as you do not want your lawn to be uneven. Use a rake to level off the soil, this will also create a fine texture, perfect for your seeds to grow in. You should then begin to firm the soil by slowly walking over it, this weight will ensure the surface is level and even. If you want at this point you could add a fertiliser to the soil to provide additional nutrients. At Gravelmaster our pre seed fertiliser would be ideal. This fertiliser is a granular fertiliser that is specifically designed for use on pre seed soil. The fertiliser is packed full of nutrients and will give the seeds a healthy start when you begin to sow your lawn.

How to Sow the Seeds:

We would recommend you use a prop to mark out the area in which you are going to be sowing, canes or wooden sticks are perfect. Ideally you should start by sowing in square metres, this will help when it comes to actually laying the seeds. A good rule of thumb is to spread the seeds at around 50g per square metre. We would recommend you to weigh out the seeds you require to cover each square metre. Once you have the correct amount of seeds for each square metre measured you should proceed to split the 50g in half. Scatter the seeds in one direction across the square and then the other half you should spread in the opposite direction. This will give you the best possible chance of an even lawn, after sowing lightly rake over the area and add water.

Important Aftercare Tips:

Aftercare of your lawn is extremely important.  Follow our 5 top tips to ensure you lawn remains plush and healthy.

• Protect the lawn from seeds and other animals by covering the newly sown lawn with netting.

• Use the canes to act as a barrier to prevent anyone from stepping on the newly sown lawn. (If someone was to step on the seeds this may affect their success and growth.)

• Seedlings need continuously watering, they are extremely vulnerable and can easily become dehydrated therefore providing them with plenty of water is vital.

• Whilst the seeds are still growing we would recommend removing any weeds carefully by hand.

• When the lawn is around 6cm high you should cut it carefully with a mower to around half its height (3cm). You should repeat this process for the next 4-5 cuts.

We hope that you have found this guide useful, remember to check the weather conditions depending on what time of year you were to sow your lawn as this will effect factors like supplying the grass with more or less water. If you are considering laying turf, please read our guide on how to lay turf correctly. If you have successfully sown your own lawn and you now have a lush, healthy lawn please send us photographs to sales@gravelmaster.co.uk.