• Overview



  • In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook explains how to seed a new lawn.

    Steps:

    1. Remove all grass from yard with a gas-powered sod cutter.
    2. Loosen up the topsoil with a tiller.
    3. Spread 1 inch of compost over the area, then till it into the soil.
    4. Rake the soil smooth, making sure to fill low spots and removing high spots.
    5. Use a drop spreader to apply coating of pulverized lime.
    6. Add 12-25-12 starter fertilizer using a drop spreader.
    7. Work lime and fertilizer into the soil with a rake.
    8. Hand-broadcast an even layer of grass over the entire area.
    9. Use leaf rake to lightly work seed into the soil.
    10. Water lightly early each morning and again at noon.
    See products and services from this episode
    • Difficulty: Moderate to hard
      Seeding is easy, but it takes quite a bit of work to prep the soil for the seeds, including stripping off all the old grass

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    Video Directory

    Selected Topic/Section

      Tools List

      Close
      • Gas powered sod cutter
        Gas-powered sod cutter,
        used to remove grass from yard
      • wheelbarrow
        Wheelbarrow,
        used to carry away old grass
      • rotary tiller
        Tiller,
        for loosening topsoil prior to seeding
      • Drop Spreader
        Drop spreader,
        for applying lime and fertilizer
      • metal garden rake
        Garden rake,
        for grading and working lime and fertilizer into the soil
      • hand rake
        Leaf rake,
        used to work seed into the soil

      Shopping List

      Close
      1. Grass seed

      2. Garden hose

      3. Compost

      4. Lime

      5. Starter fertilizer