How to Make a Lawn Yourself

With a lawn near your home, there will be no dust or weeds. Thus, a standard lawn solves several problems at once: air dustiness, weed presence, heat, and of course, it enhances the visual appeal of your estate or country cottage.

To keep your lawn beautiful for years, proper seeding is essential. First, level the area where you plan to install the lawn. Then, sow the seeds. After germination, you'll only need to water and mow regularly to maintain its attractive appearance.

Even though it may seem simple, lawn care requires considerable effort. Moreover, there's a wide variety of lawns you can create on your own property, each with unique advantages and different purposes.

Meadow Lawn

A meadow lawn is probably the simplest way to enhance your yard. It requires no special soil preparation. If there are existing plants on the chosen area, remove those you don't want on the lawn. Then, loosen the soil and sow seeds of your selected grasses and flowers.

Meadow lawns use a variety of flowers and grasses. It's especially important to choose varieties that look attractive throughout the growing season. Perennial plants are particularly beneficial.

Maintenance is simple: water as needed, remove weeds, and apply fertilizer occasionally. If annual plants are used, reseed them each year.

Garden-Park Lawn

For beginners, a garden-park lawn is a great option. It's easy to install and doesn't require intensive maintenance. Prepare the soil, level it, and sow seeds. Commonly used grasses include meadow fescue, oatgrass, red fescue, rye, and others. Choose plants based on sunlight exposure.

After planting, water regularly and avoid letting the soil dry out. Mow at least once a week. Besides beauty, garden-park lawns offer practical benefits — they're ideal for picnics or children's play areas.

English or Parterre Lawn

The English lawn is the most demanding. It’s quite difficult to install yourself. First, it needs full sun. Second, avoid creating one if annual temperature fluctuations exceed 50°C.

English lawns are purely decorative. They look stunning on sunny lawns. Water daily. Mow once a week. Due to frequent watering, fertilizers must be used periodically.

The English lawn is the most beautiful, but also the most expensive, decorative feature of your property.

Sport Lawn

Creating a sport lawn is equally complex. Professional help is often required, but if you're confident, you can do it yourself. First, level the chosen area. Soil depth must be at least 25 cm. A base layer is essential to prevent tearing. Choose grass type based on the intended sport.

Water as needed. Mow once every two weeks. Apply fertilizer in spring and autumn.

Lawn Installation

To keep your lawn attractive, plan its layout carefully. Choose a suitable area and mark boundaries. A simple, clean-edged lawn looks far more appealing than a complex or neglected one. Maintaining a complex shape is difficult and requires edge trimmers and manual edge work. Avoid elaborate designs — start simple.

When planning, consider where shrubs, trees, and flower beds will go. Pay special attention to trees. If small now, they’ll grow large and cast shade over time.

Therefore, when creating a lawn, anticipate shaded areas and select grass types accordingly. Remove weeds and decorations first. Only then begin soil preparation.

Soil Preparation and Seeding

No matter which lawn you choose, soil prep is the most challenging step. First, clear the area of debris, stones, and old grass. Dig and level the soil.

If the soil is poor, compacted, or infertile, use ready-made topsoil, spread to a minimum depth of 10 cm. After preparation, lightly tamp the soil with boards or logs.

To plant, mix lawn seeds with sand and distribute evenly according to package instructions. Rake the soil to a depth of no more than 2 cm, then water thoroughly.

After grass emerges and reaches 10 cm, mow with a lawn mower. You don’t need to remove clippings after the first mow — they protect the lawn from drying and later act as natural fertilizer.

With proper care, your lawn can last five years or more. After that, reseed and refresh the lawn.

Irrigation Systems

While planting and soil prep happen once every five years, watering will be frequent. Use various sprinklers.

For large areas, use drip irrigation with centralized water supply. For small lawns, manual sprinklers work well. Consider buying a soil moisture meter — insert it into the ground and check readings to decide when to water.

Lawn Maintenance

To keep your lawn looking great, maintain it regularly. Water in the evening. Apply liquid fertilizer once a month.

Mow 1–4 times a month depending on lawn type. Best to mow on dry, sunny days. Remove clippings after mowing. Use edge trimmers to keep lawn borders straight and manually treat areas inaccessible to mowers, like around trees or pipes.

Inspect your lawn regularly. If you spot mold or powdery mildew, treat with fungicides. Remove bare patches and thin areas, loosen soil, and reseed.

Remember: the beauty of your lawn depends not on the grass type you choose, but on the effort you put into its installation and care.