Growing a lush, green lawn from seed might seem like a mammoth task, but with the right approach, it can be a rewarding and surprisingly straightforward project. Whether you’re looking to fill in bare patches, revitalise your yard, or start completely from scratch, seeding your lawn is a cost-effective way to give your garden a new lease on life. 

In this guide, we’ll walk you through Jim’s Mowing’s insider tips and tricks that our professional landscapers use to grow a stunning lawn, every time. From choosing the right seed and mastering soil preparation and maintenance to how long it takes grass seeds to grow, these top tips will give you the confidence to grow a healthy lawn.

What You’ll Need

• Seeds
• Rake
• Rotary tiller
• Seed spreader
• Fertiliser of your choice
• Garden hose or watering can
• Gardening gloves
• Sun protection
• Netting, CDs and string, or reflective tape

How to Plant a Lawn from Seed

1. Choose your starter

Not sure how to grow a new lawn from scratch? We’ve got you. When you grow a fresh new lawn, you’ve got two options to choose from; you can either use turf or seed. Seed is the less expensive of the two options, and doesn’t come with the same heavy lifting as turf does. It can also be good for covering up bare patches of ground after weeds have been removed within an already-established lawn, making for easier touch-ups than turf.

2. Select the best seeds for your yard

There are over 10,000 grass varieties around the world, but there are the top most popular grasses in Australia. Before you sow any old seeds in your yard, take some time to research and find the best variety for your lawn based on your location, climate, lifestyle, and needs. 

If you’re a low-maintenance gardener, something like Zoysia grass might be the right choice, and if you have pets or family that enjoy getting rough and tumble outside, a hardy Buffalo Grass could be the best pick. Another factor to keep in mind is the amount of light your yard gets; choose a grass for shady gardens if that’s what you have, or in sunny spots, be prepared to care for your lawn in summer. However you want to enjoy your yard, set yourself up for success by selecting a grass variety that aligns with it.  

3. Pick the right time of year

The timing of when to plant a new lawn can have a big impact on its success, and this will vary depending on the variety of grass that you use. Cool season grasses like Tall fescue are best planted in late summer to early autumn, whereas warm season varieties like Couch Grass have an optimal planting period of late spring to early summer. You might be noticing a common theme here; newly broadcast seeds need mild conditions to support healthy growth.

Planting in the summer when the weather is scorching hot may not be the best way to go, as it means more water is needed to hydrate the seed. On the other hand, winter months can cause dormancy in grass seeds, so while it may be easier on you to plant when it’s cold out, it isn’t ideal for growing grass.

4. Prepare the soil

Once your seeds are selected and there’s perfect planting weather, you need to prepare the soil for new seeds. A good first step is to aerate the soil (through methods like lawn coring), while using a rotary tiller on the top six inches. This helps to break up large clumps of soil, while also allowing more oxygen to flow throughout. The next step is to remove rocks and debris and then rake the area to create a flat, even surface. Once a flat surface is achieved, water the area and sprinkle fertiliser onto the soil, making sure to apply it evenly.

5. Protect against predators

For many birds, grass seed is a delicious snack, and you just scattered a whole heap of it around for them to chow down on! If birds get their way with your newly-laid seed, you could end up with a patchy lawn, or worse, no lawn at all. Luckily, you have a few options of ways to keep birds away from your yard.

One popular method is to hang CDs around your garden or stick reflective tape to trees. Birds dislike the shine, and this should help to keep them at bay. Another option is to place a scarecrow amongst the seed to make it look like there is a person present. If you want to take a more direct approach to prevent seed stealing, you can lay over the area that needs protecting to stop birds from getting access.

Post-Seeding Lawn Care

1. Watering

The first few weeks after seeding are critical for your lawn’s success. Proper watering is a make-or-break factor in establishing a healthy, lush lawn. Immediately after sowing, your primary goal is to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. This means light, frequent watering – aim to keep the top inch of soil damp, but avoid creating puddles. For the first 7 to 10 days, water your newly seeded area a couple of times a day with a fine mist or gentle sprinkler setting.

As seeds begin to germinate – usually between days 5 and 21 days depending on the grass variety – you can gradually reduce watering frequency but increase the depth. Once seedlings reach about an inch tall, swap to deeper, less frequent watering to encourage root growth, around every second day.

2. Keep off the grass

To prevent damage to growing seedlings, avoid walking on the grass as much as possible. This can be difficult with kids and pets, but trust us, 6 weeks of gentle care can make all the difference.

3. Mowing

When your new lawn is around 3 inches tall, it’s ready for mowing. Using a sharp, high-set blade, take at most a third of the top off. This will prevent stress on the young grass, and promotes stronger, more reliant growth going forward. 

Your Local Lawn Specialists

If you take care of your new lawn while it becomes established, you’ll have fresh green grass to enjoy in no time.

At Jim’s Mowing, our expert team members tackle everything from general gardening and lawn mowing to aeration, gutter cleaning, and more. If you’re after some helpful services or handy advice, get in touch to speak with us about your yard’s needs.