The Grass Doctor

Just tilled my yard to dirt. What now before I plant grass seeds?

don't know how to plant grass properly so if you can help it would be appreciated! I just tilled the whole yard and there is a lot of old grass all mixed in with the dirt. Please tell me I don't have to rake it out!!! I know i have to rake it to level out the dirt but seriously.........there is a lot of old dead grass mixed in. I just don't know if I have it in me to sort it all out. Do I have to? The only reason I tilled the old grass up is because I live in FL and it was so patchy and ugly. I just want it to look better. What steps should I take now to plant my new yard? It's getting into rainy season now........so now's the perfect time to get her looking good!!!

Public Comments

1. You need to rake the dead grass out.The directions should be on the package of whatever grass seed you are using.Call a nursery and ask them.
2. I don't know how much old dead grass you have mixed in with the soil, but leave the old grass which adds good nutrients back into the soil. It will also act like a "mulch"...which is another good thing as it will hold in water. If it were me, I would buy grass by the foot and lay it on top of the soil. Push it down into the soil with your foot. Water each morning before it gets hot. I hope you will be home to check it to see if it is drying out during the hot afternoons. If so, you need to water again. Keep up the watering program and in a short while you will notice that the roots are beginning to grow down into the soil. You can slow up on the watering. The new grass will look light green and maybe even yellow here and there. Do not worry, it will soon catch on and turn green again. My husband and I have done this before and we now have a thick green lawn. This method is very popular here in western Texas. It would also be good for you to talk with the manager or clerk at a nursery (not a garden center such as the big stores as their clerks are not usually trained). Once the grass is established, set your mower at 2-1/2 to 3 inches tall. Mow your lawn once per week on the same day. Water after you mow. After the lawn is well established, start a good fertilizer program. We like fertilizing in the spring and in the fall. But you can also fertilize spring, summer, and fall. Talk with the nursery clerk. BE SURE to read and follow the directions on the bags of fertilizer and always use the correct spreader. The fertilizer bag will tell you what type of spreader to use. If you have flower beds, do not get the lawn fertilizer into these beds. It will cause pretty green leaves to grow, but you will not get flowers. Happy gardening to you.
3. If you can afford a bag or two of top soil, great. It sure is worth it to rake it out so do a little bit a day so it's not a big job. When you levelled her off walk backwards casting the seeds in a spray with you arm swing free like a machine spreader. I wish I was there to show you but you get the jist. What you want is to spread them evenly. Then lightly rake them into the soil, the ones you don't get will sink as you water your future lawn. Should water early morning or early evening so the water doesn't evaporate before the seeds germinate. Within a week she'll be poppin up. Enjoy and well done to you.