How do I plant grass seed and how long does it take to grow?

THE humble grass seed can grow everywhere, with over 10,000 varieties of the grass family.

Grass is an important part of many gardens and is easy to grow thanks to its natural resilience.

AlamyA real grass lawn can provide oxygen for your family[/caption]

How do I plant grass seed?

Preparation is key for planting grass seeds, make sure to remove all weeds and moss from the area you want to plant.

If you have poor quality soil you might want to invest in some top soil before sowing the seeds.

Level the ground and make sure it has good drainage before planting.

Grass grows well from mid-March to September in the UK but check the weather to avoid any sudden frosts.

Planting your seeds can vary in technique depending on whether this is a new lawn or overseeding an existing one.

If you are trying to fill in an already grassy area then make sure you remove any dead plants and rake over the area.

Make sure the soil is loose and scatter seeds at around 5mm to 10mm deep.

Rake over the area again and firm down the soil by foot.

If you are sowing a new lawn then the process is similar but sow the seeds at a depth of 20cm.

Also scatter the seeds at a higher rate than on an existing patch – using around 50g per square metre.

How long does plant seed take to grow?

It can take up to six weeks for grass to full grow.

Watch for an even coverage of the lawn before mowing.

Do not cut the grass until it has reached at least 5cm of growth.

The seeds should germinate in seven to 10 days and continue to grow at a rate of about 2cm a week.

How often do I need to water grass seed

A deep water every day for six weeks will help healthy grass grow.

If it is raining then leave it to nature to water the seeds.

Grass seeds like to be moist but not soaked, a sprinkler system is a good way to regulate this.

A fine spray is best to prevent puddles from forming.