Opt for a perennial species rather than an annual one–reseeding your lawn every year is the worst![7] X Research source Clear your calendar according to planting guidelines. Plant cool-season grasses like Kentucky bluegrass in spring or late fall when temps are around 60°F (15. 5°C). Plant warm-season grasses like Zoysia in early summer. Remember to factor in germination time during the planning stage. Perennial ryegrass takes only 5-10 days to sprout, while Zoysia takes 21-30 days to germinate. [8] X Research source Weigh the pros and cons of the species you’re considering. For example, Zoysia has a thick, dense turf, but that also makes it difficult to mow. Perennial ryegrass is traffic tolerant but not drought tolerant. [9] X Research source

Make sure you have enough seed on hand before you begin your project. An online grass seed calculator is a helpful tool; it can even calculate in meters and kilograms. [11] X Research source

Wear close-toed shoes and safety goggles when operating equipment, and follow the instructions provided by the rental company. [13] X Research source

Contact the utility company a few days before tilling. They’ll send an agent to mark the buried lines. In the US, dial 811 to reach the national “call-before-you-dig” hotline. [15] X Research source It costs around $70 for a half-day rental of a rototiller. [16] X Research source Follow all instructions provided by the rental company. Wear safety goggles and sturdy close-toed shoes while using a rototiller. [17] X Research source If you have more money than time, you can have truckloads of quality topsoil delivered instead. Order enough to cover the hard-packed dirt with 4-6 inches (. 1-. 15 m) of screened topsoil. [18] X Research source At $20-$40 USD per cubic yard (. 91 cubic meter), it’s convenient but costly.

If you already have some healthy grass on your lawn, it will continue growing up through the thin top layer of compost. [21] X Research source Allow the soil to settle for a few hours up to a few days before adding grass seed–nobody likes a lumpy lawn!

Continue to water at least once a day or as often as needed to keep the seed moist. [26] X Research source

Poke a screwdriver in the soil and then pull it out to gauge the depth of the dampened soil. [28] X Research source

Keep the mower blades sharp to avoid damaging your tender sprouts. [30] X Research source Leave clippings on the lawn. If your lawnmower has a mulching setting, mow weekly and leave the clippings on the grass. They’re rich in nutrients and make an awesome free fertilizer. [31] X Research source However, don’t leave clumps of heavy, wet clippings on the lawn. Rake those up and discard them or the grass beneath may die. That would be a tragedy after all your hard work![32] X Research source

Use a rotary spreader to evenly spread fertilizer granules across the lawn. [35] X Research source