Alternative Lawn Seed Planting Instructions

🌿 Alternative Lawn Seed

Alternative Lawn Seed Planting Instructions

For: EcoSeed · LowGrow · Ultimate Clover · PetLawn · TrueGrass · FireGuard

These instructions cover all planting paths for establishing an Alternative Lawn Seed lawn — whether you're overseeding an existing yard, starting from bare soil, planting under trees, or working with slopes.

Pro Tip: Add Seed-Tac for faster germination and better seed-to-soil contact, especially on bare soil and slopes.

Overseeding Existing Lawns

Overseeding will gradually transition your traditional lawn into an Alternative Lawn Seed lawn over 2–4 years. During this conversion period, mowing is still required.

  • Mow the lawn as short as possible (around 1 inch).
  • Remove debris — never bury construction materials.
  • Rake out clippings, stones, and thatch.
  • Apply ¼ inch compost (¾ cu. yd. per 1,000 sq. ft.).
  • Overseed yearly — or twice yearly to speed up conversion.
Overseeding every year slowly increases the proportion of Alternative Lawn Seed until it becomes the dominant lawn.

Bare Soil Installation

Seeding rates:

  • Standard: ~15 seeds/sq. in. (5 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.)
  • Extra thick: ~25 seeds/sq. in. (7–8 lbs per 1,000 sq. ft.)

Apply the seed:

  • Hand-sow small areas.
  • Use a spreader (⅓ open) for larger lawns.
  • Spread in two passes in a crisscross pattern.

Finish by:

  • Lightly raking so some seed remains visible.
  • Rolling with an empty or ¼-full roller.
  • Using mechanical or hydroseeders for large installs.

Sowing Under Large Trees

Alternative Lawn Seed grows well under trees, but trees use a lot of water. Extra watering is needed in year one.

  • Deep water weekly under the drip line during the first year.
  • By year two, watering is rarely needed.
  • Mulched leaves provide natural nutrients — mow them in fall.

Planting on Slopes

Use Seed-Tac to prevent wash-off and improve germination.

  • Mix seed with Seed-Tac on erosion-prone slopes.
  • In northern climates: fall slope planting should be done by mid-September.
  • Gentle slopes can usually be seeded without tackifier.
Seed-Tac Instructions →

Dormant Fall Seedings

Dormant seeding works extremely well in northern climates if timed correctly.

  • Seed after hard frosts but before soil freezes.
  • Best timing: late October–December.
  • Seeds sprout early spring after overwintering.
Avoid dormant seeding where erosion is possible — seed can wash away.

After Sowing & Early Care

Germination typically occurs in 7–14 days.

  • Avoid foot traffic for the first few weeks.
  • You can start walking on it when it reaches 4–5 inches tall (about 4–6 weeks).
  • Overseed thin patches early to prevent weed intrusion.
Even low/no-mow mixes should be mowed 3–5 times during the first season to “train” them to grow low and dense.

Watering Schedule

Weeks 1–3:

  • Water daily (unless it rains).
  • Keep soil moist to 1 inch deep.

Weeks 4–5:

  • Water every 2 days.

First-year drought:

  • Water during drought to prevent stress.

After year one:

  • Water needs drop dramatically.
  • Hot/dry states (CA/TX): up to 75% less irrigation than traditional turf.
  • Most regions: little to no watering except extreme drought.

FireGuard & TrueGrass Germination

FireGuard and TrueGrass may take 2–5 weeks to germinate — this is normal for these blends.