Sowing Rates
Sowing too much seed may produce humid conditions among the seedlings, which can damage the young lawn, particularly in warm, humid weather. Sowing too little seed will mean that the lawn will take slightly longer to establish, and will also allow weed seedlings space to compete with the grass.
Grass sowing rates can vary tremendously depending on the mixture or species, as shown in the table below.
| Grass Type | g/sq m | oz/sq yd |
|---|---|---|
| Bents (Agrostis) |
8 - 10 | 1/4 - 5/16 |
| Fescues and bents mixtures | 25 - 30 | 3/4 - 7/8 |
| Flower-rich mixtures | 2.5 - 5 | 1/16 - 1/8 |
| Red fescue (Festuca rubra var. rubra) |
15 - 25 | 1/2 - 3/4 |
| Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) |
20 - 40 | 5/8 - 1 1/8 |
| Perennial ryegrass mixtures | 35 - 40 | 1 - 1 1/8 |
| Smooth-stalked meadow grass (Poa pratensis) |
10 - 15 | 5/16 - 1/2 |
Whilst there may be a certain amount of flexibility in these rates to allow for factors such as loss caused by birds, it is essential not to sow seed in much greater or smaller quantities than the recommended rate.