Yes — grade it, firm it lightly, and rake the surface smooth before seeding. Grass seed wants firm contact with soil, not fluff: seed sitting in loose, lumpy loam dries out or washes into the low spots with the first hard rain. A landscape rake and ten extra minutes set up an even, firm seedbed.
Seedbed prep in four passes
- Spread the loam and rough-grade it with the back of the rake
- Firm it lightly — footprints should be shallow, not sunken
- Rake the top smooth to loosen any crust
- Seed, rake in lightly, and water
Screened loam has the rocks, roots, and clumps screened out, so the raking goes fast. Order Loam (Screened) by the yard — up to 6 cubic yards per load — and size it with the material calculator.
