Preparing Your Soil for Grass

Are you planning to start a new lawn this season? If it’s your first time beginning a lawn from seed, this project may seem intimidating. By preparing your soil and providing ideal growing conditions, you can successfully start your new grass in Sunnyvale.

Test

While not essential, testing your soil will give you useful information. The soil’s test results will reveal which amendments and nutrients could be added to improve its grass-growing ability. Providing your lawn with optimal pH levels and beneficial elements will help ensure your lawn’s success.

Prepare

If you’re replacing a previous type of grass with a new one, you’ll need to remove all of the old lawn. Next, inspect the area where you’re planning to plant for rocks and debris. Third, fill in any low areas with fresh soil, and till the entire area if the soil has become compacted. As you prepare your soil for grass, keep in mind that it should be broken down into ¼” or ½” particles to create an ideal growing environment for your new seeds.

Level

Once the amending and tilling are complete, you’ll need to even out the soil to create a level growing area. At this point, avoid adding any new top soil and instead, use a rake to create a smooth surface that’s free of high or low areas. While raking, remove any other rocks that you may come upon to help avoid a patchy lawn.

Seed

When choosing your new type of grass, selecting the right seed for your location, budget, and lifestyle can significantly contribute to the success of your new lawn. Consider how much sun your yard gets, how much foot traffic it’s likely to suffer, how much rain your area receives, if the area is sloping, and how often you’d like to mow your lawn. Once you have selected a type of grass after weighing these factors, you’ll be ready to seed your lawn. Use a rotary or drop spreader to scatter the seeds, and follow up with fertilizer on the same day.