How To Do It

1 Mow the lawn quite short. this will make it easier for seed to drop down into the soil.

2 Remove any debris from the lawn using a technique known as scarification. To do this, simply rake away any thatch (moss, dead stalks, weeds) from the lawn. For larger gardens you may want to hire a scarifier from your local garden machinery hire shop.

3 If you haven’t already done so this year, you will need to spike the lawn to open it up further. Again, you may want to hire a lawn aerator if you have more than a small plot to deal with.

4 Apply fertiliser – check the packet for instructions.

5 Measure out your seeds – approx. 25 grams per square metre (¾ ounces per square yard).

6 Mix the seed in a bucket with some sand, light top dressing or soil to ensure even seed distribution.

7 Water the lawn, or wait until after rainfall to ensure the ground is nice and moist.

8 Scatter by hand or with a distributor over your lawn, following up with a rake to ensure the seeds reach the soil. You can also use a light roller if you like, e.g. the roller on your lawn mower, but after that try to keep off the lawn during germination (four to seven days in good conditions). 9Use a rake to make sure seed drops into the gaps in the existing grass.

10 Give the grass another soaking with a fine spray from a watering can with a rose head or appropriate hose attachment and make sure it stays moist.