Tips to plan and prepare a new lawn for the home of your dreams

Whether it consists of decorative grass, a play area or ground cover, the green surface of your yard needs to be laid out and maintained properly.

For routine care, you'll need a lawnmower, rake, digging fork, hose and lawn sprinkler. Before seeding a new lawn, there are a few important considerations, including your yard's soil quality and what type of seed would grow best.

• Check the soil quality. Is it heavy, light, rocky, acidic or alkaline? You'll need to know in order to prepare it properly.
• Choose your sod or grass seed according to how you plan to use your lawn. If children or animals are going to romp around on it, opt for a heavy-duty type.

1. Remove all roots, rocks, and any construction waste, and thoroughly dig up the ground about two weeks before sowing your lawn.
2. If the soil is very heavy, mix in some sand for better ventilation and permeability. Enhance humus-poor soil with peat, bark chips or compost until it turns dark in colour.
3. At the same time, level out uneven areas and, on fairly large surfaces, pack it down with a lawn roller. Then leave the dirt to settle.
4. Sow in spring while the ground is damp (but not frozen) for best results.
5. Spread the seeds evenly by first practicing with sand, or make a spreader by drilling small holes in the bottom of an old tin can.
6. Choose a day with as little wind as possible. Spread half the seeds in one direction and the other half in the opposite direction.
7. Sow by sections and, on larger surfaces, mark off individual sections with string. Sow more heavily at the edge so the lawn comes in thicker.
8. Rake the seeds into the soil just a tiny bit so they don't blow away and can sprout properly. Pack down the seeds with the lawn roller or opt for a low-tech solution: footboards tied to the bottom of your shoes.
9. Finally, sprinkle water on the seeds, but avoid washing them away. Don't apply mineral fertilizer during the first two weeks, since seeds and fertilizers are incompatible with one another.