CHOOSING SEED
When choosing grass seed, consider soil type, fertility, light and drainage of your site. Cool-season grasses grow well here in Vermont and we carry a number to choose from. Conservation mix contains annual and perennial grasses as well as white clover. It establishes quickly and gives an informal good wearing lawn. Green Mountain Special contains all perennial grasses, will be a little slower to germinate, and will produce a high-quality more formal lawn. Also available are playground mix for hard use, sun / shade mix, shady mix, deluxe mix and others. Choose according to your planned usage.

SOIL PREPARATION
Early spring and fall are the best times for planting a lawn. At least 4-6" of topsoil is recommended for a healthy lawn base. You can choose to either amend the existing soil or buy topsoil. A soil test will provide information on how to improve the properties of your soil, as well as how much lime and nutrients to add. Any soil will benefit from decomposed organic matter. Most Vermont soils will need lime to bring the pH level to the recommended 6.5. Remove any rocks, stumps or debris from the site. Fill low depressions, level hills, and contour the site for drainage and ease of mowing. Prevent water from draining into the house foundation by establishing grade at a 1-2 % slope away from the house. Heavy equipment will likely be necessary if grading is extensive or drain tiles are needed. Next, measure, calculate into square feet, and record the area of your lawn site. Apply lime and amendments. Work into the soil with a roto-tiller or a wide aluminum grading rake. By hand, use the rake to work the lime and amendments into the top inch or two of topsoil. If your soil is loose and fluffy, you may want to roll the area before seeding. However, you may seed directly into the loosened soil if it is firm under the first inch or two.

SEEDING
The amount of seed to use will depend on the type of mixture chosen. Divide the seed into 2 parts. With a spreader sow the first part in a north / south pattern, back and forth, until you have covered the entire area, then sow the area in an east / west pattern until you have covered the entire area. Small areas and edges may be sown by hand.

FEEDING
Use a starter fertilizer such as Greenstart, high in phosphorus, for root development. Follow the directions on the product for the rate of application.

MULCHING
Mulch lightly with straw to prevent erosion and to keep the soil moist, or use Penn Mulch to mulch & feed at once.

WATERING
This may be the most important step. Set up sprinklers and water to a depth of 6" after sowing, then water as necessary to keep the top layer of soil moist AT ALL TIMES FOR 4-8 WEEKS. Use a fine spray to avoid washing away seeds. Protect the newly seeded area from foot traffic until the grass is well established.

MAINTENANCE
Your newly established lawn should not be mown until it reaches 3-4" high. No more than 1/3 of the top growth should be cut. It isn't necessary to rake up the grass clippings, but if you decide to, be very careful, as the young lawn can be easily uprooted.

LAWN CARE
Use our lawn care chart to care for your lawn once it's established.

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