The best time to sow a new lawn depends on the climate of the area. In some areas lawns can be sown all year round but the best time is usually spring through to early summer and late summer to mid-autumn.

The type of soil you have will be a major determining factor in how well your lawn establishes and persists.

• Heavy clay soils should be treated with gypsum at 1kg/square metre before sowing.

• If the soil is prone to waterlogging, most grasses will not persist, so be prepared to address the drainage before planting.

• “Hungry” soils need constant fertilising to support the grass.

1. Choose the mix to suit your needs from the below options.

2. Spraying & Rotary Hoeing: Spray out all existing weeds. Rotary hoe (now is a good time to incorporate gypsum or lime if needed) or dig the area. Disturbing soil can activate dormant weed seeds. Be prepared to spray weed killer 2 weeks after digging if you think it might be necessary.

3. Levelling & Raking: Level and rake the area and use a light roller if the soil is too loose or clods need to be pressed down

4. Seedling & Fertilising: Spread the seed as evenly as possible and use lawn starter fertiliser at a rate of 1kg to 30 square meters, then very lightly rake to achieve good soil seed contact.

5. Watering: Frequent light watering promotes seed germination and rapid establishment. Don’t allow the seed bed to become too dry or too waterlogged. As the grass begins to grow, decrease the frequency of watering but increase the amount of water each time. Normally a 2 month old lawn can be watered the same as an established lawn.

6. Mowing: Wait until the grass gets to 6-7cm high before the first mowing, and then take 2-3 mowings to get it to the desired height of 4cm (6-8cm for fescue lawns). Keep the mower blades sharp because this will lessen the harm to the young plants.