| Starting a lawn from scratch can be an intimidating | | | | grow best locally, or you may even wish to ask a |
| prospect for the average homeowner. But if you | | | | few people you know that already has a nice lawn to |
| take the time to do it right, it will pay you back | | | | see what kind of grass they use. Of course you |
| many times over with a lawn that is much easier to | | | | need to keep in mind that how much sun or shade |
| care for then it would be if you cut corners along the | | | | your particular yard receives will affect what kind of |
| way. Of course, the very first place to start is with | | | | seed you need to choose as well.The next |
| the soil that you plan to use for your new lawn.If | | | | consideration is when you should plant your seed. For |
| you're creating a lawn for a newly constructed home, | | | | those in warmer southern climates, you'll probably be |
| you may want to pay particular attention to the kind | | | | planting a warm season grass seed which can be put |
| of soil that has been left behind after construction is | | | | down in the spring. For those in northern climates, |
| finished. Sometimes the topsoil has almost been | | | | you'll probably be using a cool season grass seed, and |
| completely removed, and in that case you'll need to | | | | these should be planted in the fall for the best |
| bring in a good layer of topsoil for the entire yard | | | | results.Spreading the seed can be done either by |
| first.For most homeowners though, you'll be using the | | | | hand, a broadcast spreader, or a drop spreader. If |
| same soil that you've had for a while. So the very | | | | your yard is small to medium sized, perhaps the |
| first thing that you want to do is to test that soil. | | | | broadcast spreader will work best for you. If you |
| There are a couple of ways to go here, one being | | | | have a very big yard, you may want to use the drop |
| that you can buy soil testing kits at your local lawn | | | | spreader instead. After this seed has been planted, |
| and garden store to test the soil yourself. Another | | | | be sure to water the yard at least a couple of times |
| alternative is that many nurseries and garden stores | | | | every day to help the seeds germinate quickly.Other |
| will test your soil for free or for a very small fee, and | | | | alternatives to seeding a lawn is to use either grass |
| often that solution will provide the overall best | | | | plugs or sod to start a new yard. There are some |
| results.One of the most important soil tests is the PH | | | | advantages to using these methods too, but keep in |
| level of your soil. If your soil turns out to be too | | | | mind that they are usually much more expensive than |
| acidic, then you need to add lime, and on the other | | | | grass seeding.So in review, the steps for planting the |
| hand, if the soil is too alkaline, then you need to | | | | perfect lawn are to test your soil, get the PH where |
| spread sulfur on the soil. One advantage of using a | | | | it needs to be, make the choice of which seed you |
| local nursery or garden shop as your soil tester is | | | | wish to use, spread the seed, and then water and |
| that they will often be able to tell you exactly what | | | | care for the area as it germinates. If you follow |
| product you need to add, how much of it needs to | | | | these simple procedures you should wind up with a |
| be added, and then how often you need to continue | | | | thick, beautiful new lawn that you can be proud |
| to add more in order to make sure the lawn grows | | | | of.Thad Pickering writes on many consumer related |
| like it should.Once you have your soil prepared, it's | | | | topics including home improvement. You can find lawn |
| time to decide on what kind of grass seed you're | | | | mower reviews and lawn tractor reviews by visiting |
| going to use for your new yard. Often you can ask | | | | our Home Improvement website. |
| your local garden store for advice on what seems to | | | | |