Planting a new lawn from seed can be an exciting yet daunting task. There are many steps involved from soil preparation to seed selection to proper seeding techniques. It’s easy to miss a step in the process, especially if you’re new to lawn care. One of the most important and commonly forgotten steps is raking in the grass seed after spreading it.
Why Raking Grass Seed is Crucial
Raking in newly spread grass seed provides several clear benefits:
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It forces the seeds into direct contact with the soil so they can get the water they need to start growing. Seeds are also closer to the nutrients they need to grow when they touch the soil well.
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Burying the seeds below the surface protects them from drying out, getting washed away by rain/irrigation, or being eaten by birds
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Raking helps break up any thatch layer of dead grass that can prevent seeds reaching the soil.
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The raking action presses seeds firmly against soil for better root penetration when sprouted.
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Light raking distributes seeds more evenly for uniform germination and growth.
Consequences of Forgetting to Rake in Seed
If you forget this important raking step, here’s what you can expect:
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Delayed germination time since seeds lack soil moisture contact. This delay could be weeks.
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Overall thinner turf density as some seeds fail to sprout without soil nutrients.
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Increased seed loss from erosion, rain washout, wind, or birds eating seeds.
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Uneven growth as some areas get better seed-soil contact from chance.
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Weaker grass sprouts that can easily be uprooted without firm anchoring.
So while a lawn can still establish without raking in seed, the results will be markedly poorer. But don’t lose hope!
Corrective Steps if You Forgot to Rake in Seed
If you forget to rake in grass seed, you won’t always fail. Take these steps to still get reasonable results:
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Even if it’s been days, lightly rake over the seeds now to help some of them get into the ground. Go gently over emerging sprouts.
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Consider re-seeding any thin or bare areas and rake these new seeds in properly.
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Increase watering frequency and duration to keep seeds constantly moist.
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Sprinkle a thin layer of compost or vermiculite over seeds to hold moisture.
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Use warming germination mats to help accelerate sprouting.
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Reseed again in future seasons to gradually improve turf density over time.
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Raise mower height and fertilize lightly to protect tender new growth.
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Look for thin spots and reseed them, making sure to rake the new seeds in well. Fall oversees great for fixing summer damage.
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Adjust expectations – your lawn may not reach perfect thickness but can still fill in reasonably well.
With attentive follow-up care and patience, you can still achieve decent lawn success even if you forgot to rake in the seed. Use it as a learning experience for future seeding projects.
When to Rake Grass Seed Properly
Now that you know the importance of raking in seed, here are some tips to do it right:
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Rake first to loosen the top 1/4 inch of soil and remove debris or thatch.
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For seeds, rake no deeper than 1/8 inch to avoid burying too far to sprout.
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Use a bow rake, dethatching rake, or stiff broom for best seed-soil contact.
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Rake in perpendicular passes to distribute seed evenly across the lawn.
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Rake seeds in before adding protective coverings like peat moss or straw.
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Rake gently over already sprouting seeds if remedial raking was delayed.
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Avoid raking in overly wet or dry soil that prevents good seed-soil bonding.
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Water lightly after raking to mist seeds and maintain moisture.
Alternatives If You Really Want to Skip Raking
While raking in seed is certainly ideal, other overseeding options can work:
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Seeds can filter naturally into aerated soil plug holes if aerating precedes overseeding.
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Slit seeders cut uniform grooves for seeds to settle into without raking.
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Broadcasting onto freshly power raked soil exposes seed to bare earth.
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Simply scattering seed without raking will see some success, just less than raked.
Don’t be afraid to experiment, but keep raking in your back pocket as the proven technique for lush lawn results.
Key Takeaways on Forgotten Seed Raking
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Forgetting to rake in seed doesn’t guarantee failure. Proper follow-up care can still produce good results.
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Take corrective steps like re-seeding bare areas and frequent watering to aid seed growth.
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Adjust expectations, as results may not be perfect without thorough raking.
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Learn from the mistake and remember to rake in seed properly in the future.
Raking in grass seed is a simple but critical step for lawn seeding success. If you forget to do it, don’t despair. With attentive care and patience, you can still end up with decent results. Use it as a learning experience, and you’ll become a lawn seeding pro in no time!
