Seeding Damaged Areas
Regular seeding just places seeds on top of the ground. This is ineffective. The method which gets  the best results begins with a double aeration of the affected area. This allows the grass seed to literally be planted in the ground. The sprouting seeds benefit from the decompressed soil and enhanced conditions of the soil. The aeration holes are then filled in and the soil enhanced by spreading topsoil over the seeded area. The result is a green and growing turf where a problem area once existed.
Over-seeding To Improve Existing Turf
Your lawn may be healthy but you wish it were thicker. This can be accomplished through the process of over-seeding. The best method for over-seeding is identical to the process of seeding damaged areas with the exception of doing only a single aeration. The benefits of seeding become evident when the seeds sprout and you see how much thicker and lush your turf is.
Laying Sod
Laying new sod on a lawn gives instant gratification. It is also the only practical method for establishing some warm-season turfs. Another advantage to laying sod is in getting turf to grow on slopes.
The soil bed needs to be prepared in the same way as it is when seeding is done. This will ensure that the sod is not just laying on the ground but that the roots are able to take hold as they should. Remember that the sod will raise the level of the soil about an inch. This will be most evident around sidewalks and driveways. The sod is laid out like a jigsaw puzzle, with the edges touching each other.
Sod should be watered daily until established, usually one week. Avoid over watering. Only a quarter inch of water is needed.
Plugs and Sprigs
Many warm-season turfs grow by spreading their stems, or stolons, establishing new shoots as they go. This makes them ideal for plugging or sprigging a lawn. This involves planting sprigs about a foot apart in a grid pattern.
The advantage over laying sod is that it is much less expensive. The disadvantage is that the lawn will look patchy until it fills in after about a year. A good use for this technique is in repairing trouble spots in a lawn.
Hydro-seeding: A Complete Makeover
Hydro-seeding is becoming more and more popular as an effective means of establishing a new lawn. It is a process that utilizes a mixed media of cellulose fiber, seed, fertilizer and water. After being thoroughly mixed into a soupy consistency, this media is sprayed on the lawn by machine. Sprouts will appear in as little as three days and a fully established lawn will be achieved in three weeks or less.
The site must first be prepared to rid it of all grasses and weeds. More than one application of weed killer will do away with seeds as they germinate. This eliminates future problems by ending the cycle. The time of year and degree of weed infestation in your lawn will dictate the needed course of action.
The seed mixture will depend on the requirements of your lawn. The amount of sun and shade is one factor. Special seed mixtures may be needed for slopes.
Be sure to water your hydro-seeded lawn consistently for the first two weeks. This is very important. During the first week, water every day in the morning and again in the evening. Then water every other day until there is enough grass for a first mowing. The goal is to keep it moist at all times. Your grass seedlings will die if they are allowed to dry out.
Fertilizer is included in the hydro-seed mixture. This ensures that the grass will have every thing it needs for healthy growth. Additional fertilizer applications should be done every other month during the growing season.
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