Readying for Grass Seed or Turf
The landscapers rake is the perfect tool
Lawn Grass Seeds and Starter Fertiliser are available in the Lawnsmith Shop
_______________________________________
This final stage completes the preparation and readies the lawn area for sowing grass seed or laying turf.
Start off by raking the area to a reasonably smooth level. I like to use a landscapers or hay rake for this because the flat back allows me to push and move soil around.
Next comes the old fashioned art of ‘treading’ or ‘heeling’ the soil surface. It takes time but pays dividends in giving a flat firm finish. This is what true professionals will do as it is the only way to squeeze out air pockets and remove any likelihood of sinking later on. It’s the equivalent of kneading dough to make bread. With most of your weight on your heels just shuffle and tread up and down the area moving your feet about half a foot length each time. You need to tread every square inch of the prepared area so make sure you’ve got plenty of Radox because you’ll need a good soak afterwards!
Once you’ve trod the area start raking again to reduce bumps and fill depressions. If you’ve got the energy and inclination tread again in a different direction, rake to level and repeat one last time. Repeated treading will be required for an ornamental lawn as will the use of boards, levels and string to get a perfectly flat finish.
If you've forgotton to add your pre-seeding starter fertiliser* you can add it now or prior to seeding or turfing.
The final step is to build up some moisture in the soil if things are dry. This is crucial if you are creating a lawn from seed because you can only water lightly and gently once the seed is in otherwise you’ll start washing it out. Do this a few days before seeding so that the surface is dry enough to rake without sticking to your shoes during the seed sowing stage. Watering will also settle the ground so if you haven’t heeled it properly it gives you an opportunity to correct it before seeding or turfing.