Using the Wrong Seed for Your Climate
I get emails from customers at least a few times a month asking why their seeds didn’t sprout in their yard. The story usually goes something like this:
I went to your website and ordered the most expensive lawn seed blend I could find. I figured the more expensive, the higher quality it must be. When it arrived I planted it like you’re supposed to. Nothing ever came up. I think your seed is broken!
After digging a bit deep, I usually find out that they ordered buffalograss or zoysia grass and tried to plant it in a northern climate in the fall or spring. Turns out that buffalograss and zoysia are warm-season grasses. Even though these grasses cost more than our other blends, it’s not because they’re better quality.
Price has a lot to do with how easy it is to collect the seed. Warm season grasses also have much different climate needs than the types of grasses grown in the North. They need to be planted in the summer and prefer hot temperatures. It’s no wonder the customer couldn’t get them to germinate. Always know what type of grass is compatible for your climate. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to ask us.
Planting Grass Seed Too Deep
Every now and then I’ll get an email describing a very low germination rate. There could be several reasons for this. One of the more common reasons is planting depth. Sometimes after sowing grass seed, folks will either bury or rake in the seed too deeply thinking the seeds need to be planted the same way as garden vegetables. Remember, lawn grass seeds only need to be lightly raked into the soil, or even just scattered directly on the soil surface. Any seeds buried more than the length of the seed will have a hard time germinating successfully.
Do You Have To Rake Grass Seed In To Get It To Grow
FAQ
Do you need to rake in grass seed?
While you don’t want to bury the seeds deeply, they do need good soil contact. Use the back of a plastic leaf rake to gently work the seeds into the top 1/8 inch of soil. Make short, light strokes to avoid redistributing the seeds unevenly. Cover and protect.
Can you just throw grass seed on the ground?
The easy question is: Will the seed grow if I just throw it on the ground? The easy answer is: yes. Beyond just throwing the seed out into the lawn and not performing any grass maintenance there is a whole world of lawn care. While the seed is one of the most resilient out there.
Can I overseed without raking?
Yes, you can throw seed on a lawn and hope it grows, but taking a few steps beforehand, such as dethatching, aerating, or raking, will give the seed a better chance of germinating. Even though it sounds like it would save time, if you just throw seed on the lawn without doing anything, you will need a lot more seed than if you did something else.
What happens if you don’t rake grass?
A thick layer of leaves on your yard prevents it from absorbing air, nutrients, and sunlight. When it gets hard for air, water, sunlight, and nutrients to get to the roots of a lawn, it can get diseases, flood, or even attract pests.
How do you rake a grass seed?
Before entirely raking the grass seeds in, you need to: Prepare the site. Check the soil pH. Dig up any roots, rocks, and clumps. Add sand. Add compost. Balance the soil pH. Apply fertilizer. Rake the soil. Disperse the grass seed. Rake in the grass seed. Water the lawn. We’ll go into great detail about the processes above in this article.
Do I need a rake when seeding a lawn?
If you are seeding an existing lawn that is thinning, raking is not necessary because the seeds will move between the blades of grass. Additionally, the rake will be ineffective at mixing the seeds into the soil as it will rake through the grass.
Why do I need to rake in my grass seed?
One of the more common reasons is planting depth. Sometimes after sowing grass seed, folks will either bury or rake in the seed too deeply thinking the seeds need to be planted the same way as garden vegetables. Remember, lawn grass seeds only need to be lightly raked into the soil, or even just scattered directly on the soil surface.
Should you reseed a new lawn or Overseed an existing lawn?
Reseeding a new lawn or overseeding an existing lawn should be done with high quality grass seed. Ideally a grass seed should consist of several varietals, be drought, disease and insect resistant, and establish deep roots. Finding all these qualities in a grass seed is difficult but Jonathan Green Black Beauty® Original Grass Seed does it all.
Should you rake grass seed into new soil?
After the initial spread, there isn’t good contact between seed and soil, which will slow or completely stop the germination process. For the most effective results, raking grass seed into new soil is necessary. Now, let’s say the grass is already established, but there are bare patches here and there.
Why is raking a lawn necessary?
Raking is necessary because the seeds need to come in contact with the soil to germinate properly. Grass seed is typically spread on the lawn using a Jonathan Green Deluxe Broadcast Spreader and this does not ensure good contact between seed and soil.