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Will grass seed grow if I just throw it on the ground
The short answer – is yes. Grass seed can grow if you just throw it on the ground, but the success of the germination will be much different compared to when you do the right preparation and sowing technique. In this guide, we’ll explain why proper preparation matters and how to sow your grass seed correctly for the best results.
If you want a thick, lush lawn that will last, then soil preparation is key when it comes to sowing grass seed. Whilst yes, the grass seed that you scatter on the ground may germinate and grow, it will leave you with patchy and uneven coverage - resulting in weak grass.
Problems with throwing grass seed down
- Poor soil contact – The success rate of grass seed germinating will be low as they need proper contact with the soil in order to turn into seedlings
- Patchy growth – Without even distribution of seed e.g. through not using a spreader, you will be left with patchy areas of grass growth
- Weak roots – In order for grass seeds to grow strong and healthy, they need to properly develop roots into the soil. Scattering seeds onto the ground may mean that they don’t get a chance to do this
Sowing a new lawn from scratch
When you are planning to sow a new lawn from scratch, you have the advantage of having a blank canvas to work from. You will also be able to carry out an investigation of your soil type and choose a seed that will work best for your soil. When you are sowing from scratch, you should choose a grass seed that is fit for your needs and will suit the level of usage your grass is going to get.
How to prepare soil for sowing
To ensure that you have the most successful germination possible, you should make sure that you prepare a perfect seedbed for sowing.
To do this, we recommend following these steps;
- Dig and turn over the soil over to a depth of 20-25cm
- Clear out any weeds, stones, and debris from the seedbed
- Allow roughly 2 weeks for your seedbed to settle and remove any returning weeds during this time by hand
- Firm the ground by shuffling in small steps across the seedbed
- Rake over the soil in several directions to create an even seedbed
Before you begin sowing, we would recommend applying our QUICK RELEASE: Pre-Seed Fertiliser first. This will help to increase the rate of grass establishment and strengthen the roots of new seedlings to come.
Sowing the grass seed
After you have completed the steps to creating the perfect seedbed, you are now ready to start sowing your new grass seed.
- For new lawns we recommend a sowing rate of 50g per m2
- We recommend using a spreader but if you are doing it by hand, use string to divide the area into sections before sowing your seed. This helps to control the amount of seed you sow
- You should aim to sow the seed between 5mm and 10mm deep under the soil
- Rake the soil lightly over the seed and then walk lightly across the seedbed to firm in the seeds
- Continue to water the seeds each day (unless there is rain) to help with germination
To learn more by heading over to our grass seed advice page.