How to Germinate Creeping Red Fescue
- 1). Remove all stones, rocks and sticks from the planting area in the spring or fall. Set the blade depth on a garden tiller to approximately 5 to 6 inches and loosen the soil over the entire area with it. This also destroys any existing grass and weeds that are growing in the area.
- 2). Rake the surface of the soil with a bow rake until it is smooth and even on top.
- 3). Place the creeping red fescue seeds into a seed spreader and set the dial on the spreader to dispense at a rate of 3 to 5 lbs. per 1000 square foot of lawn. Place the spreader at one edge of the planting area and start the flow of seeds. Push it over the entire area in side-by-side rows until you have seeded the entire lawn.
- 4). Re-rake the entire soil surface with the bow rake to work the grass seed into the soil by at least 1/8 to 1/4 inch.
- 5). Spread a 1/4-inch layer of straw over the newly planted seed to prevent moisture evaporation and to prevent birds from eating the grass seed.
- 6). Water the entire area with 2 to 3 inches of water immediately after planting. Then water once per day with the same amount of water until the grass sprouts. Creeping red fescue germinates in approximately 7 to 21 days.
