2torial #0834:
Learn2 Reseed a Lawn (continued)

Plant grass seed

Planting the seed is the easiest step in reseeding a lawn. Depending on whether you're reseeding the entire lawn or just a few brown spots, refer to the following directions.

Use a spreader. Place the seed in a spreader, and set it to the proper opening, which should be indicated on the seed bag and determined by the seed's size. Once again, a broadcast spreader will spread more evenly and cover a broader area than a drop spreader. However, a drop spreader comes in handy for areas that border flower beds or other areas where you don't want grass.

You can also try to seed these areas by tossing or dropping by hand, but in general, seeding by hand spreads too thickly and unevenly, so that the grass grows in obvious patches.

Cover the area in a grid. Walk lengthwise across one end of your lawn while cranking the handle on your spreader to distribute the seed. When you reach the end, turn around and walk back lengthwise to seed an area that directly abuts the area you seeded in your first traverse. Continue in this manner until you've seeded the entire lawn lengthwise. Next, walk across the width of the lawn, at a 90-degree angle to the seeding you've just completed. Cover the entire lawn in the same way you did when you seeded it lengthwise. This ensures the grass seed is spread evenly and thoroughly.

For bare or brown spots. If the rest of your lawn is healthy or just hibernating during its off season (summer for cool-season grasses, winter for warm-season grasses), you can just reseed the bare or brown spots. Cover these using the same grid pattern as mentioned before, with either a broadcast or drop spreader.