How to Plant Large Areas of Grass
There are two methods for planting large areas of grass: planting seed or laying sod. Planting seed takes more time to produce a lush, green lawn and the area planted must be kept moist and free of traffic until grass is well established. Laying sod is instant gratification, in that you lay it all at once so that, over the course of a few hours work, you have a ready made lawn. Sod also must be soaked for a couple of weeks until the roots have taken a good hold, but it can handle light foot traffic. Once your new lawn is established, a seeded lawn can withstand heavier foot traffic, because seeded lawns tend to put down deeper roots.
Preparation
Till the area that is to be planted. The easiest method of tilling for large areas is a rototiller, so that the machine does most of the work and the soil is turned much faster.
- There are two methods for planting large areas of grass: planting seed or laying sod.
- Sod also must be soaked for a couple of weeks until the roots have taken a good hold, but it can handle light foot traffic.
Amend the soil with a generous application of compost, peat moss and builder’s sand, using equal amounts of each.
Add manure or mushroom compost to provide extra nutrients that will get your lawn off to a good start. Turn amendments and fertilizer into the soil until they are well mixed. Level out the planting area with a rake and break up any large clumps that still exist.
Turn amendments and fertilizer into the soil until they are well mixed.
Level out the planting area with a rake and break up any large clumps that still exist.
Planting Seeds
Measure the area to be planted and calculate the square footage.
- Amend the soil with a generous application of compost, peat moss and builder’s sand, using equal amounts of each.
- Turn amendments and fertilizer into the soil until they are well mixed.
Purchase enough boxed or bagged seed to provide ample coverage. Approximate coverage is usually available on the package label. Select a grass or grass mixture that will do well under the intended growing conditions. There is a wide variety of seed available.
Spread the seed evenly over the area, using a spreader or an old coffee can. Wet down the planted area thoroughly, once seeds have been spread. Keep soil consistently moist and do not walk over the area until your new lawn has become well established.
- Purchase enough boxed or bagged seed to provide ample coverage.
- Spread the seed evenly over the area, using a spreader or an old coffee can.
Pull weeds while grass seeds germinate and establish themselves.
Laying Sod
Measure the area to be planted and calculate the square footage. Purchase enough sod to cover the area to be planted. Sod is usually purchased in foot-wide strips that are from 5 to 9 feet long. Roll out lengths of sod in straight even rows, with edges butted up tight against one another.
Water the newly laid sod thoroughly. Keep foot traffic light and the grass consistently moist, with daily soakings until the roots have become established. Little or no weeding is required with sod, because weed seeds are buried beneath the sod, where they can not survive.
- Pull weeds while grass seeds germinate and establish themselves.
- Little or no weeding is required with sod, because weed seeds are buried beneath the sod, where they can not survive.
Roll out lengths of sod in straight even rows, with edges butted up tight against one another.
Water the newly laid sod thoroughly. Keep foot traffic light and the grass consistently moist, with daily soakings until the roots have become established. Little or no weeding is required with sod, because weed seeds are buried beneath the sod, where they can not survive.
- Pull weeds while grass seeds germinate and establish themselves.
- Little or no weeding is required with sod, because weed seeds are buried beneath the sod, where they can not survive.
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References
- Sunset Western Landscaping. 1997. p.207.
Writer Bio
Kaye Lynne Booth has been writing for 13 years. She is currently working on a children's, series and has short stories and poetry published on authspot.com; Quazen.com; Static Motion Online. She is a contributing writer for eHow.com, Gardener Guidlines, Today.com and Examiner.com. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a minor in Computer Science from Adams State College.
