Starting a new lawn from seed

How to Plant a Lawn from Seed in Boise, Idaho

Starting your lawn from seed is an affordable, effective way to get a lush yard, especially here in the Treasure Valley. With the right prep, the right products, and a little patience, you can save money and still grow a beautiful, healthy lawn.

A well cared for lawn and landscape

Prepare the Soil for Planting

1. Remove Weeds

Before sowing new grass seed, clear the area of weeds, rocks, and debris. Getting rid of aggressive weeds such as quack grass, Canada thistle, or field bindweed (morning glory) is much easier now than after your lawn is established.

TIP: Spray weeds when they reach about 6 inches using Hi-Yield Killzall Concentrate Weed & Grass Killer or Ferti-lome Decimate (use as directed). After spraying, wait at least 7 days before seeding. If the infestation is severe, rototill the soil, wait two weeks for regrowth, then spray again.

2. Add Soil Amendments

Depending on your location in the Treasure Valley, soils can be heavy clay to sandy, making soil improvement essential for strong lawn growth. Add composted organic matter to boost nutrients and enhance soil structure.

We recommend:

• Ferti-lome Ultimate Potting Soil

• Oakdell Organic Compost

These amendments add nutrients, break up compacted clay, and increase moisture retention in sandy soils.

TIP: Spread compost 1–2 inches thick over the lawn area. Avoid barnyard manure since it often contains noxious weed seeds. Till 5–6 inches deep using a rear-tine tiller. Level and grade the soil away from your home with a landscape rake. Water the prepared soil for 20 minutes to settle it, then fill and re-rake any low spots after it dries out.

3. Stimulate Growth With Ferti-lome New Lawn Starter Fertilizer

Once the soil is level and dry, apply the starter fertilizer to support early root development.

Use one of the following:

• IFA Premium Garden Fertilizer

• IFA Grand Champion All-Purpose Fertilizer

• Ferti-lome New Lawn Starter (recommended)

These blends are high in phosphate, which encourages fast root growth. For added soil health, consider mixing in IFA Bountiful Earth Humate, which improves germination and helps loosen Boise’s clay soils.

Plant Your Grass Seed

In Boise, lawns can be seeded anytime from early April through late October. The ideal time: mid-August through mid-October, when soil is warm, but air temperatures are cooler.

1. Sow the Grass Seed

Choose the right seed for your lawn, then spread it using a broadcast spreader. For best coverage, apply half the seed in one direction and the other half in a crisscross pattern. You can also sow by hand using a sweeping motion.

2. Roll for Good Seed-to-Soil Contact

Fill a lawn roller halfway with water and roll the entire area, starting around the edges and finishing in the center. Rolling presses the seed into the soil, improving germination and overall results.

3. Top Dress the Seed

Apply a thin ⅛-inch layer of G&B Raised Bed Potting Soil, Ferti-lome Peat Moss, or Oakdell Chicken Compost using a compost spreader. This protects the seed from birds and helps the soil retain moisture during germination.

4. Water Properly

Watering is the most critical step.

• For the first watering, saturate the soil to a depth of 6 inches, avoiding puddling or seed displacement.

• You may need several short watering cycles to achieve full saturation.

• In the following days, monitor soil color:

  
  

  When about 50–70% of the surface looks lighter, water again.

Keep the soil lightly moist at all times until germination. Remember: Grass seed only gets one shot to sprout. Don’t let it dry out and don’t drown it.

5. Protect the Seedbed

Keep people, pets, and foot traffic off the lawn while it’s wet and developing. Use string and stakes or temporary fencing to mark off the area.

Care for Your Growing Lawn

Germination may begin in 5 days, but some varieties may take 15–30 days depending on weather and seed type. As grass emerges, gradually reduce watering frequency and increase the amount applied per cycle.

During hot Boise summers:

• Water ½–1 inch every three days

• Sandy soils need more frequent watering

• Clay soils need less

Apply IFA Step 3 Spring & Summer Lawn Food about 30 days after most seeds have germinated. Its slow-release nitrogen prevents growth from stalling and keeps new lawns thriving.

When your lawn reaches 3–4 inches, mow it for the first time. Afterward, maintain a mowing height of 1½ to 3 inches, depending on the grass variety.

Avoid using weed killers until after the third mowing.

Follow these steps and your new Boise lawn will stay healthy, green, and beautiful for years.

Lawn Planting Supplies

• Hi-Yield Killzall Concentrate Weed & Grass Killer – Clears weeds before seeding

• Grass Seed Options:

  1. IFA GreenStar5 Bluegrass

  2. IFA Quick Green

  3. IFA Escalante Fescue Blend

  4. IFA Liberty Fescue Bluegrass Mix

• Starter Fertilizer: Ferti-lome New Lawn Starter, IFA Premium Garden Fertilizer or IFA Grand Champion All-Purpose Fertilizer

• Oakdell Organic Compost / IFA Bountiful Earth Humate: Improve soil structure and germination

• G&B Raised Bed Potting Mix / Peat Moss / Oakdell Chicken Compost: Top-dress seed

• Lawn Roller: Improve seed-to-soil contact

• IFA Step 3 Spring & Summer Lawn Food: Feed young grass after germination

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Let Us Help

Our team at The Home & Garden Store in Boise loves helping homeowners grow beautiful lawns. Stop by anytime and we’ll help you troubleshoot problems, choose the right products, or walk you through the seeding process step-by-step.