How to sow a new lawn from scratch

Good preparation produces great outcomes – apply this rule when learning how to sow a new lawn from scratch.

When to sow a new lawn

It is recommended to sow in mid-March, April, May, June or late August and September. During this time of year, germination can be quick as the seed is exposed to good growing conditions – warm air/ground temperatures, moisture and sunshine. Growth in these conditions can be expected from 7 to 14 days.

If soil conditions are too cold, the grass seed will wait until the weather warms up before germinating. If you decide to sow when the weather is very hot such as during July or August, the soil can be very dry so get your hose at the ready and be prepared to water the lawn daily.

Remember to follow our Sowing Lawn Seed – Best Practice Tips.

Prepare the soil for sowing

When sowing a new lawn, ensure you have prepared a quality seedbed

Follow these simple preparation steps to give your grass the best seedbed to grow in.

• Remove any stones and dig out any weeds; consider using a weedkiller prior to this if required
• Let the soil rest for 10 - 14 days to cultivate, so any dormant weeds can appear on the surface - then dig out these returning weeds as they appear
• Add a slow-release fertiliser and water it in thoroughly

Sowing the grass seed

The trick to showing the seed correctly is ensuring it is planted at the correct depth within the soil. If the grass seed is buried too deep, it will run out of energy trying to reach the surface; if left on the surface it may dry out or be eaten by birds.

Follow these steps to get a perfectly sown lawn:

• Divide your soon-to-be lawn into sections to ensure you don't run out of seed
• Sow the grass seed by hand, spreader or seed drill
• Rake soil lightly over the seed, then tread lightly to firm in. Aim to have the seed 5-10mm deep under the soil (about three £1 coins stacked)
• Follow the instructions on the grass seed label
• Sow at a rate of 50g per metre

TIP: Grass seed needs to be snug in amongst the soil to germinate.

Mowing the grass for the first time

We need to ensure the grass is still quite long after the first cut so it will continue to grow rapidly and spread throughout the lawn. You can cut your grass when it hits heights of 5-7cm. You should first cut on the highest setting of our lawnmower, and for the second and third cuts, you can lower the blades further to their recommended mowing height.

We have more helpful guides on looking after your grass:

• Our Fertiliser Guide
• How to water your lawn
• Grass seed FAQs