When to Put Grass Seeds Down

The best time to put grass seeds down is in the fall. This gives the seeds time to mature before the stresses of summer like heat, traffic, mowing and diseases.

Put Top Soil On Top Of Grass Seeds?

Spreading topsoil across your yard may seem like a simple way to protect your newly spread grass seeds from hungry birds, but these small seeds cannot force their way through heavy earth. Unlike larger seed types, grass sprouts cannot push through a thick soil layer because the new growth is tiny and sensitive. Grasses depend on a warm soil niche with surrounding moisture for germination. The best location for new grass seeds is approximately 1/8 to 1/4 inch below the soil's surface. Typically, you disperse seeds with a drop spreader or by hand. As the seeds make contact with the ground, they are still fully exposed to heat and wind damage. According to the University of Minnesota Extension, you should only see about 10 percent of a grass seed's shape above ground when it is properly tilled into the topsoil. A slow-release, starter fertilizer with a 3-1-2 ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should also be tilled into the soil for the best start to your grass seedlings.