Should I compact soil before putting down grass seed

I am currently re-doing the garden and patio (the patio is covered under a different thread).

At the moment I have a lawn with two weed infested flower beds down each side. I am in the process of digging out all the old flowers, weeds and shrubs down the side.

I am going to fill the void with some old sand from the old patio, and then put a layer of new top soil over the top. I was then going to use a wacker plate to compact this, before putting down seed.

I read that you should not use a wacker plate when laying new turf (I'm unclear if it's before or after that you shouldn't use one, or both) because it compacts the ground and stops the roots taking properly. Does this also apply to seeding? I can't help feeling I really need to use the wacker plate, otherwise the areas down the side are likely to sink over time.

I am also thinking of building up the areas down the side a fraction higher even after using the wacker plate, because I am guessing they will still sink further over time.

Does this all sound ok? Will it be ok to fill any large holes and gaps with sand as long as there is enough top soil put over the top? And is the wacker plate a good or bad idea. As I mention these are flower beds at the moment, and I'm seeding rather than turfing.

Thanks!

Don't use a wacker plate,you need to walk over it with your heels and then rake to a fine tilth,sow your seed and gently rake in.You're not laying a drive way.

See below:

http://www.lovethegarden.com/lawncare/creating-a-new-lawn

Happy gardening.

Andy

Hi, thanks for your replies. Since the dug out area is going to be half a foot to a foot lower than the existing lawn alongside, once level won't it continue to sink over a period of several weeks if it's only compacted by foot?

GAZ2785 said:

Hi, thanks for your replies. Since the dug out area is going to be half a foot to a foot lower than the existing lawn alongside, once level won't it continue to sink over a period of several weeks if it's only compacted by foot?

Click to expand...

How far do you think it will sink? its at its level now you are only disturbing the top.

enyam said:

GAZ2785 said:

Hi, thanks for your replies. Since the dug out area is going to be half a foot to a foot lower than the existing lawn alongside, once level won't it continue to sink over a period of several weeks if it's only compacted by foot?

Click to expand...

How far do you think it will sink? its at its level now you are only disturbing the top.

Click to expand...

Thanks for your reply. I assumed because the void was deeper than just two or three inches it could sink quite a bit. If you think this is not the case then I'll just compact it by foot.

Thanks,