One of the most important things for the health of a lawn is the amount of light it receives. But with concrete jungles becoming the norm, your lawn may not be getting as much sunlight as it is supposed to. As a result the grass suffers from more humidity, which translates into less vigorous grass, diseases and fungi, unhealthy roots, and a lot of weed and pest infestations.

So it is really advisable to only plant a lawn if it can get the sunshine it needs. In case you need to grow your lawn in the shade, buy the right kind of seeds. No bluegrass or ryegrass, try fine fescue and tall fescue, they will fare better.

Reduce the seeding rate by about a third so as to reduce competition between individual plants. Find the right time of the year to plant your shade lawn in, either in fall after the trees have shed all their leaves or in spring, after the leafing of vegetation. Make sure you let the grass grow longer, so it can process more energy. Mowing at or above 4 inches would be ideal. Try not to step on it too much, and prevent pets from getting on it as much as possible.

With 50% of required sunlight, grass growth is bound to be thinner and you may perhaps consider alternative arrangements for your lawn area. There are a lot of plants that flourish and look beautiful in shade. Or, you could also opt for ground covers.

Source: Lawn Care

Planting grass from seed is an inexpensive way to grow a beautiful new lawn, but you need to prepare the soil carefully and watch over the sprouting seeds. Here are essential steps:

Step 1: Select the right type of grass for your area (see “eHow toChoose a Lawn Grass’).

Step 2: Measure the square footage of your planting area to determine how much seed you’ll need. Purchase the seed at a local nursery or garden center. Information on the package will tell you how much to buy.

Step 3: Prepare and level the soil, as described in “eHow to Plant a Lawn.’

Step 4: Set your seed spreader (a drop spreader used for fertilizer works best for most lawns) at the appropriate setting and fill it with half the seeds.

Step 5: Walking at a steady pace, sow the seed over the planting area, moving back and forth in opposite directions. Repeat the process using the rest of the seeds, walking at a 90-degree angle to your original paths. This will ensure that the seed is sown evenly.

Step 6: Fill a cage roller with fine-textured organic mulch, such as peat moss or ground bark. Walking quickly, push the roller over the planting area so a thin layer (1/8 to 1/4 inch) of organic matter covers all the seeds. This will help keep the seeds from drying out.

Step 7: Push a water-filled roller (about a third full) over the entire area to make sure the seeds and soil are in good contact.

Step 8: Water the seedbed thoroughly so the soil is moist to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Apply the water slowly so that the seeds do not wash away.

Step 9: Keep the seedbed moist (but not soggy) until the seed germinates and the new grass is a few inches high. In hot weather you may have to water more than once a day.

Tips & Warnings:

* Once you have thoroughly wet the seedbed after planting, you only need to water enough to keep the top inch moist.

* Germination will take 5 to 14 days, depending on weather and grass type.

* When the grass is 1 to 2 inches high, you can begin to water less often, but avoid letting the planting area go completely dry.

* Heavy watering may wash away the seeds, and watering too frequently may rot the seedlings.

Source: eHow Home & Garden Editor