Seeding the lawn has become a rite of spring. Even before the last of the snow has disappeared many of us are out inspecting the lawn for bare spots. These spots can range from the size of a softball to areas of several thousand square feet. And the causes of the bare spots vary as much as their size. While there are always a million things to do to your home when spring comes, none of them will look their best if the lawn doesn't look great.
Preparation When planting a new lawn, the key is preparation, preparation, and more preparation.
When you start a new lawn you should first take a soil sample and send it to a lab to be analyzed. It is important to know the soil pH, nutrient content and amount of organic matter. Here in Massachusetts I send the sample to the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. You should be able to find a testing lab through your local garden center. Loam Having done that, if you're preparing a new area with no loam you should first rototill the area to loosen compaction and allow for better drainage.