How to Fertilize New Grass Seed
By Larry Parr
Many times a golf course will require new seed to be added to an existing green area that is thinning for one reason or another. Occasionally you will need to till under the first 6 inches of soil and start over completely with new grass seed. In either case, a little care with the proper fertilizer could make all the difference in the world when it comes to a thick, green course.
Instructions
Difficulty: Easy
Run an aerating machine over existing grass if new seed is to be added to supplement an existing lawn or green. An aerating machine will poke thousands of holes into the ground, allowing the new seeds a chance to germinate.
Spread new grass seed at a rate of approximately 16 seeds per square foot. Too many seeds will cause the new grass to compete with itself for moisture and fertilizer, and you'll end up with a weak lawn. Fewer seeds will produce a stronger lawn with deeper roots.
Spread a light layer of starter fertilizer over your new grass seed and water until the soil is good and damp. Starter fertilizer can be purchased at any lawn or garden shop. Follow package directions when spreading starter fertilizer; generally it is best to spread the fertilizer with a hand-held fertilizer spreader, using approximately 1 pound of fertilizer per 100 to 150 square feet of ground.
Spread organic manure lightly over your new grass seed if you choose not to use a commercial starter fertilizer. Organic manure can be spread by hand or through a rolling fertilizer spreader. Spread approximately 10 pounds of manure per 150 square feet of new grass seed. Water generously until the ground is moist down at least a full inch.
Do not add additional fertilizer for a minimum of four weeks. Keep new seeds watered regularly, keeping the soil moist but not overly saturated. In extreme heat or if very windy you may need to water more than once each day to keep the top inch of soil constantly damp.
Tips & Warnings
Do not over fertilize. Over fertilizing can be just as bad for new seeds as under fertilizing. Over fertilizing can cause seeds to try to grow too fast, expending all of their energy on creating green shoots and not enough on developing a root system.
About The Author
Larry Parr has been a full-time professional freelance writer for more than 30 years. For 25 years he wrote cartoons for TV, everything from SMURFS to SPIDER-MAN.
