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How to Plant Grass Seed in Southern Ontario

By: Stan Kane

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21 September, 2017

Plant grass seed in southern Ontario by properly sowing the grass seeds and creating future environmental conditions favorable to the growth of grass. Southern Ontario's temperate climate requires hardy grass species that are able to grow quickly in the short spring and summer months and survive harsh winters with temperatures falling well below zero. Such cool season grasses include Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, and rye grass varieties. Grass prefers moist, high pH soil and direct sunlight.

Rake the lawn clear of debris using a flexible, metal rake.

Sow the grass by distributing the seeds evenly over the lawn using a fertilizer spreader. Use 2 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet when reseeding a mature lawn or 4 pounds of seed per 1000 square feet when over-seeding a new lawn.

Plant grass seed in southern Ontario by properly sowing the grass seeds and creating future environmental conditions favorable to the growth of grass.

Lightly sprinkle 1/12-inch layer of lawn lime over the seeds using a fertilizer spreader. Lime increases the soil's pH balance.

Cover the seeds and lime with 1/2-inch layer of clean compost or peat moss fertilizer using a spreader. Fertilizer adds minerals and nutrients to the top soil while regulating temperature fluctuations and moisture absorption.

Water the lawn once daily for the first two weeks or until new growth is visible through the top soil.

Trim back adjacent flora to increase sunlight on the lawn using outdoor trimmers.

Plant Grass Seed

A healthy lawn is more than just an attractive addition to your landscape. Not to mention that grass absorbs ambient noise and makes the area around your house more tranquil. A turf-grass lawn is often created by laying strips of purchases sod, but it is easier and much less expensive to sow grass seed. The dozen or so grass varieties that grow throughout North America fall into two general categories: those that thrive in cool climates and those that thrive in warm ones. Some grass varieties grow close the ground, some grow tall and some grow in clumps. Seed mixture combine seeds different grass species to capitalize of the strengths and offset the weaknesses of each species. * Blended-seed mixtures contain different types of the same species to maximize the viability of that species. * The nutrients are selected to be optimal for the particular grass species. Treat acidic soil by turning it with lime, and treat alkaline soil by turning in with elemental sulfur. If you suspect the soil to be deficient in nutrients, it's best to take a sample in for a lab test and to amend it with an appropriate lawn-starting fertilizer after you know which nutrients it lacks. Water runoff on sloped land will prevent seeds from germinating. Avoid using weedkillers and other chemicals, which can linger in the soil and prevent the grass from growing. * Rake the top layer of soil to loosen it just prior to planting. You technically could walk over the area to be seeded and toss the seeds in every direction with your hand like Johnny Appleseed, but that wouldn't be very efficient. Cover seeds in poor soil or areas with full sun with a thin layer of mulch to help retain moisture and keep the seeds in place. 4. Finish up by watering lightly. Check the watering requirements on the seed container, water lightly and avoid saturating the ground. When the grass has reached a height of about 3 inches, it's ready for the first mowing. Set the mower height to remove no more than 1/3 the height of each blade, and make sure the blade is sharp to avoid stressing the grass by tearing it out instead of cutting it cleanly. Avoid spreading weed control chemicals until after the third mowing.

Lightly sprinkle 1/12-inch layer of lawn lime over the seeds using a fertilizer spreader.
Seed mixture combine seeds different grass species to capitalize of the strengths and offset the weaknesses of each species.
- Avoid using weedkillers and other chemicals, which can linger in the soil and prevent the grass from growing. * Rake the top layer** of soil to loosen it just prior to planting. You technically could walk over the area to be seeded and toss the seeds in every direction with your hand like Johnny Appleseed, but that wouldn't be very efficient.