Then mulch the top. You will need to make sure the soil is moist enough so that the roots of the seeds can penetrate the soil. I need to reseed certain parts of the lawn and was wondering if I could use the garden soil in place of top soil? If the ground has lots of dips and hollows it might need a rake as well as being aerated. However, this is hardly an ideal state for grass seeds. If you are a beginner, you definitely have lots and lots of questions about making your first raised bed. Simply put, yes, grass seed will germinate if left on top of soil. The seeds will need sunlight, oxygen, moisture and the correct temperature to grow, as long as there’s also soil that it can absorb the appropriate nutrients and moisture from. Many homeowners, not just devoted gardeners, are discovering the benefits of replacing lawn grass with planting areas for vegetable gardens, flower garden beds, or mixed shrub/flower islands.Integrating planting areas within the lawn makes for a landscape that is more aesthetically pleasing, and it can also provide space to grow healthful food or practice a rewarding flower-gardening hobby. I've used basically the same method for putting in raised beds. However, we currently have loads of stones on the surface of the soil and presumably below the surface too. Otherwise, it will inexorably work itself up, and you'll have a raised bed full of grass. Will Grass Seed Germinate On Top Of Soil? By getting a handy garden fork or a heavier duty lawn dethatcher, you can aerate and rake the soil. Clay soil can weight grass seed down, making it harder to grow. My honest, professional advice: buy artificial turf! Raised bed garden is an excellent choice if you have a bad kind of soil in your garden, or you wanted to decrease the level of work you are putting for growing your own veggies. (mai mi) I suppose you can buy turf but 'soft' grass doesn't work here. Our garden has been dug over and levelled, and we are planning to sow grass seed. The cardboard, compost, and mulch breaks down and you have a fertile grass free section. And then cover that soil with some mulch. On top of this about 3cm of gravel as a drainage layer. Make sure the hols are roughly 5 inches or deeper. A gardener can replicate that humus by mixing carbon-rich leaves with nitrogen-rich manure or grass clippings to make compost. At least 10cm of good, not too heavy soil (difficult) Buy general purpose grass seed at your local garden centre. Whether or not the topsoil should be amended depends on the soil conditions and can be determined by a soil test. Turning Sod Into Garden Soil Early cold season is an ideal time to start a new garden or expand the old one, and getting the soil in shape is always the first step. It both holds in moisture more effectively than standard yard soil and it also contains fertilizer to help in the seeds germination. Give it some time to break down before you plant in your new bed, but with the use of some cardboard and some compost, you can turn a spot of grass into a brand new garden … This is the basis of so-called "lasagna gardening," where you layer cardboard, compost, soil, and mulch to turn lawn into garden space. Maintaining an active compost pile in winter can be a challenge, however. Just using a soil blend of compost, sand, and some of my clay soil on top of the paper. We're going to try to rake and gather all of the stones we can, but I'm guessing there's more under the surface. Seeds, sod and plugs all require at least 4 to 6 inches of good topsoil. 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