When to Plant Grass Seed so Your Lawn Shines No Matter the Season

When it comes to your lawn, you likely want it to look thick and luxurious rather than dry and uneven. It can take time, hard work and perhaps a bit of landscaping knowledge. However, knowing when to plant grass seed is also an important factor. Does it vary based on season? Is location important? Luckily, Woman's World has all the info you need to make your yard thrive. Keep reading to find out when to plant grass seed and how it can improve the look of your lawn.

When to plant grass seed

Timing is key when it comes to planting grass seed. Just like plants and flowers, "lawn grasses vary in their growth cycles and regional climate preferences," per Pennington Lawn and Garden. It also grows best when the planting season lines up with the seeds' period of active growth. It's also important to know the difference between cool and warm-season grass.

Cool-season grass

Certain types of grass grow better at the end of the summer into early fall. Pennington Lawn and Garden says that "these grasses flourish across cooler northern climates and into the challenging 'transition zone' where cool and warm regions overlap."

Warm-season grass

On the other hand, these grasses grow best in southern and western regions with hotter temperatures and climates. Plant these types in early spring and summer.

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What to know before you plant

A key step before you even plant grass seed is pre-germination. According to a video from LAWN LIFE on YouTube, you'll want to pre-germinate the seeds which simply means you're going to "start the process of making your grass seeds sprout before you actually plant them in your lawn."

Now, you don't necessarily need to add in the pre-germination step, however, it is one of the fastest ways to grow and establish grass.

Check out the pre-germination process below:

You also need to prepare the soil

If your soil is too hard, the grass seed won't be able to flourish properly. Stanley "Dirt Monkey" Genadek, a contractor and landscaper, advises loosening up the first four inches of soil before planting. "The ideal line should be 1/3 black dirt, 1/3 sand and 1/3 compost," he says in a YouTube video. From there you're good to lay down the grass seed.

He also notes how important it is to get the right type of seed for your area. If you have a lot of sun, you'll need a sunny grass seed.

Related: Grow Your Own Succulent Garden, Plus How To Grow New Succulents From Their Leaves!

Watch him prepare to plant grass seed in this video:

How to plant grass seed

When you feel ready to plant, you'll want to follow these quick and easy steps. You can plant grass seed for a fresh lawn, or you can focus on certain areas that may need more coverage.

1. Prepare the seed bed

In a YouTube video from Savvy Garden, she points out that you'll really want to stir up the soil with a shovel or cultivator. "Then you'll want to use a bow rake to rake out that area really smoothly and get rid of any large clumps of soil."

2. Wet down the planting area

Once the soil is ready to go, you'll want to water the entire area where you plan to plant the grass seed. No matter how large or small the area is, it will need proper watering.

3. Sow your grass seed.

If you're planting in a smaller section, you can use your hands to spread and distribute the seeds. According to Savvy Gardening, you want the seed to be about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. You don't want to have too much or too little seed. After that you'll want to cover the seed with something like straw or compost to help keep it in place.

Check out Savvy Gardening's video here:

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