How Long Before Grass Seed Germinates?
Planting a lawn from seed, rather than purchasing and installing sod, can save money. But homeowners might shy away from grass seed because they don't know how to plant it, what types of seed might be best for their yards or how to care for it after it germinates. To learn what type of grass does best in your area, talk to the folks at your garden center or your county's Master Gardener program or agricultural extension service. Does this Spark an idea?
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Types of Lawn Seed
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Grasses fall into two general categories: cool season and warm season. Cool season grasses are recommended where summer high temperatures are mild. They're also good for shady areas. Warm season grasses have been developed for hotter summers, although they tend to die back during the winter. To keep lawns green year round, many people overseed their warm season lawn with cool season seed in the fall.
Cool Season Grasses
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The most common cool season grasses are the bent grasses, the fescues, the bluegrasses and the ryegrasses.
Most are considered fast growers. These include colonial and creeping bent grass, which germinate in seven to 14 days. Tall fescue germinates in 10 to 21 days. Kentucky bluegrass germinates in as little as eight days, while rough bluegrass germinates in 10 to 21 days. Annual ryegrass germinates in seven to 14 days, while perennial ryegrass germinates in five to 12 days.
Red and sheep fescue, a slow to medium grower, germinates in 10 to14 days.
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Warm Season Grasses
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Fast growers include Bermuda grass and buffalo grass, which germinate in 14 to 21 days.
Bahiagrass germinates in 21 to 35 days and is considered a slow grower. Centipede grass germinates in 35 to 40 days and is considered a slow, poor grower.
Zoysia germinates in 21 to 28 days and is considered a slow to fast grower.
Influential Factors
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The season, soil preparation and water are crucial factors in your new lawn's success. In most climate zones, fall is the best time to plant lawn seed. Prepare the planting area by testing your soil, and then add necessary nutrients and amendments before you spread lawn seed. After planting seed, water the area two to three times per day for one month, and then decrease watering gradually for the next two to three months because new sprouts can dry out and die very quickly.
Caring For New Lawns
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Three months after planting lawn seed, water it deeply early in the morning, but not every day. During the warmer months, a once per week deep watering should suffice. During the winter months, water should not be needed if adequate rain falls. In dry, warm areas water your lawn year-round. Fertilize lawns during their most active growth periods, normally from March through June and September through November. Three annual applications of a 20-5-10 fertilizer are recommended for many grasses. Avoid overfertilizing and overwatering lawns.
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