Seeding a New Lawn

We've all heard real estate agents talk about "curb appeal" since it contributes so much to first impressions of a property and house. Following construction of a new house, it's necessary to plant the lawn once construction has been completed, even if the weather isn't conducive to growing a lawn. If there is a choice, fall (September in the northeast) is the best time to seed a lawn, and spring (April) is the second best time of year.

Read grass seed labels for important information
about the seed varieties, germination percentage,
and weed seed content

Even though you have little control over the amount of topsoil left on your building site, you can choose to use top quality seed and make all the proper adjustments to the soil chemistry by performing a soil test.

grass seed
Buying quality seed is like buying good shoes

Fall is Best for lawn seeding

Why is Fall the best in the Northeast?
Fall planted lawns face much less weed competition than spring plantings. Most important though, is the fact that shortly after spring planted grass has germinated, the young grass seedlings must face summer heat and potential drought. Fall seeded lawns have the fall season and spring season to mature before facing the stresses of summer.

Six basic steps for seeding your lawn:

First, send a soil sample to a soil lab for analysis. Lime and fertilizer recommendations will be clearly outlined in the soil analysis report.
Make an accurate map of all your utility lines and shallow wires such as cable TV, before you dig. Call 'ONE CALL' (1-800-242-1776) at least one week before digging to get all your utility lines flagged. This is a free service to home owners.
"Working soil" when it's wet will destroy soil structure, so avoid cultivating wet soil. Wet soil is also more difficult to work with, so wait for the right soil conditions to grade the lawn.
During grading, soil should be sloped away from the house and graded to prevent puddles. Add french drains at the base of steep slopes or areas where water tends to puddle.
During final lawn planting:
- Use good quality topsoil to finish grade the lawn if possible. Rocks and other debris should be removed.
- Follow soil test recommendations and apply lime and fertilizer as needed.
- Plant good quality grass seed that matches your climate and microenvironment (sun or shade). Consider alternatives to grass in deep shade.
- Cover the lawn surface lightly with one of the following:
  Mushroom manure - Use a thin coat of mushroom manure to help hold moisture and add organic matter to the soil. (Mushroom manure also works well for covering spot-seeded areas)
  Straw - Apply clean straw (free of weeds) at a 3-straw thickness. Straw is less expensive than mushroom manure for large areas.
  Recycled paper - Hydroseeding machines apply seed and paper mulch in one-step. There are also some pelletized paper products that swell once moisture is applied, and some of these products have starter fertilizer added.
Newly seeded lawns need frequent watering to keep the lawn surface moist!