I live in NJ, can I spread grass seed now or do I have to wait till next spring?

Question

my landscaper (who I'm ready to kill) started on my yard in late April, removing rock and plastic and about 3 weeks ago spread new soil. A lot of weeds have sprung up which he says he now has to kill with fertilizer and then turn the soil because it's hardened. After he does these two things, he says he should wait to spread the soil until next spring? Is this correct?

Answer 1

if he put weed killer down you can not plant grass seed right away the weed killer will kill the new seed. if he doesn't put weed killer down you can turn the dirt seed than put hay on top to hold in moisture and just water twice a day in about 2 weeks grass gl

Answer 2

The weeds can be killed by any weed & grass killer and can be sprayed on using a water hose  & a $20 water hose sprayer.  Fertilizer does not kill weeds!

If its only weeds & not grass, a broad leaf weed killer would work and you could immediately seed the lawn.  Soil that's gotten hard from baking in the sun can be soften with water.  

Spread the seed & cover with straw to protect from the sun drying it out.  Sprinkle as needed to keep the soil/seed moist.

Seed will sprout in 3-5 days.  

It is easier to sprout a lawn in the spring because it rains then.

Answer 3

Sounds like he obtained river bottom mud. It is full of weeds and hardens like bricks. I used it once and it took 2 years to kill off weeds. I'd fire him, and try to do it myself. Seeds can be planted anytime, but summer would mean watering every other day, and no promise of establishing. As soon as temperature in fall moderates into 70s, is a good time to plant seeds. Try cool weather grass like perennial rye, mixed with fescue. When you seed, don't over seed. It seems logical to throw a bunch, but it just crowds out.

Answer 4

I would wait a month or so before putting any seed down. As another answer stated, if you put it down now, you are going to have to water a lot and even a minor heat wave can kill the seedlings in no time.