In Germany, a rough rule is that it would not be a good idea to plant a new lawn before mid-May, because after that time there is almost always the risk of a sudden cold snap with night frost, which would kill the young lawn seeds.
Ideal time to plant a lawn
If you want to give your young lawn good conditions to emerge well, grow well and go into the first winter stable and established, you should lay your lawn in mid to late May. There is then no longer any danger of frost, it is usually warm and sunny, but not too hot when the first blades of grass emerge from the earth. They can develop so well and don't get burned by too much hot sunlight because the sun usually seems warm in May, but not too hot. The young grass has particularly good starting conditions.
Sowing lawns in June, July, August and September
The summer months of June, July and August can be very hot in this country. In general, lawn seeds still grow quickly, densely and well during these months. Even then, a lawn still has a good chance of being well established and strong in winter and not freezing to death in the cold season. Lawns should not be sown later than September. The first night frosts can come as early as October and unfortunately freshly sprouted grass cannot tolerate that. September is also a month that is chosen very late to start laying a lawn. This month is therefore just acceptable for lawn seeding to work.
In summary, there are the following to note:
- Lawn must be planted in the frost-free period
- The best month for laying a lawn is May, namely the second half of May
- The months of June, July and August are also still acceptable for laying a lawn
- September is the last month of the year when a new lawn could still emerge
Lawn germinates on the surface
If you are laying a new lawn, you should consider the following aspects. First, a surface that is as flat as possible must be prepared for the lawn. The lawn seed is then carefully and evenly distributed over this area. The lawn seed must not be covered with soil, because lawn seed germinates on the surface and would not be able to germinate if covered. Then you can take a pair of old gardening shoes, nail wooden plates or something similar underneath and carefully walk them over the lawn to press the young lawn seeds well so that they don't fly away or get too mixed up later when watering. It is important to keep the newly laid lawn moist until it has established well and forms a solid turf. The garden hose should be adjusted so that the irrigation water only hits the young grass seeds very gently so that they are not flushed together but are only gently wetted with water. Regular watering of a young and newly emerged lawn is particularly important in hot weather.
Which lawn is suitable for which purpose?
There are many different lawn mixtures and that's a good thing. Many people have very different ideas about a beautiful lawn. Some people love a very fine, even English lawn in which there should be no herbs or flowers. If you have children, you will probably attach great importance to the fact that the grass is robust and can withstand the children running around and playing on it. Other people find lawns particularly beautiful if they contain lots of herbs and wildflowers in addition to grass. Clovers and daisies can also be something that some people find particularly beautiful in a lawn. All of these things are available to buy ready-made in very different lawn mixtures. Many gardeners are happy to advise their customers about the grass and flower mixtures they have in stock.
Don't mow the young lawn too early
Once established, the young lawn will start to grow very quickly if it is well cared for and watered enough. However, the young turf is not yet very firm. It is therefore important to know that a young lawn that has just emerged should not be mowed for the first time too early. It should be a little more stable and stronger for the first lawn cut. If the new lawn is not this, then it could happen that the young grass is torn up again with the lawn mower and ugly bare spots appear everywhere. A little patience before mowing for the first time is therefore very helpful.
Careful: Fertilizing is especially important for young lawns
The young lawn seeds are applied to good topsoil. Later, the lawn will benefit from being fertilized every now and then. However, caution is advised, especially with very young lawns. The fine grass is quickly burned by too much fertilizer. That's why it's important not to fertilize too early or too much.
What you should know about creating a lawn in brief
- To create a lawn, you should choose the spring months of March and April.
- First you have to clear the area where the lawn is to be laid of weeds, moss and roots.
- Digging is then carried out so that the soil is loosened and ventilated.
- You can also view and remove larger stones and roots during the excavation work.
- After cleaning and digging the area, the area where the lawn seed is to be sown is straightened.
- This can be done with a rake or, if the area is larger, with a leveling aid.
- The straightened area must now remain untreated for at least a week before you can sow the lawn seeds.
Lawn seeds – which one is suitable?
Lawn seeds are available for a wide variety of lawn types and needs. When buying lawn seeds, it is important to know whether you want to sow a completely new lawn or whether you want to renew an existing lawn or whether you decide to do so-called reseeding. Another criterion when buying lawn seeds is the condition of the soil. An initial overview of the diverse range of lawn seeds can be found in specialized online shops and garden centers. A basic distinction is made between:
- Sports turf,
- Golf grass,
- Shadow lawn,
- Landscape Lawn
- and flower meadows
In order not to lose track here and to buy the right product, you have to know before you buy what requirements your future lawn should meet.
