Sow a lawn

Sow a new lawn in early autumn while the soil is warm and damp. It's the perfect time to create a green blanket from seed and it will cost you less than turfing a lawn. There are grass seed mixes available to suit every garden, from shady spots to gardens with low rainfall.

If you want a fantastic lawn, but don’t want the expense of buying turf, try creating it from seed. Grass seed is best sown from late summer to mid-autumn; there is less competition from weeds, and the soil is warm, and damp from rain. Perfect for seeds to germinate.

If you miss the opportunity to sow in autumn, try in mid-spring, but only if you can give the new grass plenty of water. Don’t attempt to sow in summer - it’s unlikely you’ll be able to give the lawn enough water to prevent it from shrivelling up and dying.

Using seed has several advantages over turf. Apart from the cost, there are lots of different mixes available and seed is better for trickier areas, such as slopes and corners.

Buy a seed mixture that is right for your garden. Many suppliers have a large range including blends for drought, shade or for a fine ornamental lawn. In most gardens, a hard-wearing family lawn mixture, containing rye grass, would be suitable.

Prepare the soil by skimming off any old grass, removing large stones and weeds, and then roughly levelling. Fork over the site and rake level to leave a fine finish. Firm the soil by walking over, placing weight on your heels and rake again. Two or three days before the seed is to be sown, lightly rake in a granular fertiliser.

Use canes to mark out the area to be sown into square metres. Shake the box to mix up seeds. A good rule of thumb is to spread seed at 50g per square metre (or at the rate it says on the packet). Weigh out the seed to cover each square metre into a container and mark the level on the outside to act as a guide. Split each 50g in half and scatter seed in one direction across a square and then spread the rest in the opposite direction. After sowing, lightly rake over the area and water.

Protect the newly sown seed from birds by stretching fruit netting over the top. It is also worth cordoning off the area with string and canes to prevent people from walking across the soil.

Seedlings are susceptible to drought, so keep them watered during dry spells. Test your soil regularly by pushing your fingers into it.

Carefully weed the area by hand, removing any weeds before they flower. As the grass continues to grow, it will stifle weed growth.

When the new lawn is 5cm (2in) high, cut with a rotary mower to 2.5cm (1in). Carefully rake up the clippings. Do this for the next four cuts.