Even after selecting the best seed for your climate, soil and application, your seed will not grow without sufficient water. You’ll need to apply enough water after planting to get the soil damp 6″ to 8″ into the soil, but do not overwater and be sure to use a gentle application so your new grass seed doesn’t wash away. Whether you are starting a new lawn from seed or overseeding an existing lawn to keep it looking green through the winter, it's crucial to understand your climate and the particular qualities of your yard before choosing the best grass seed. Otherwise, you could end up with disappointing results.

Keep in mind, however, that all types of grass require at least a couple of hours of sun each day; there is no type of grass that will survive a very heavily shaded area that doesn’t receive some sun for at least two hours each day. We especially like Pennington One Step Complete for lawns that don't receive much sun. A bag of mixed grass seeds provides the healthiest, lowest-maintenance lawn for most homeowners. FAQ Though you’ve probably seen newly planted grass with straw on top of it, straw can sometimes blow away in high winds and poor-quality straw can contain weed seed, which is the last thing you want mixed with your new seed. Like all fescue lawns, this one will go dormant when temperatures remain above 90 degrees or below 40 degrees for more than a few days. In between those times, it's a very lush green with medium-coarse blades of grass. Use it to overseed an existing lawn or start a new lawn. Plant it in the spring or fall when temperatures are between 65 and 85 degrees and keep the soil moist until the seedlings are over two inches tall. A 5.6-pound bag will overseed lawns up to 1,400 square feet or start a new lawn up to 465 square feet. Never cut more than a third of the grass height at a time, as this makes it hard for the plant to recover and can cause damaged spots in your lawn. If your new grass had to get taller to fill out, it’s better to do a couple mowings a few days to a week apart to slowly take the height of the grass down to where it belongs.

In most situations, new soil is not required. By turning up the soil, raking or roughing it up a bit, the soil is usually softened enough to help the seed put down roots easily. Cool-season grasses develop deep root systems that can allow them to survive the cold winter months,’ says Erinn Witz, co-founder of Seeds & Spades. On the other hand, if your lawn is shady or only receives a few hours of direct sun each day, Brian Feldman, senior director of technical operations at TruGreen makes these recommendations: "If you are planting grass in a shaded area, choose a grass seed mixture that is designed specifically for those conditions. The best lawn grass mixtures for shade in cool areas should contain tall fescue, fine fescue, and a small amount of perennial ryegrass. In warmer climates, St. Augustine or Zoysia are good choices." It is much better to water in small amounts frequently than to simply put a lot of water down at one time. Drier or sunny climates may need to water as often as daily or twice daily during hot conditions to keep the seed moist but not waterlogged. If you'd like to spend less time mowing and fussing with your lawn, then a low-maintenance blend of seed like Scotts Turf Builder Tall Fescue Mix is your best choice.

Though we often think of how often we need to water a lawn, ideal soil conditions actually require a roughly equal mix of air and water. Cool season grasses are varieties that do well in cooler weather and can tolerate some heat. They grow best in the fall and spring, as well as in the winter for areas in the south. Do not use standard lawn fertilizer on newly planted seeds and seedlings! Regular fertilizer can chemically burn the grass, killing it. If your grass seed does not include fertilizer in the mix, you’ll want to put down starter fertilizer with the new seed, either at the same time as spreading seed, which is how many professionals save time, just before or just after spreading seed. Mycorrhizal fungi can be added to the roots of almost all plants when dug into the garden or containers. This fungus extends the root system both deeper and broader. When soil temperatures get below 65ºF, warm season grasses will begin to brown and remain that way until temperatures warm enough to allow the plant to begin growing again.Water the planted area lightly, and if it doesn’t rain, continue to lightly water the area daily until you see growth. Depending on the type of grass, this could be anywhere from a few days to a week or more. This grass seed from Scotts is treated with a water-absorbing coating to help seed germinate better, as well as protect against disease and provide nutrients. You can use it to start a new lawn or overseed an existing lawn. Either way, you'll need to prepare by loosening the soil, removing dead grass or other debris, and gently raking in the seed, followed by regular watering for at least the first three weeks. Expect to see the grass start sprouting in just five to 12 days. Bermudagrass spreads rapidly, so you won't have to wait long to have a lush, green lawn. Be sure to plant your Bermudagrass in a full-sun location where the soil drains well, though, or else it won't thrive. Ideally, it should be planted in late spring through early summer when temperatures are between 70 and 90 degrees. A 1-pound bag covers up to 1,000 square feet when overseeding an existing lawn, or up to 300 square feet when starting a new lawn. Plant this seed in fall or spring when daytime temperatures are between 60 and 80 degrees. You can use it to overseed an existing lawn or start a new one. Either way, you'll see new grass sprout within five to 10 days, as long as you prepared the soil beforehand. You'll need to keep the soil moist until the seedlings are at least two inches high. After that, as these grasses are only moderately drought-resistant, you'll need to water if there's a long stretch without rain. They do hold up well to foot traffic, however, and are very green and lush. A 7-pound bag will overseed an existing lawn up to 3,030 square feet or seed a new lawn up to 1,010 square feet. The seed is available in bags of other sizes as well.